Sharon A. Cooper was a mathematics teacher and lecturer in teacher education before becoming lecturer, Curriculum Design and Development at the University of Newcastle. In this role she has designed and coordinated Graduate Certificate units in course and assessment design. She now works as a sessional academic and curriculum design consultant. Siva Krishnan is a senior lecturer in Engineering at Deakin University. His work as an engineer, and then engineering lecturer inspired his curriculum design and development work. He has provided leadership and support for many course improvement projects for Deakin Learning Futures. As Course Director, he oversees unit design and delivery with a particular focus on enriching students’ learning experiences.
"Curriculum design for higher education is complex, challenging and can be profoundly rewarding. However, in the rush and tumble of teaching, evidence-based practice can take a backseat while teachers focus on just getting through. Cooper and Krishnan have written a practitioner’s guide to unit (subject) design which provides reliable, pertinent advice for teachers and teaching teams. The authors bring many years of practical experience to the book which recognizes the normal rhythms and challenges of teaching in Australian universities. If you are looking for effective advice for Australian university teachers - here it is. Professor Elizabeth Johnson PFHEA , Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education, Deakin University Higher education in Australia has advanced dramatically since the 1960s when I first graduated. This new publication by Sharon Cooper & Siva Krishnan challenges teachers to think outside the square (their own learning styles) when designing courses, creating learning experiences and devising relevant student assessment. The authors draw on examples from their university teaching careers to help new college and university teachers become more adept at offering students a satisfying and stimulating education. This ""student-centred"" approach, in courses and degrees framed by a generic higher education, should result in graduates being far better prepared for tackling professional and life experiences than I was. Grahame Feletti, BSc, BAHons, PhD, Retired Associate Professor of Higher Education, The University of Newcastle, Australia"