Open Course Scheme

We hope that any UQ staff member interested in teaching and learning will find observing a course to be an interesting, informative and valuable experience.

Whether you are a novice or an expert, watching someone else teach is a great way to get new ideas, see different pedagogies being implemented, rediscover old favourites or find comfort in your own teaching achievements.

Participants in the Graduate Teaching Associates program also visit classes as part of their learning experience.

There are usually 20 or more courses to choose from each semester. Most courses are open for the entire semester, but each course coordinator determines their own class availability.

Course selection

Courses can be nominated by anyone at UQ. Many of the open courses we have featured have been recommended to ITaLI, some have been self-nominated, while others have come to our attention through the awards process. To be included in the scheme, courses must be a good example of their type, interesting and demonstrate effective teaching and learning.

If you are an academic who would like to open your course to visitors or recommend another academic’s course, please send an email to itali@uq.edu.au.

Scheme administration

ITaLI administers the Open Course Scheme. The ITaLI website informs visitors which courses are open each semester and provides a booking link for visitors to arrange their visit.

See the list of courses for this semester and book your spot

To attend an open course, select the class you wish to visit and click the booking link provided. You will be directed to an automated email to make your booking.

Once your request is processed, you will receive a confirmation email and you will need to add the booking to your calendar. A similar confirmation is sent to the host academic so they know when to expect you. 

If the class you are attending is run on Zoom, your confirmation email will have either the Zoom link for the class you plan to attend, or the course coordinator’s email address for you to email them to request the Zoom link.

If you are unable to attend the class you have booked, please email itali@uq.edu.au to cancel your booking.

Please take the time to complete the OCS survey (2 minutes on average) to tell us what you valued from your visit and give us feedback on the administration of the scheme. The survey link can be found in your email confirmation.

UQ staff can use 'Guest Access' to view the online presence of courses at the University.

Information about visiting a course Blackboard site is available on the eLearning website.

ITaLI will manage all enquiries, bookings and feedback. When a visitor books to attend your open course, you will receive an email letting you know who is coming and when. Any feedback we receive about your class will be sent to you at the end of the semester. 

How you interact with your visitors is entirely up to you; some host academics like to encourage visitors to participate in the class, and some are happy to speak with visitors after class about the teaching and learning they have seen.

If you need to make any changes to the availability of your course during the semester, please let us know via itali@uq.edu.au as soon as possible so we can cancel the booking for that day.