Newcastle University
Teaching &
Scholarship Forum
Learning & Teaching
Conference
th
24 June 2013
Welcome & Introduction
• Teaching Fellows Forum originally launched in
2012
Previous meetings:
• Introduction to the Forum by Prof. Suzanne
Cholerton
• The Newcastle Offer; role-specific issues in T&S
• Reward, recognition and progression
• Veryan Johnston; Debbie Bevitt; Marita
Grimwood
• Scholarship of Learning and Teaching (SOTL)
• Lydia Wysocki; JC Penet; Vanessa Armstrong
Aims of NUTS
• Opportunity for all colleagues interested in
teaching and scholarship to meet
• Share good practice across disciplines
• Enhance communication and collaboration
• Create a supportive community for T&S
colleagues
• Hold regular, informal meetings to discuss
work related to teaching and scholarship
activities
• Colleagues to engage with Faculty
Representatives
NUTS Faculty Representatives
Vanessa Armstrong – School of Biomedical
Sciences, Medical Sciences
Sara Marsham – School of Marine Science
and Technology, SAgE
JC Penet – School of Modern Languages,
HaSS
Chandra Vemury – School of Civil
Engineering and Geosciences, SAgE
Vanessa Armstrong
• Teaching Fellow in Immunology in School of Biomedical Sciences
• Knew from end of undergraduate that I wanted to teach….. Just hadn’t
figured out the subject
• Always been fascinated why we don’t get sick all the time!
• Interested in science communication and engagement promoting these
within the undergraduate degree
• Keen to help improve student transition and settling into SBMS,
acknowledging the diversity of our cohorts
• Interests include swimming (ideally outside), cycling, running and
walking
Sara Marsham
• Marine Scientist and Teaching Fellow in Marine Biology in MAST,
SAgE
• Inspired by life-long love of the ocean and the outdoors
• Decided towards the end of my PhD to teach others (late
vocational calling…!?)
• Scientific activities include phycology, intertidal ecology, plantanimal interactions, and use of organisms as indicators
• Interested in educational research that eases transition in to HE,
engages students with assessment and feedback, and develops
scientific critique
• Wider interests include travelling, SCUBA diving, football and
speedway. Do not like seafood or fish!
JC Penet
• Linguist and Teaching Fellow in French Studies in the SML, HaSS
• Background in Area Studies (PhD)
• Educational research in language learning and teaching, especially
motivation theory for learners of a 2nd language
• Also interested in Translation Studies
• Wider interests include tennis, swimming and Doctor Who.
Chandra Vemury, FHEA
• Structural Engineer and a Teaching Fellow in Civil Engineering at
CEG, SAgE
• Got inspired by a mythical character DRONACHARYA and have
decided at a young age (mid teens) to teach others!
• Believe in the potential of traditional engineering disciplines in
nation building and sustainable economic development (e.g.
Germany, U.S.A , Japan, & Rolls Royce)
• Interested in educational research that addresses one of holistic
personality development, autonomous learning, and
metacognition
• Interests include controversial topics such as politics, religion and
cricket. Love a nice cup of coffee!
The future of NUTS
We welcome your input:
• Themes of meetings
• Suggestions for presenters
• Frequency/timing of meetings
• Use of Blackboard
• Please use post-it notes/flip charts to
share your ideas!
Thank you