FAQs for Course Leaders

What if the TW academic does not turn up to teaching session?

The TW team believe that this is a collaborative working environment. We work with a professional ethos and communicate to our TW academics that if they for any reason are unable to attend the planned teaching session as part of their course that you are made aware well in advance in order to allow time for your course team to provide cover. We advise our TW academics to work collaboratively with your courses to pencil in dates and time which work best for both the course and the TW availability. If for any reason the TW does not turn up and provides no notice due to reasons beyond their control the course leader can contact Montana.

Hosting the TW academic, do we pay them from course budgets?

No, we at Shades of Noir pay for the TW academic to engage in 36 paid hours of teaching which is fully funded by Shades of Noir. The course teams do not have to do anything. The Teaching Within team will have advised the TW academics about the relevant steps to take to log their completed hours with the TW team. This is all processed and managed by the TW team. However, anything beyond the 36 hours of paid teaching must be paid from the course teams budgets.

What expectations as a Course leader and my team are there?

The Teaching Within team will organise introductory meetings with your allocated TW academic alongside Montana who is the lead of TW, Angie who deals with the logistics of the TW and usually your programme leader will attend. This is an opportunity to meet and greet one another and find out the expectations of the programme as well as an opportunity to answer any questions. We see this as a mutually professional and beneficial environment which needs an ongoing commitment from all staff in welcoming the TW academic and offering a space which allows the TW academic to learn and also provide teaching as part of your team. The expectations are we expect professionalism, commitment and openness from all parties involved. We see that by hosting the TW academic programme this will provide your team with a skilled individual equipped to aid the workload with a shared sense of commitment.

The TW academics should be treated like another academic member of staff and no different.

How do we introduce the TW academic to other staff and students?

The TW academics are paid as Associate Lecturers and we encourage that the academics are introduced as Associate Lectures and nothing else. In the past, there has been some confusion as to how to introduce them but they are paid as AL and there is no need to introduce them to students as being on the Teaching Within programme unless the TW academic specifically asks you to do so.

What types of teaching do the TW academics need to engage in?

We advise that TW academics engage in all styles of teaching including one to one, co-teaching, crits, team teaching and most importantly marking as part of the assessment and feedback process. The TW academics are paid as Associate Lecturers and therefore are expected to engage in this process.

Are the TW academic paid for the process of shadowing?

No, the TW academics are not paid for the process of shadowing and therefore we advise they come in and shadow alongside your team for up to a maximum of 4 hours. The 4 hours can include introductions to the rest of your course teams, introductions to students, observations of teaching students, observations of a crit setting. We feel a maximum of four hours is an adequate amount for the TW academic to observe as we also take into consideration they may also have other working commitments or responsibilities.

Who do I contact if I am having any difficulties?

If you are having any concerns with your TW academic as a first stage intervention we feel it would be great to speak with the TW Academic that you are hosting. If this is unsuccessful then you can contact Montana who is the line manager for the programme and the relevant steps can be taken.

What else do the TW Academics engage in as part of the programme?

As part of the Teaching Within Programme, the TW academics are also engaging in the Postgraduate Certification in Academic Practice qualification so they will be engaging in various units of study as part of this. They will also be engaging in the Teaching Within seminars which are organised by the team to facilitate their learning and this helps to provide the relevant scaffolding and tools to aid their teaching as Associate Lecturers. We must also highlight that they may have other working commitments and personal commitments and therefore advise planning and implementation at an earlier stage is best for all parties involved.

How do the TW academics teach a course they have no expertise within?

We work with the approach that each academic comes with their own expertise within their chosen fields and therefore they would have some transferable skills which will add value and can be adapted to various subjects. We have also over the last four cohorts found that the best working relationship has been shaped through this approach with nearly 60% of the TW academics securing jobs beyond the programme in areas that were not their chosen expertise. As part of the programme, Montana and Angie have designed at various stages workshops which will also provide the scaffolding and extensive training needed to do well within those spaces. Each TW academic will be participating in the PGcert in Academic Practice at UAL.

What if our course team wants to continue working with the TW academic beyond the programme?

Anything beyond your allocated 36 hours will not be paid by Shades of Noir. This is something which will have to be organised by the course teams and they will have to employ the TW academic using their allocated budgets. The TW academic will be on the Hourly paid system so this will make it easier for you to process payments.

What happens if there is an unprofessional code of conduct on my course?

If there is any breach of the codes of conduct Montana should be notified and a meeting should be organised. The outcome will be dependant on the information that is received and will determine what if any are the necessary steps that will be taken. We have strict guidelines and do not tolerate any unprofessional practices. This is applicable to all academics involved in the course.