MSD PLTO

OVERVIEW OF CHANGES

PLTO now consists of Part 1: Core content, and Part 2: Stream-specific materials and live session. You need to complete both parts to meet the University’s teaching requirements and gain an attendance certificate.

Core content and stream-specific materials are self-directed learning in Canvas which must be completed before you can book onto to the stream-specific live session.

If you have completed PLTO for one stream (e.g., ‘Taught Masters’), you are welcome to subsequently book onto the other stream (e.g., ‘Tutorials’), if both are relevant to the types of teaching you wish to undertake at Oxford.

WHY CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE

Our PLTO tutors have reviewed the feedback from the sessions held online and found the following:

• Working through preparation materials in Canvas has ensured greater engagement and interactivity in the live sessions.
• Most participants in live sessions wanted to focus on tutorial teaching OR taught Masters’ teaching, but not both.

PROCESS THROUGH PLTO PARTS 1 AND 2

Complete Part 1 in Canvas using this link 

There is approximately 2-3 hours’ worth of content you will need to work through. This content will be revisited in the stream-specific perspective in the live session.

The core content is relevant to each stream of PLTO and cover teaching opportunities at Oxford, evidence-based principles of learning, diversity and inclusivity, welfare and wellbeing, feedback to students, evaluating your teaching, and further teacher training available. 

Once you have completed Part 1 and the quiz at the end of the core content, the live sessions booking links will be revealed. You will be able to book onto a live session and access the preparation materials in Canvas relevant to the 'Tutorials' or 'Masters' streams. These preparation materials are brief and will help you get the most out of your live session.

3. Attend the live session.

Please be aware that the course tutors will ask for feedback immediately after the live session, and that you will also have to complete the MSD Skills feedback once your attendance is confirmed. 

Attendance certificate is issued once you have completed the live session and filled out the brief feedback survey.

Any questions? Please contact courses@medsci.ox.ac.uk.

PLTO CORE CONTENT ACCESS  AS A STAND-ALONE RESOURCE

For those who are already teaching at the University but wish to refresh their knowledge of the topics outlined in Part 1 above, the self-enrolment link to the core content in Canvas can be accessed here. Please note: completing the core content on its own does NOT confer PLTO attendance and the right to teach in the University.

OTHER RELEVANT TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Advancing teaching and learning (ATL):

The ATL programme is designed for those who have sustained teaching experience (i.e., teaching more than a just a few sessions) and have completed PLTO, and wish to develop their teaching or learning support practice in higher education. It is open to DPhil students, postdoctoral and early career researchers, amongst others. It is run by the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL). Further information can be found on this link.

Large group and lecturing:

This series of live workshops will introduce you to the principles and practice of effective lecturing and small group teaching and how to engage students, develop critical thinking and enhance their learning. It is run by MSD Skills training and scheduled dates will be advertised in the MSD Skills training calendar.

Specific teacher training available in MSD departments:

Biochemistry PLTO – An alternative PLTO course is run in the Department of Biochemistry and is compulsory for all wishing to teach within this department. If you are interested in attending the Biochemistry course, please email mark.roberts@bioch.ox.ac.uk.

Preparing for Teaching in Psychology (PTP) – Experimental Psychology runs this subject-specific form of PLTO twice a year. For further information, please email maryann.noonan@psy.ox.ac.uk.

Short, online teaching courses in Canvas to support teaching staff:

CTL have developed Oxford-specific courses in Canvas to support teaching staff. These can be accessed using your Oxford Single Sign-On credentials and can be viewed at any time. Links to the courses in Canvas can be found on this page.