'An essential right': reflections on evaluating a professional development program for tutors. Issue 1 (2nd January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fredericks, Vanessa; Bosanquet, Agnes
• Is Part Of: International journal for academic development. Volume 22:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 84
• Page End: 89
• Publication Date: 2017-01-02
• Subjects: Evaluation -- professional development -- sessional staff -- tutors; College teaching -- Periodicals; Education, Higher -- Aims and objectives -- Periodicals; 378.1
• DOI: 10.1080/1360144X.2016.1261355
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1360-144X

Abstract

Abstract: While there is a growing body of research on sessional staff experiences, there are few published accounts evaluating their professional development. This paper reflects on an evaluation of a university-wide professional development program for tutors at an Australian university. A combination of complementary approaches were used to inform the development of the evaluation, namely: Participatory Action Research, monitoring, evaluation, research and improvement, and Participatory Evaluation. Findings of the evaluation reveal valuable lessons for the academic development of sessional teaching staff.