Faculty of health Sciences: Learning and Teaching Directorate
Training session 1: Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)
29-30 January 2025
Title: Teaching reflections in Health Professions Education in Nelson Mandela University / Innovative and Inclusive Pedagogical Encounters.
The 2025 Faculty of Health Sciences Learning and Teaching Directorate’s training and development programme was launched with a two-day writing retreat on January 29-30. Held in collaboration with LT Collab, the session, titled "Teaching Reflections in Health Professions Education in Nelson Mandela University: Innovative and Inclusive Pedagogical Encounters," offered a creative space for academics to advance their Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). During the writing retreat, educators shared classroom encounters that foster pedagogical innovation and student-centredness.
a. Outcome
A key outcome was establishing the direction for the Faculty's first SoTL publication, which will capture the voices and experiences of the Faculty’s dedicated academics. The aim of the publication is to have a compilation of scholarly chapters exploring innovative and inclusive pedagogical strategies that enhance learning experiences for health sciences students.
This collection of SoTl reflections is built around the need to reimage teaching encounters that enhance student voices, capture personal narratives, interrogate the role of technological innovation and explore African values-based learning. Therefore, the book broadly aims to:
1. Document and critically examine diverse learning and teaching strategies in health sciences education.
2. Explore evidence-based approaches that enhance student engagement and critical thinking and knowledge application.
3. Promote inclusive and transformative education by integrating African philosophies, humanizing pedagogy, an interprofessional educational platform and culturally relevant teaching strategies.
4. Explore the role of technology in improving teaching and learning in health sciences.
5. Foster reflective and student-led learning approaches that prepare graduates for a dynamic healthcare environment.
Scope and Themes
This compilation will feature chapters that explore the following broad themes and sub-themes:
1. Enhancement of student voices in Health Sciences Education
i) Role of Dialogue and student-led debates in the classroom
ii) Game-based learning
iii) Student engagements on strategies that enhance learning experiences
iv) Problem-based learning and case-based learning
2. Capturing of personal narratives
i) Critical classroom reflections
ii) Transformative educational encounters
iii) Humanising encounters Health Sciences Education
iv) Innovations in addressing language barriers in the classroom
3. The role of technological innovations
i) Professional conduct and beyond – innovations in Health Sciences Education
ii) Expectations for future advancements and the role of digital story-telling
4. Exploring African values-based learning
i) Integrating indigenous knowledge systems in health education.
b. Programme
Attendees benefited from an interactive and insightful two-day event. The programme's pertinent topics and enriching discussions were highly valuable.
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)
Faculty of Health Sciences: Learning and Teaching Directorate in collaboration with LTCollab
Ocean Science Campus, J-Block
Lecture Venue 2: Room 0007
DAY ONE: 29.01.2025
9:00
Refreshments and Registration
9:15 - 9:20
Opening and welcome
Prof Annaline Keet
9:20 – 9:40
Workshop expectations
Mrs Carmen Whittle
9:40 - 10:40
Researching LT encounters
Dr Viwe Ndayi
10:40 – 11:00
Tea
11:00 – 11:30
From the floor: Project / writing
ideas individuals and team
Participants
11:30 – 13:00
Conceptualising and co-constructing FHS joint publication
Participants / guided by Dr Viwe Ndayi
13:00 – 13:30
Lunch
13:30 – 15:15
Going Public
15:15 - 15:45
Ethical Considerations
Prof Elma De Vries
15:45 – 16:00
Pulling together day 1
DAY TWO: 30.01.2025
9:15 – 9:20
9:20 – 10:30
Framing discussions around possible publication routes
Dr. Viwe Ndayi
10:30 – 11:00
Examples of SoTL / relevant projects
11:00 – 11:20
11:20 – 12:30
Publishing in the MUP (Publication types, overall structure and timelines)
Mr. Allan Zinn
12:30 – 13:15
13:00 – 15:15
Writing groups framing possible chapters and develop draft abstracts
15:15 – 15:45
Open feedback space from writing groups
Way forward and vote of thanks
Prof Keet and Ms Loonat
c. Participant feedback
Participant feedback was positive.
Some comments received on what participants found most useful during the session:
i) “The opportunity to collaborate with colleagues from other departments in HS.”
ii) “Discussing SoTL with like-minded colleagues. Developing from thought concepts to concrete outcomes.”
iii) “Information sharing by facilitators, including Ethics rep was most useful for me.”
iv) “Collaborating with others.”
In response to whether participants would recommend the session to their colleagues:
i) “Yes, more academics need to be involved in pragmatic workshops that have definite outcomes and not just another meeting.”
ii) “Yes, I’d definitely suggest this workshop to my colleagues. It has started a trajectory of collaborative participation which is easy and effortless.”
Some recommendations received from participants:
i) “More hands-on writing sessions of 1hour-½ at a time and work with, share, present.”
SoTL Workshop – January 2025