Learning and teaching at the Faculty of Science

The Faculty of Science Learning and Teaching Community (a Canvas hub) aims to support teachers with practical advice and learning innovations, and provides opportunities to share teaching practice.

STELA is a community of interest focused on improving teaching and learning practices in our faculty. It is for anyone passionate about teaching, including early career lecturers, research fellows involved in teaching and thinking of forging a teaching career, through to Associate Professor and Professor, as well as professional staff working in the space of learner success to contribute to excellence in science education.

To get involved please email Dr Marion Blumenstein, Curriculum Development Manager or Professor Andrew Luxton-Reilly, Associate Dean Learning and Teaching, Science.

Learning from each other and sharing practices guided by values of whanaungatanga, manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga in an inclusive and diverse community of teachers is crucial in shaping the future of education at the University of Auckland. STELA members are expected to play an active role in the development of teaching capability in science with the aim to:

• Empower staff to contribute to an environment of excellence, leadership, and innovation in science education.
• Build strong and collaborative relationships within the science teaching and learning community.
• Guide, develop, and implement strategic learning and teaching initiatives.
• Share practices and experiences to support career development in teaching.

STELA sub-groups work on different projects according to expertise and interest to inform the development of resources, and provide guidance in science education such as:

• Peer Assessment and/or Group Work
• Supporting Student Transitions to University
• Developing Metacognitive Skills
• Student Voice and Collecting Feedback about Teaching from Students
• Relational Teaching Practices
• GTA/TA Training and Ongoing Professional Development
• Cultural Safety and Appropriateness in Teaching
• Teaching Awards and Grants
• Staff Peer Review of Teaching

Find out what’s happening in the learning and teaching space on the Faculty of Science staff intranet.

The (Graduate) Teaching Assistant Training Hub provides information on working at the University, along with tips for running effective labs and tutorials.

The School of Biological Sciences Teaching Hub supports teachers with a place to share teaching experiences, the latest updates, department contacts and more.

Teaching Assistants, who are new to the role of lab demonstrator, will benefit from hearing about the experience of others. Teaching in Labs presents tips, anecdotes and viewpoints for running a successful lab session. We also draw your attention to the Hot Tips for Lab Teaching booklet.

This training resource helps Graduate Teaching Assistants get up to speed with what it means to be an effective tutor.

The Student Experience Hub is a space designed for Science students with the aim of pointing them towards events and essential information for their courses and study support.

This website is hosted in Canvas. It provides students with resources to effectively find scholarly sources, improve essay writing, reference their sources and more.

The Science Subject Guides assist students and researchers in finding the right sources for the information they need from a list of curated key resources.

Learning Essentials is maintained by Libraries and Learning Services; it helps students develop their study and research skills. Students also have a link to Learning Essentials from their Canvas courses.