A Study On The Function Of Division For Teaching And Learning Development In Higher Education Institution

This paper takes the functions of division for teaching and learning in higher education institution as the research object,follows the process of theoretical analysis,empirical investigation,analyzing problems,analyzing causes,making comparison and learning for reference,and proposing solutions and suggestions,adopts theory of development for teachers in colleges and universities and other relevant theories,taking the presupposition and generation of the function of division for teaching and learning in higher education institution as the main line,and studies the functions of the division for teaching and learning in higher education institution based on the combination of theory and practice.The emergence of the division stems from the new needs of higher education institutions,include the following four ones:the need for the university administrators to have a professional team responsible for the matters concerning teaching and learning for teachers to improve the overall quality of education and teaching;the need for university teachers to obtain all-round services for their professional development offered by specially-established bodies;the need for university students to get more help related to academic work from the university;the need for other teaching support staff to receive professional career development guidance.However,the existing internal bodies of colleges and universities fail to meet these needs.In this context,Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China issued relevant policies to promote the establishment of the division for teaching and learning in higher education institution.As an administrative and academic internal body of a university,the division,compared with other bodies in a university,is specialized,administrative and academic,educative and systematic,and serves teachers and students.Ideally,it has such functions as offering teaching service,conducting teaching research,creating teaching culture and providing educational guidance.The historical mission of the division for teaching and learning is to promote the realization of these ideal functions.The function realization process of the division for teaching and learning in higher education institution is the result of the interaction among the three elements of the function system,that is,the functional subject creates due value for the functional object by means of the functional carrier.The functional subject refers to the material and energy elements such as manpower,material resources,financial resources,information,power,technologies and regime possessed by the division itself;the functional object refers to the cognitive,emotional and behavioral responses of the teachers,students,other teaching support staff before and after receiving the service of the division;the functional carrier refers to a series of activities and projects organized by the subject to satisfy the needs of the object,such as common teaching and training activities and teaching exchange activities.It is the interaction of the three elements that contributes to the realization of the functions of the division.The formation of the realistic functions of division for teaching and learning in higher education institution presents the following characteristics:the functional object has been formed to a certain scale;the functional carrier has been diversified;and that the functions of the division for teaching and learning in higher education institution have basically been exerted.Nevertheless,there also remain problems such as overlapping functions,insufficiency of functions,weak effect of functions,insufficient coverage of functional object,and great differences between the functions of divisions.In general,there is still a gap between the actual and the ideal functions.The reasons caused this gap are complicated,including the external environment influence out of the universities and colleges,the restriction of the internal environment and development limitations of the division itself.The international experience is instructive to the optimization of the function of division for teaching and learning in higher education institution in China.Divisions for teaching and learning in higher education institution in Britain and the United States over a long period of time,and they have their own advantages and features.Specifically,mature concept of teacher development effectively guide the construction of divisions,the divisions in the two nations meet the diversified needs of functional object as much as possible,attach great importance to integration of teaching and learning,create abundant and flexible activities,and build a comprehensive teaching development system for teachers.Drawing lessons from foreign advanced experience and combining with the reality of our country,we can improve the function of development institution from the following ways.Firstly,in virtue of external strengths,we need to strengthen the construction of functional subject by strengthening human resources,optimizing organizational structure and enriching information resources;secondly,we need to give full dominate play to the role of functional object so that they could become an important force to promote the function of the divisions;thirdly,enhanced cooperation need to be conducted with other institutions to constantly explore new functions such as academic education and professional certification of teachers,so as to realize diversified functions,to realize the diversification and characteristic of the functions of various divisions.Finally,corresponding system should be established in combination with the university governance system to clarify the relationship among rights,responsibilities and interests in the process of function exertion,setting up a complete system of teaching and learning development,creating a system environment conducive to the sound operation of the divisions.