The June discussion forum on ‘Graduate Characteristics at CQU’ provided staff with the opportunity to consider the issue of ‘graphicacy’ as a generic skill.

Gene Dayton, Teaching Scholar and Senior Lecturer in the School of Humanities at CQU, presented an enlightening overview of some fundamental approaches to communicating visually. His presentation initiated some interesting comments from the audience as to ways they are already using graphicacy in teaching and assessing students, and as an aid to providing clarity and interest in courses. The discussion also raised the concern of whether this skill, while being modelled by many staff across the university, may currently not be sufficiently and/or comprehensively taught to students.

The issue of ‘where to from here’ was partially addressed by Gene when he pointed out that the course ‘GEOG19022: Graphic and Cartographic Techniques’ could be undertaken by any student in the university as an elective. Although positioned within the Geography discipline, this course teaches students fundamental graphicacy skills utilising relatively simple to use and commonly accessible computing resources. The course develops abilities to use graphic materials to aid in communicating information to technical and non-technical audiences. Design principles are emphasised in the course and students learn to design and produce various kinds of statistical and other graphs, maps, diagrams, tables and charts. Alternative ways of illustrating information as a means of improving communication are also explored.

The powerpoint presentation of Gene’s talk to the ‘Graduate Characteristics Forum’ can be accessed at URL:.

http://www.ahs.cqu.edu.au/humanities/geography/GeneDayton Graphicacy/GeneDaytonGraphicacy.htm .

‘Graduate Characteristics Discussion Forums’ are regularly scheduled on the first Friday of every month, between 1pm and 2pm. They are ISLed to the Central Queensland campuses and open to all staff to attend. The July forum will include a debate on a topic pertinent to the issue of developing graduate characteristics at CQU. Persons interested in being on one of the debating teams should contact Jillian Litster on j.litster@cqu.edu.au . A ‘Graduate Characteristics’ email discussion list exists. People can email Jillian if they wish to be added to the list. In addition, a ‘Generic Skills’ URL site is provided on the CQU Teaching and Learning Portal, at URL: http://learning.cqu.edu.au/ .