Instructional Development Sessions

The DIIA encourages faculty to participate in the free monthly instructional development series in MAI 26. Join colleagues for in-depth pedagogical insight and hands-on experience. Learn new techniques, ask questions, and build classroom instructional materials that work.

DIIA presents September/October 2009 training and professional development opportunities for UT-Austin faculty, staff, and graduate students. Take advantage of DIIA expertise to learn new skills or refine your current classroom effectiveness. To register, click on the links following each class description. Each session is scheduled for 90 minutes unless noted otherwise.

Designing Effective Lectures for Learning

Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 1:00 p.m., MAI 26
It’s easy to forget that a lecture should not simply deliver content but also help students understand information. We will explore the ways students learn from lectures and how you can help that process along. By analyzing lectures from a student perspective, we’ll generate strategies to turn any lecture from a passive to an active learning experience.
Register: https://www.utexas.edu/academic/diia/dms/courseReg/main/?cn=116

Critical Incidents

Wednesday, November 4, 2009, 10:00 a.m., MAI 26
Handling a situation that threatens to destabilize positive interactions requires delicate professional judgment. An instructor’s goal must be to maintain and promote sound relationships with students and colleagues. We will use video clips of several critical incidents and discuss what factors contributed to the incident and what strategies instructors might use to minimize them.
Register: https://www.utexas.edu/academic/diia/dms/courseReg/main/?cn=207

Team-Based Learning for Classroom Success

Monday, November 9, 2009, 1:00 p.m., MAI 26
We will explore the experience of Team-Based Learning (TBL), an increasingly popular form of college-level collaborative learning. TBL's sequencing of individual work and team work supported by immediate feedback transforms student groups into cohesive and high-performing learning teams, in which students increasingly hold each other accountable for coming to class prepared and inquisitive.
Register: https://www.utexas.edu/academic/diia/dms/courseReg/main/?cn=165

Teaching for Critical Thinking

Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 10:30 a.m., MAI 26
Because "critical thinking" can refer to many things, we’ll participate in focused, practical activities structured by Halpern's four-part framework for teaching critical thinking skills in college. We’ll explore how to (1) help students develop a critical thinking attitude, (2) teach specific critical thinking skills, (3) help students transfer critical thinking skills into new contexts, and (4) cultivate in students habits of reflection and metacognition.
Register: https://www.utexas.edu/academic/diia/dms/courseReg/main/?cn=208

Interactive Techniques for Large Classes

Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 1:00 p.m., MAI 26
Even the most enthusiastic instructor is challenged by the responsibility of teaching classes of 100 students or more. Keeping students attentive in large classes requires more than being the sage on the stage. We will analyze the dynamics of group learning to generate strategies for promoting community, participation, and learning in classes of any size.
Register: https://www.utexas.edu/academic/diia/dms/courseReg/main/?vcn=1456&cn=117

Faculty Instructional Technology Training

All sessions are in GSB 2.130.

Managing Your Class in a Virtual World
Thursday, October 22, 10:00-11:30 a.m.

Ongoing Course Assessment (OCA)
Thursday, October 22, 2:00-3:15 p.m.

Teaching with PowerPoint
Tuesday, October 27, 10:00 a.m.- noon

Getting Started with iClicker
Monday, November 2, 2:00-3:00 p.m.

Blackboard: Getting Started
Wednesday, November 4, 10:00-11:15 a.m.

Blackboard: Increasing Feedback
Thursday, November 12, 2:00-3:15 p.m.

Clicker Systems: Beyond the Basics
Friday, November 13, 1:00-2:00 p.m.

Managing Grades with the Grade Center
Wednesday, November 18, 10:00-11:15 a.m.

What's New in Blackboard Version 9
Monday, November 23, 2:00-3:15 p.m.