Built Environments Learning + Teaching
BEL+T
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Where can i find Guidance about COVID in relation to my teaching?
This document outlines key considerations and guidelines for educators, teachers and lecturers as they return to face-to-face teaching on campus.
Due to the dynamic nature of the situation, this document will be updated regularly.
University of Melbourne COVID-19 Guide for Educators (required login)
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Where can I find guidance for running a Dual Delivery subject?
BEL+T has a dedicated page that provides Guidance for Dual Delivery. This guidance has been informed by a review of two decades of international research on the topic, by student voices across the Faculty and University, and Dual Delivery guidance from Learning Environments as at January 2021.
BEL+T is available to consult with ABP subject coordinators on the design of Dual Delivery approaches and to assist with updates to Canvas sites. Please email abp-belt@unimelb.edu.au to discuss.
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Where can I find guidance for running my subject online?
BEL+T has a dedicated page that provides Guidance For Moving Online. This page contains sections for various aspects of moving online:
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Where can I find the At Risk Early Alert Form?
The AT RISK EARLY ALERT FORM is a mechanism used by the faculty to identify and contact ABP and MSD students who may be experiencing difficulties in their subjects.
You can find more information and a link to the form through the following link:
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Where can I find the Extension Application Form?
EXTENSIONS of up to ten days may be offered to students if circumstances outside of their control have affected a student’s ability to complete an assessment task on time. ABP teaching staff may direct students to the Application for Extensions guidelines. The guidelines outline the conditions for eligibility. The form must be completed by the students. Students requiring extensions longer than 10 working days must apply for Special Consideration through the Student Information System.
https://edsc.unimelb.edu.au/resources/list-of-forms/application-for-extension
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I am worried that some of my students are going through personal issues. What can I do?
"As a staff member, you may observe signs that indicate a student is experiencing distress, or at risk of deteriorating mental health, and be able to provide a timely response. Assisting students to access mental health support early can be critical in preventing problems from becoming more serious or prolonged, and potentially reduce adverse impacts of mental health issues on a person’s academic/work functioning, relationships, and quality of life. Early intervention is also associated with better recovery outcomes." Counselling and Psychological Services, The University of Melbourne.
The University offers a wide range of services for immediate help, as well as resources, such as mental health training that are available to staff.
Find more information via the following links:
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What is the difference between formative and summative assessment?
Formative and Summative assessment are the two main forms of generally-accepted assessment. This page outlines each, which may help bring further clarity to the assessment 'conversations' you are having with students, and at what time in the semester: Formative and Summative Assessment
You can find further guidance on providing assessment and feedback on the BEL+T Online Assessment + Feedback page.
- I suspect academic misconduct with one of my students. What should I do?
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Where can I find information and resources for Canvas?
You can find links to resources for support and training, advice on Canvas site design, and information on external learning tools at the BEL+T Canvas page.
This page includes support for:
- Canvas Resources
- Incorporating Learning Tools into Canvas to enhance your teaching
- Approaching your Subject design in Canvas
Learning Environments host a range of workshops, events and webinars. You can find more details on Canvas workshops, including times and types, on this page.
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I am a sessional staff member and I need information. Where can I start?
Support for sessional staff members is available through the Faculty. You can find some useful links and contacts below:
The Built Environments Learning and Teaching (BEL+T) group has developed three learning experiences for ABP teaching staff. These are the Introduction to ABP, ABP Teaching Fundamentals, and ABP Teaching Online. They can be found through the ABP Teaching Canvas Community site. All sessional staff are encouraged to register for one or both of the related workshops, make use of the preparation, and engage with related resources over the semester. Staff can enrol into the community via this link. Staff who have previously enrolled into this Canvas community can access it via this link.
The links on this BEL+T Sessional Setup page offer help to a sessional tutor setting up at the beginning of the role, or the beginning of a new semester. This page focuses on practical issues; like getting access to facilities and getting paid.
ABP Great Teaching offers resources for teaching approaches and skills, and links for new (and experienced) educators to learn more.
The University Staff Hub includes news items from across the University to stay up to date, as well as access to systems and policies, as well as support.
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How can I improve my teaching?
Effective teaching starts with understanding student learning. The University provides numerous resources to support teaching staff improve their teaching.
Find them via BEL+T > Great teaching at ABP > Progressive Practices
For further reading on the fundamental principles of effective teaching in higher education, and understanding student learning, Chapter 2 of the Melbourne Sessional Teachers' Handbook is available here.
Great Teaching at ABP
Our students come to the University of Melbourne to learn skills and knowledge that they will contribute to built environments all over the world. Great learning experiences are the start of their engagement with these possibilities, and great teaching supports that development.
This page offers resources for teaching approaches and skills, and links for new (and experienced) educators to learn more. It also celebrates excellent teaching by recognising annual recipients of ABP Teaching Awards.
