Teaching and Learning Group Introduces New Faculty Development Series for Fall 2006

DIIA’s commitment to ongoing faculty development is expanding in fall of 2006 with the addition of a new series titled “Designing courses: Beginning with the end in mind.” Join DIIA and faculty colleagues for monthly in-depth pedagogical instruction and hands-on experiences—this is an opportunity for you to learn new techniques, ask questions, and build classroom instructional materials that work. The monthly 75–minute sessions will take place in FAC 327, 1–2:15 p.m.

The power of grading for learning and assessment, enroll now
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Assigning grades to student work and at the end of the semester is one of the most difficult parts of teaching. In this workshop we will address some of the most common questions instructors have about grading, such as matching assignments and exams to the kinds of learning you value most, establishing standards and criteria for grading, and using grades to improve learning.

Effective discussions for student learning, enroll now
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Leading discussions requires advanced planning. This session will help you develop successful planning techniques and will also discuss ways to overcome barriers to discussion and to find alternative discussion activities that promote learning.

Effective lectures for student learning, enroll now
Monday, November 13, 2006
Many instructors forget that the purpose of giving a lecture is NOT simply to deliver information, but to help students learn and understand that information. This session will explore how students learn from lectures and how you can help that process occur by turning any lecture from a passive to an active learning experience.

Creating a syllabus that pulls it all together, enroll now
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
In this session you will have an opportunity to analyze your own syllabus and find ways to make it communicate your expectations for student work, your understanding of the course content and its organization, your teaching philosophy, how you plan to relate to your students and numerous other things that can make your syllabus a valuable resource for you and your students.
**Please bring a copy of a syllabus you want to work on.

All meetings will be held in FAC 327, 1–2:15 p.m.

Faculty are also invited to bring a brown bag lunch and join the Fall 2006 Collaborative for Instructional Impact (CII) Noontime Forums, focusing this fall on “Sharing what works.” These monthly noontime forums in room 4.118 (Board of Directors Room) of the Texas Union were created expressly for faculty to share and learn about instructional practices at UT Austin.

Strategies for developing community in large classes
Monday, September 25, 2006

Teaching 21st century learners
Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Publishing your teaching experiences
Monday, November 20, 2006

All meetings will be held in room 4.118 of the Texas Union from noon–1:00 p.m. (Board of Directors Room)

For topic suggestions or questions, contact Lynn Jones Eaton at lynnjeaton@austin.utexas.edu or 232-1777.