Introduction to University Teaching

Course Overview

This course provides evidence-based pedagogical training for new university teachers across all disciplines. You will develop practical skills in learner-centered teaching, instructional design, assessment, and professional practice.

Course Duration:

10 interactive units with hands-on activities and peer collaboration

Learning Format:

Self-paced online learning with interactive simulations, drag-and-drop activities, and reflective exercises

Target Audience:

New university teachers, graduate teaching assistants, and experienced faculty seeking pedagogical development

Course Structure Navigator

Explore the interactive course schedule below to understand what you'll learn in each unit.

Interactive Course Schedule

Click on each unit to view its focus areas and learning outcomes:

Unit 1: Focus on Learners ▼

Adult learner characteristics and andragogy
Learner differences (cognitive, affective, cultural)
Japanese and international learner profiles
Learning preferences and engagement strategies

Unit 2: Teachers & Context ▼

Roles and identities of university teachers
Professional standards (UKPSF Areas A1-A5)
Institutional policies and ethics
Cultural and disciplinary contexts
Teacher self-care and workload management

Unit 3: Classroom Management ▼

Establishing ground rules and netiquette
Physical and virtual learning space design
Managing transitions and timing
Fostering positive climate and handling disruptions
Working with teaching assistants and peer leaders

Unit 4: Instructions and Interactions ▼

Giving clear instructions and ICQs
Concept-checking questions for key ideas
Elicitation techniques and guided discovery
Questioning strategies (open vs. closed, Socratic)
Effective feedback language and correction

Unit 5: Aims, Objectives and Outcomes ▼

Defining aims vs. objectives vs. outcomes
Bloom's taxonomy and action-verb selection
Writing SMART objectives
Constructive alignment with activities and assessments
Communicating objectives to learners

Unit 6: Lesson Planning and Staging Models ▼

PPP (Presentation-Practice-Production) in HE contexts
ESA (Engage-Study-Activate) and Task-Based Learning
Guided discovery and flipped-classroom approaches
Session-plan templates with timings and materials
Micro-teaching rehearsal and peer review

Unit 7: Materials and Resources ▼

Criteria for authentic vs. pedagogical materials
Adapting coursebook texts and exercises
Integrating audio/video with scaffolding
Digital tools: polls, collaborative docs, annotation
Ensuring accessibility with universal design

Unit 8: Assessments and Assignments ▼

Formative vs. summative assessment purposes
Designing rubrics and marking schemes
Peer- and self-assessment techniques
Giving effective feedback and feed-forward
Academic integrity and plagiarism prevention

Unit 9: Peer Observation ▼

Observation frameworks and checklists
Video-lesson analysis and coding for best practice
Live-class observation protocols and etiquette
Debriefing and reflective dialogue sessions
Documenting insights in observation reports

Unit 10: Teaching Practice ▼

Micro-teaching design: selecting focus and scope
Recording and uploading sessions (tech guidelines)
Peer and tutor feedback processes
Reflective practice linking feedback to action plans
Next-class implementation of teaching tips

Learning Path Planner

This course is designed for flexible, self-paced learning. Each unit builds on previous concepts while standing alone as a focused learning experience. University teachers bring diverse backgrounds and needs, so this course adapts to your schedule and experience level.

Interactive activities throughout each unit provide immediate feedback and opportunities for reflection. You'll practice key skills through simulations, drag-and-drop exercises, and scenario-based learning that mirrors real classroom challenges.

Recommended Learning Paths

Choose the path that best fits your needs and experience level:

🆕 New University Teacher ▼

Complete all units sequentially (Units 1-10)

Estimated time: 20-25 hours over 4-6 weeks

Focus heavily on Units 1-4 (foundations)
Practice micro-teaching activities in Units 6 and 10
Complete all interactive exercises for skill building

📚 Experienced Teacher (New to HE) ▼

Units 1, 2, 5, 8, 9 (priority) + selected others

Estimated time: 12-15 hours over 2-3 weeks

Emphasize adult learning differences (Unit 1)
Focus on university-specific contexts (Unit 2)
Adapt existing skills to HE assessment (Unit 8)

🔄 Professional Development Refresher ▼

Select specific units based on development goals

Estimated time: 6-10 hours over 1-2 weeks

Choose 3-4 units aligned with your goals
Focus on interactive activities and reflection
Consider Units 7, 9, 10 for advanced techniques

Course Philosophy & Support

This course is grounded in evidence-based teaching practices and adult learning theory. You'll encounter research-informed strategies while engaging in practical, hands-on activities that mirror real teaching situations. The interactive design reflects the very principles we teach—learner-centered, engaging, and responsive to diverse needs.

Each unit balances theoretical foundations with immediate application. You'll find content paragraphs that explain key concepts, followed by interactive activities that let you practice and reflect. This structure models effective lesson design while building your teaching skills systematically.

Course Support Resources

Technical Support

Interactive activities work in all modern browsers
Mobile-responsive design for learning on-the-go
Accessible design with alt-text and clear navigation

Learning Support

Self-paced learning with immediate feedback
Reflective prompts for deeper engagement
Practical tools you can use immediately

Ready to Begin?

Start with Unit 1: Focus on Learners to understand the foundation of effective university teaching, or select any unit that matches your immediate needs.

Start Unit 1

Course Syllabus: Introduction to University Teaching