The sections below align with the ABP Teaching Award descriptors, which in turn align with the University of Melbourne Awards, and the Australian Awards for University Teaching. They offer us a shared language, access to national discussions of great teaching, and clear challenges as we strengthen these aspects of all our teaching practices. Each section includes quotations from students, drawn from ABP Student Choice Teaching Award nominations. The perspectives of learners offer particularly revealing descriptions of great teaching for built environment disciplines.
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Inspiring Approaches
Approaches to learning and teaching that influence, motivate and inspire students to learn are a key aspect of great teaching, and encourage students to lead their own learning.
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Organised Learning Experiences
Delivering great teaching in a large and diverse Faculty, and within a complex institution like The University of Melbourne, calls for clear organisation and great communication and planning.
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Relevant Content
Curricula and resources developed for student learning will relate to the specifics of a subject and discipline but can also draw on wider good practice to reflect a command of the field.
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Guided Assessment
Approaches to assessment and feedback that foster independent learning.
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Supportive Relationships
Respect and support for the development of students as individuals.
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Progressive Practices
The University of Melbourne offers a great variety of resources and supports to all staff who are involved in teaching and teaching-related activities.
ABP Teaching Toolbox
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Guidance for Moving Online
On this page, you will find resources to help you with your planning for an online learning environment.
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Administering a Subject
This section is intended for subject coordinators and senior tutors who are responsible for successfully organising and delivering a subject.
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Virtual Site Visits
The following resources will guide staff on how to create virtual site visits, such as 360˚ tours and interactive images; and integrate these into your learning and teaching at the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning (ABP).
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Studio Teaching within the Faculty
Studios are a core component of learning and teaching within the Faculty, across various disciplines.
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Canvas
In 2020, the University updated its learning management system (LMS) to Canvas. This section contains links to resources for support and training, advice on Canvas site design, and information on external learning tools.
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BEL+T Sessions
BEL+T sessions investigate key learning and teaching issues with ABP staff. They offer opportunities to connect with others around these challenges, to explore new approaches, and to find out more about what is happening at the Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning (ABP), and the Melbourne School of Design.
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ABP Microstudio
The Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning has built a Microstudio with video recording, podcast recording and screencasting capabilities.
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Coursework and Ethics Guideline and Tool
The following resources have been developed to assist staff to identify their responsibilities when coursework intersects with intellectual property and human research ethics.
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Academic Integrity Guidance
This resource provides staff with information about types of academic misconduct detected in ABP and guidance about steps staff should take if they suspect academic misconduct.
Welcome to the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning at the University of Melbourne!
We’re passionate about educating the next generation of built environment professionals. As a sessional staff member, you will play a specific and very important role in this. We value your perspective and experience, and your contributions to the world-recognised education that inspires and enables our graduates to create and influence our world.
The links on this page offer help to a sessional tutor setting up at the beginning of the role, or the beginning of a new semester. This information and links to more resources focus on practical issues, like access to facilities and getting paid.
The ABP Great Teaching page offers information and links to other resources with a focus on the development, delivery and celebration of great teaching in the Built Environment disciplines, and in the Faculty of Architecture Building & Planning. This includes professional development resources offered to sessional tutors, and casual staff, to support the development of teaching practice.
Faculty Research on Built Environments Learning + Teaching
A core aspect of BEL+T’s mission is to encourage ongoing and potential research on learning and teaching within built environments disciplines. Over the years, the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning has maintained a consistent commitment to publishing scholarship on teaching and learning. Indeed, more than 40 of our current staff members can claim at least one BEL+T-related publication to their name. A review of these outputs revealed six specialist areas, as detailed below.
We look forward to supporting future activity in these important research areas. If you would like to collaborate on built environments learning and teaching scholarship, get in touch with us.
The Built Environments Learning + Teaching (BEL+T) group works with staff and students of the Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning to improve teaching quality and student engagement. The skills and knowledge that graduates will bring to our future built environments are the focus of our collaborations within and beyond the Faculty. Our work is underpinned by research into best practice contemporary built environment pedagogy.
Contact the BEL+T group at
- abp-belt@unimelb.edu.au
- Address
- Rm 202-206,
Melbourne School of Design / Glyn Davis Building,
Parkville, VIC 3010
| A/Prof Kate Tregloan, A/Prof Teaching and Learning; Asst Dean (Teaching Quality) | k.tregloan@unimelb.edu.au |
| Dr Philippa Soccio, Lecturer, Teaching and Learning | philippa.soccio@unimelb.edu.au |
| Dr James Thompson, Lecturer, Teaching and Learning | james.thompson1@unimelb.edu.au |
| Dr Joe Barrins, Teaching Specialist (Educational Design/Technology) | j.barrins@unimelb.edu.au |
| Adrian Chu, Research Assistant, Teaching and Learning | adrian.chu@unimelb.edu.au |
| Nancy Samayoa, Senior Tutor of Interactive Spatial Communication | nancy.samayoa@unimelb.edu.au |
| Fernando Jativa Guzman, Senior Tutor - Canvas Migration Support | f.jativa@unimelb.edu.au |