Sessional teaching

The Learning and Teaching Services team provides teaching and educational development development support for sessional staff through workshops, one-on-one and team meetings and through the provision of resources on our website.

There are two booklets (tutoring and demonstrating) for sessional staff to get you started in your teaching role. Additionally, the Learning and Teaching Services team also provides other resources and links to useful information from the vast literature and research on learning and teaching. More information about workshops for sessional staff and reimbursement for attending training workshops is found under the relevant links below.

Sessional staff are encouraged to undertake training with the Learning and Teaching Services as part of their professional development commitments. There are two full-day (or equivalent) training sessions offered which lay the foundations of teaching. You may choose training from the following list depending on the type of teaching you expect to be doing.

• Science & Engineering Demonstrator Training (for staff teaching in laboratory settings) 

• Sessional Teaching: Introduction to Tutoring and Lecturing (for staff teaching in discussion settings such as tutorials and workshops). This workshop is done in two parts (Part 1 is an online module and Part 2 is either a four hour face-to-face workshop or a second online module).

You may also wish to undertake additional training specifically designed for sessional staff:

• Sessional Teaching: Introduction to Assessment (3 hours)
• Sessional staff: Supporting the success of your First Year Students (3 hours)

As a staff member of the University, you are also eligible to attend other training events advertised on the Course Calendar.

Casual academic employees are paid for agreed work undertaken and completed. Therefore, with your supervisor's prior agreement, you may be paid (at the OD1 rate) for attendance at workshops provided by the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching, the Professional Development Unit, or your College. An opportune time to discuss your training requirements with your supervisor may be when completing your employment forms, especially the Estimated Work Schedule.

Colleges are strongly encouraged to provide paid training for all sessional staff involved in teaching. If you would like to further develop your teaching or educational technology skills beyond the training prescribed by your supervisor, then, as a staff member of the University, you are welcome to attend Learning and Teaching Services workshops on a voluntary basis.

We have prepared two handbooks for you to download to get you started as a sessional teacher at Flinders University. Choose the handbook(s) most relevant to the type of teaching you expect to be doing.

Getting started as a Sessional Teacher/Tutor at Flinders (PDF)

This handbook outlines information relevant to staff who are new to Flinders University or new to tutoring or teaching. It covers:

• Occupational health and safety
• Staff / supervisor relationship
• Teaching strategies
• Dealing with difficult situations
• Assessing learning.

Laboratory Demonstrator (PDF)

This handbook provides information and advice to develop your laboratory teaching skills in order to make demonstrating a stimulating and productive experience for both the demonstrator and students taking the class. It covers:

• Aims of laboratory work
• Preparing for teaching laboratory classes
• Teaching strategies
• Assessment
• Health and safety issues