Project Context:

• This project was about the creation of a unique community of practice space for postgraduates who teach, for the sharing of pedagogy and practice, mentorship and a resource for teaching in the digital era.

• Graduate Teaching Assistants occupy the liminal space between ‘staff’ and ‘student’ and as such, opportunities for development are limited to specific programmes (PTHE, APP PGR) which although successful in the short term do not enable long term membership of a community of practice which might sustain them through their teaching work.
• Academic research noted that GTAs’ self-efficacy declines after initial training has concluded, therefore supporting ongoing practice beyond initial CPD opportunities is important, for these valuable members of our teaching community.

Project Co-lead Rebecca Stone (Arts)	Project Co-lead Sara Hattersley (ADC)

Project Team (PGR Teacher Champions):

Pierre Botcherby (History), Liz Bishop (Engineering), Josh Patel (History), Sahar Shah (Law), Kate Lewis (Life Sciences), Matteo Mazzamurro (Computer Science), Joy Oti (Law), Matthew Harwood (Life Sciences)

Project Impact

• Given the ongoing recruitment of several hundred PGR teachers per annum at Warwick, this project provided a space for these early careers researchers to connect specifically about their teaching on an ongoing basis.
• The initial WIHEA funds allowed the project to establish itself and offered an initial resource and point of connection, but the legacy will be how this community of practice and digital space can go on to support PGR teachers in the future.

Project Aims

• Created an online hub with links to resources and support, particularly in relation to teaching in the digital age
• Developed of a small team of PGR teaching champions in digital pedagogies and mentorship/educational leadership
• Established an ongoing community of practice for PGR teachers
• Developed teaching and development materials and case studies in relation to pedagogy (particularly technology-enhanced learning) across the disciplines, created by the PGR teaching community, enhanced by their own work

Project Timeline

• January 2021 – February 2021: Recruited four PGR TCs from the PGR teaching community and worked with them to scope out specific project outcomes and individual learning outcomes.
• March 2021 – June 2021: Established the PGR teacher hub. Activities in this timeframe included: co-designing of the hub space and resources; sourcing materials and resources from the community; piloting and evaluating an initial set of online materials with PGR teachers from the community; disseminating project activities, outputs and ongoing evaluations at the Warwick Education Conference/TEALfest.
• October – November 2021: Hosted a term one online PGR teacher symposium, to provide an official ‘launch’ to the community of practice and the online space.