A highly successful seminar and workshop on Teaching and Learning for the Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Information Technology (EBIT) took place at the University of Pretoria (UP)’s Hatfield Campus on 18 and 19 November 2015. The theme of the seminar was the use of technology in support of the teaching and learning process with a particular focus on handling larger groups of students.

Prof Norman Duncan, Vice-Principal: Academic at UP opened the proceedings, which was attended by about 60 enthusiastic delegates and presenters. The invited speaker at the event was Professor Sean Brophy, from the School of Engineering Education at Purdue University, Indiana, USA. Prof Brophy's address titled "Technologies for supporting engineering education in large classrooms: Issues and opportunities", provided excellent guidelines on educational issues around the handling of large groups and the use of technologies in student learning experiences. This was followed by presentations from staff members from EBIT and the Department of Education Innovation at UP. 

One of the outcomes of the event was the formation of a work group for Teaching and Learning, dedicated to matters which are of particular concern for engineering students in South Africa. During the second day of the event, small groups of lecturing staff brainstormed and came up with a number of related items to be addressed by this new work group. The suggestions raised during the brainstorming sessions included taking a fresh look at first year orientation, access to available infrastructure, addressing the computer literacy of first year students, curriculum integration and alignment between modules, departments and disciplines.

The Faculty intends to have annual events of this nature in future and the members of the new work group are very keen to organise regular activities around the theme of Teaching and Learning in the Engineering Environment.

On the photo: (L-R): Prof Sunil Maharaj, Prof Alta vd Merwe, Dr Heidi Rolfes, Prof Sean Brophy, Mr Carl Sandrock, Prof Tania Hanekom, Prof Johan Zietsman, Dr Ferie Samadi, Mr Almero du Pisani, Dr Helen Inglis and Prof Philip de Vaal.