Researching University Teaching in Australia: themes and issues in academics' reflections

University teaching is a diverse enterprise which encompasses a range of di sciplines, cirricula, teaching methods, learning tasks and learning approac hes. Within this diversity, common themes and issues which reflect academic s' understanding of effective teaching may be discerned. Drawing on written data collected from 708 practising teachers who were nominated by their He ads or Deans as exhibiting exemplary teaching practice, and from interviews conducted with 44 of these, a number of these themes and issues are identi fied and illustrated The findings offer insights which may stimulate furthe r reflection on, and discussion of, the quality of teaching in higher educa tion.