I joined UJ Philosophy in 2009. I was privileged to join a department where teaching and research were equally prized. I was privileged to join a department where pedagogical theory was discussed formally in meetings and informally in the passages. I was privileged to join a department with a strong tradition of vigorous and consistent peer review of teaching practice; and of holistic curriculum development requiring the involvement of all members of staff coming from a variety of traditions in the discipline. Significantly for me, I was part of a drive to develop a world class and innovative tutoring programme at UJ philosophy. This was an important experience for me, because my own experience as a tutor had been one where the tutor sat in their office and passively waited for students with problems to materialise. This approach stands in stark contrast to the active and integrated role of the tutor that I advocate and use in my teaching today. At UJ Philosophy, where teaching was considered an essential aspect of academic life, I was able to thrive as a lecturer. I was able to enhance and articulate my teaching philosophy in a deliberate and thoughtful manner, and engage with a critical and exceptionally skilled and knowledgeable mentor, as well as with experts in academic technologies. I was granted opportunities to see my teaching practice as a place where I could experiment with ways to give my students the knowledge, skills and values they would need to excel. 91 A Journey of Innovation
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