Oxford Postgraduate Teaching Network

Supporting good practice in postgraduate teaching

Postgraduate taught programmes (PGT) face unique challenges, requiring tailored approaches and solutions. A number of innovative approaches have been developed across the university and Oxford Postgraduate Teaching Network (OPTN) offers an opportunity to share that expertise and to develop new solutions.

The OPTN brings together academic and learning support staff involved in postgraduate taught programmes to share good practice, and provide resources and support for course design, teaching, delivery and assessment methods. 

 

The OPTN is being piloted in the Medical Sciences Division (MSD) in the 2020/21 academic year in a collaboration between the Centre for Teaching and Learning and MSD teaching staff. It will be expanded to include the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division if there is demand. 

Teaching staff from MSD met in January 2021 to discuss some of the challenges and opportunities for development in postgraduate teaching. It was agreed the following five themes would be the initial focus of future meetings:  

  1. Diversifying assessment.
  2. Developing critical thinking skills.
  3. Helping tutors to support student mental health.   
  4. Redesigning programmes; implementing change and innovation.
  5. Feedback and student understanding of assessment criteria.  

Future themes will be determined by OPTN participants.

Format for meetings

Meetings will be 90 minutes long and held on Wednesdays from 12.30pm - 2pm. Presentations will be recorded with permission and shared on the OPTN Canvas resource.  

Each meeting will focus on a theme and might typically include: 

  • Short presentations related to the theme. 
  • Tutor and student perspective.
  • Opportunity for small group discussions.
  • Updates on continuing professional development opportunities for staff involved in PGT.

If you would like to receive information about OPTN events and related resources, please subscribe for updates.

If you have any queries regarding the OPTN, please contact us.

 

    FIT - Flexible and Inclusive Teaching

    Teaching Remotely Service Desk

    REMOTE@CTL.OX.AC.UK

     

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