Sessional Teachers: Lecturers, Tutors, Demonstrators & Student Workplace Supervisors
Welcome to teaching at Sydney. It's great that you have taken the plunge and decided to join the large number of teachers (casual, part-time, full-time, and pro bono) who work here.
Definition
Sessional teaching staff are defined as those employed as academics on a casual basis or those on a fixed term academic contracts (either part-time or full-time) of less than two years.
The roles typically filled by sessional teachers include: tutors, lab demonstrators, clinical placement supervisors, other workplace placement supervisors, lecturers, etc.
Induction
You can find information about induction to the University and your local department here. As a sessional teacher your supervisor is most likely to be the unit of study coordinator for the subject you are teaching in. Other times it may be a degree coordinator, or a workplace placement coordinator.
The University also regularly hosts orientation seminars for new staff. These are free and give an overview of the values and strategies at Sydney.
Teaching development courses
Many of the faculties offer short courses on university teaching for sessional staff - more details.
The Principles and Practice of University Teaching and Learning course offered by the ITL is recommended for sessional staff who have completed a development program (or equivalent) in their faculty, or for those in faculties that do not currently offer development programs for sessional tutors, demonstrators, lecturers, placement supervisors, etc.
Some teaching ideas and resources
Videos of classroom teaching (and more) - guidance on tutoring
If you are looking for advice/information on inducting, supervising, or conducting development programs for, building your own faculty-based sessional teachers in your faculty development program, click here.
