Reflecting on our October National Teaching Fellow (NTF) seminar series with Dr Rob Wilson

Written by Dr Rob Wilson, Reader in the School of Mathematics and Professor Emmajane Milton, Professor in Educational Practice.

We had another brilliant session on the 18 October 2023 in the second event in our new regular National Teaching Fellowship (NTF) networking and discussion series.

Dr Rob Wilson’s session titled “Reflections from the Coalface: challenges or opportunities through being different” provided a stimulus for colleagues to consider how they perceived their careers and educational practices had been enabling or limiting.

Rob talked about how at times in his career he had felt like he didn’t quite ‘fit the mould’ and encouraged us to consider how we identified in our academic and professional roles. He asked whether we saw ourselves as teachers or educators or researchers or lecturers or in more discipline specific way – as – scientists / mathematicians / sociologists / historians / medics etc. He also asked us to ponder whether

a) how we identified made us see our purpose in our working lives differently and

b) to consider what it meant to teach and be a teacher.

Rob talked about how he saw teaching and his role in this regard, being one that:

• presented opportunities;
• gave him a sense of freedom;
• enabled him to keep learning, and
• to appreciate alternate viewpoints and perspectives.

He also talked about being inspired by his learners and how working with students in both Cardiff University and Namibia (as part of the Phoenix Project) has caused him to ask himself ‘Why do I do it like this? What’s my underpinning rationale for practice’? Rob’s description of how he had had to grapple with this in his own practice was really compelling and a challenge to all of us who teach in the University to know and be clear about our rationale and the ‘why’. Importantly considering in what way it supports our learners and scaffolds their learning and development in both the discipline and their broader relationship with education.

We asked Rob for his reflections too:

“It was great to be asked to take part in the NTF seminar series. In addition to sharing some of my own perspectives, experiences, and biases! – I was interested to learn how others felt about their role and contribution to their school and the university overall. What struck me from the conversations was that despite the variety in the background of those present, and irrespective of participants self-perception, there were two very clear common themes that emerged:

• A recognition that teaching provides us all with opportunity for continual learning; and
• Regardless of how we might “fit”, working with students, discussing ideas, encouraging curiosity etc. is motivational and something to be valued.

From a personal perspective, the discussion provided opportunity to acknowledge that while there are challenges to “being different”, or at least to have that perception, there are always others with whom we can share our thoughts and who will help us challenge our ideas, and that can subsequently offer opportunity to shape developments (personal or otherwise) in the future.”

Colleagues who attended the event said:

• I enjoyed the consideration of identity and multiple identities
• I could listen to Rob talk about teaching all day!
• It was great to discuss with others from across the university
• It sparked lots of thoughts about how we can encourage others
• It was a session which made us think, learn and reflect
• I loved the discussion and thoughtful questions
• It was great to have a safe space to reflect on my own practice
• It inspired me to take confidence in trying something new!

In future sessions colleagues said they would like:

• even more colleagues to attend to gain perspective from a wider pool of colleagues.

Join us at our next seminar

We warmly invite you to join us at our next on 15 November from 13.00-15.00 online.

Our next event “Better together: the power of collaboration in Teaching and Scholarship – A National Software Academy perspective” will feature Dr Wendy Ivins and Dr Kathryn Jones from School of Computer Sciences and Informatics and our Collaborative Award in Teaching Excellence (CATE) winners in 2020. This will be of great interest to all those thinking about how to put collaboration and team working at the heart of learning and teaching.

Please book your place through the HR System using the code: TEAC9691

We look forward to seeing you there.