NOTE Participants’ perceptions of a teaching methods course for beginning lecturers at Temasek polytechnic

Abstract

Singapore's Temasek Polytechnic recently recruited a large number of lecturers who are required to undertake an accredited part‐time 1.5 year award course titled Teaching in Higher Education Certificate (THEC). The THEC programme is delivered in‐house and assessed externally. Graduates acquire basic teaching skills and demonstrate reflective practice. As part of an ongoing study into the effectiveness of the course, a series of discussion groups was conducted with 13 randomly selected participants and graduates. The qualitative data were analysed and gave eight general perceptions that participants have of the course. The perceptions indicate the course is well regarded because it is relevant by enabling theory to be put into practice and prompts participants to be reflective practitioners.