Third Level Query

MonsieurD

I lecture in an IOT in a Dept of Computing. My HOD is trying to timetable me to lecture in a subject that is totally outside my area of expertise (but it is still a computing topic). My expertise is software development (my contract is specifically in this area). The area being foisted on me is in no way software related. I am a permanent member of staff. What rights do I have in relation to the acceptance/rejection of new subjects.

If I am forced to lecture in this area, the students will certainly not get the quality education that they deserve and I will just end up stressed?

ToasterSparks

In university, I had a lecturer for Industrial Relations that was completely upfront and continually told us throughout the course that the topic was completely new to her when she was chosen to lecture in the topic.

She was one of the most engaging and interesting lecturers I had, and the fact that she was new to the area actually made her research the area more and she taught us a lot more about the area than someone that might have dug out years-old notes and droned on about topics unenthusiastically.

So, if you're worried about quality - don't be. If you put in the time to research the area over the summer and make the effort, you can make the class engaging and interesting for students. On the other hand, if this is a case of not wanting to teach outside your specified area, then I guess it depends on what was set out in your contract of employment. If I was the HOD, I'd be expecting flexibility from staff members. I'm sure your lecturing topics will vary from year to year slightly depending on what's needed from courses.

Tom Dunne

ToasterSparks wrote: »

So, if you're worried about quality - don't be.

Hmmm, I wouldn't necessarily agree with that.

You can't be an expert in all subjects, that's a given. However, if you have no real experience in a subject, bar what you learned in your own degree many years ago, I think it is fair to say that you may not be able to deliver a quality course. Through no fault of your own, of course.

As for what rights you have in a situation like this, I really don't know. If you check your contract, I am sure there is something in there about being flexible and doing as requested by the HOD (not saying your are not being flexible, btw).

However, I wouldn't sweat it. Have a look over the lecture notes/Powerpoint slides and see what you can tailor to suit your own experience. I am sure you can edit out what you don't know (while maintaining course integrity, of course).

foxylady69

MonsieurD wrote: »

I lecture in an IOT in a Dept of Computing. My HOD is trying to timetable me to lecture in a subject that is totally outside my area of expertise (but it is still a computing topic). My expertise is software development (my contract is specifically in this area). The area being foisted on me is in no way software related. I am a permanent member of staff. What rights do I have in relation to the acceptance/rejection of new subjects.

If I am forced to lecture in this area, the students will certainly not get the quality education that they deserve and I will just end up stressed?

Sorry to hear about your problems, don't know much about the legalities but why not try to develop some software yourself and maybe leave the job if you are so stressed?

MonsieurD

Thanks for the advice FoxyLady. I might just take your advice.