Innovative teaching and learning across multiple campuses: the case of hospitality services management

This paper documents the case of the Hospitality Services Management (HSM) subject at Southern Cross University, and the attempts to develop and deliver a robust, current, yet resource-friendly subject to a dynamic, highly-separated group of over 400 students. The HSM unit has adopted a ‘converged learning model’, what we term a ‘scatter-mode approach’. The unit provides alternatives to the usual teaching and learning styles and offers stimulating and constructive independent learning opportunities for students, by collapsing the boundaries between internal and external cohorts, promoting cross-campus communication and utilising on-line teaching and learning technologies. The paper provides an overview of the ‘scatter-mode’ model adopted by the teaching team and describes the key teaching and learning strategies adopted. Feedback from students has indicated that while assessment activities are challenging they do offer an enriched learning experience. Evaluation of the 'teaching experience' in this unit to date, has identified several positive aspects and particular challenges for staff on the teaching team. These are highlighted in the concluding section of the paper.