Goalposts provides teachers new learning tools

Adult educators have had a valuable training boost with the launch of a new resource by Bay of Plenty Polytechnic staff developers and researchers, Judith Honeyfield and Cath Fraser.

Goalposts is a simply written guide to the principles and theory underpinning effective teaching and improved student learning with particular relevance across the tertiary sector.

Launched at the recent Association of Tertiary Learning Advisors of Aotearoa New Zealand conference in Napier, Goalposts is a complementary resource for the popular Signposts, developed by the same staff, with research funding from Ako Aotearoa – New Zealand’s National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence.  Comprising practical tips and suggestions for new tertiary teachers, Signposts was launched in 2008 and is the most frequently downloaded resource available through Ako Aotearoa website. It is hoped that the new Goalposts resource will be found equally useful across the tertiary sector.

Ruth Peterson, Manager of the Northern Regional Hub for Ako Aotearoa , said Goalposts was a much needed follow-up resource for those entering the tertiary  teaching  from an industry background. “The authors have ensured that Goalposts is just as useable and accessible as its predecessor Signposts and we expect interest to be high.”

The companion resource also provides an overview of the literature about adult learning and principles for effective teaching of adults, and was informed by conversations and reviews from experienced and successful teachers, managers and leaders – both nationally and internationally.

Dr Helen Anderson, Academic Director at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic said the new resource was a starting point for further reading and study about teaching and learning.

“It reflects the organisation’s commitment to continued learning and improvement in the way we deliver all our programmes as we continually strive for the best possible learning achievements for our students.”