CQU will again be hosting nationally and internationally recognised guest speakers at the annual Learning and Teaching Showcase in February 2006.

Dr David Timothy Duvall (University of Otago, New Zealand). Professor Sandra Wills (University of Wollongong), Associate Professor Justin Malbon (Griffith University) and Associate Professor Seamus Fagan (University of Newcastle) have all indicated they will be participating in the event.

The combination of invited guest speakers and presentations by CQU staff aims to provide and inward and outward reflection on issues relating to Learning and Teaching.

The Showcase planned for February 8-10 will explore the theme of Highways in Higher Education.

The vast majority of CQU campuses are physically connected via Highway 1 in Australia. Others are connected by inland highways and highway routes in the sky.

Our students and staff are also active travellers on the information highway. Highways evoke a sense of travel and destination, both of which our students undertake when they enrol at CQU: 'travel' in the learning journey they undertake, and 'destination' in the degree/s they achieve.

The notion of 'highways in higher education' recognises that CQU has a physical presence that spans vast distances. It also provides the opportunity to explore three sub-themes related to 'highways and travelling', these are:.

Academic Learning Journeys.

Information Highway.

Spanning the Distance.

Professor John Rickard has stated: “Over the three days in February an exciting collection of keynote speakers, special events and presentations will take place. Of particular significance will be the presentations by CQU staff about some of the initiatives and programs that support our students' learning journey on the highways in higher education”.

Professor Rickard encourages all staff to become involved in the 2006 Learning and Teaching Showcase. He sees the event as being important on the CQU staff development calendar and as a great opportunity to add to skills and knowledge of learning and teaching.

Professor Sandra Wills.

Sandra is with the University of Wollongong and also Director of CEDIR. (Centre for Educational Development and Interactive Resources). She is an educational developer with 30 years' experience in developing alternative paradigms of teaching. She has developed tools and examplars to bring enquiry learning alive for teachers and to bring constructivism alive as a model for students. See further details at http://www.uow.edu.au/cedir/about/staff.html .

Associate Professor Justin Malbon.

Justin is the Dean, Faculty of Law, Griffith University and has broad legal and academic experience. He is the Director of the Credit and Consumer Law Research Program at Griffith University, Adjunct Research Fellow of the Australian Centre for Intellectual Property in Agriculture and a Visiting Fellow of the European University Institute, Florence Italy. See details at http://www.gu.edu.au/school/law/sect_00/staff/content_malbon.html .

Associate Professor Seamus Fagan.

Some staff may remember Seamus from his time as Director of Studies of the CQU Language Centre at Rockhampton. Seamus has been Director of the University of Newcastle Language Centre, and is currently Director of the University's English Language and Foundation Studies Centre. Seamus has been on the Council of English Australia, the peak body for the English language industry in Australia for more than 11 years, and was recently elected the Chair of English Australia. See further details at http://www.newcastle.edu.au/centre/elfsc/ .

Dr David Timothy Duvall.

David is a senior lecturer in Tourism and Director, International Business at the University of Otago , Dunedin, New Zealand. Students at Otago voted David as one of the University’s best teachers in 2004 and again in 2005. In 2005, he was awarded the overall prize for teaching by the Otago Students’ Association. For the Bachelor of Tourism degree at Otago, he coordinates and directs the capstone paper where students learn to be professional consultants by providing strategic direction to tourism destinations. His research interests centre around temporary mobilities and aviation management. Further information visit http://www.davidtimothyduval.com .

Photos: Associate Professor Justin Malbon and Professor Sandra Wills are among speakers due for the Learning and Teaching Showcase.