CETL Weekly Announcements
Dear Colleagues:
This week, I had the opportunity to share CETL opportunities at the Tenure and Promotion Workshop hosted by the Faculty Development Committee. I am often asked in these workshops about ways to assess teaching – and there are several! One really great tool offered through CETL is observation – both by trained students and by faculty consultants. These observations can most definitely make instructors anxious; however, our process is intended to be one that’s focused on coaching and mentoring. Faculty and student observers want to know about your goals for student learning and ask that you share questions you have about your teaching.
During the observation, we provide you with feedback on the students’ experiences but also share feedback on some of the following questions:
- Are the teaching methods well suited for the objectives of the class?
- In what ways does the instructor address student questions?
- What strategies are used by the instructor when students do not understand the material?
- How does the instructor engage with students?
- How does the instructor emphasize and summarize key points?
With responses to these questions, we can connect you to professional development opportunities within CETL and literature to explore beyond.
If you are interested in learning more about classroom observations from a trained student or faculty, contact us at cetl@mnsu.edu.
Take care,
In this issue:
- CETL Program Highlights
- CETL Program Proposals
- CETL Faculty Fellows Program
- Teaching and Learning Spotlight
- IRB Drop-in Sessions
- LinkedIn Learning Courses
- Introducing the Excellence in Teaching Series
- Creating Space for Democracy
- Fostering Diverse Communities of Mentorship
CETL Program Highlights
CETL Fall Certificates are starting soon. You can learn about some of the program offerings below. These particular certificates are starting soon, but there are also more certificates for later in the semester. You can learn more about all of the CETL programs and register for them here.
Roundtable Panel Discussion: Top Take-Aways from the ACUE Effective Online Teaching Practices Course
Facilitated by Dr. Jonathan Paver and Dr. Elizabeth Harsma
A cohort of 30 faculty who teach in Minnesota State Mankato ONLINE programs/courses are participating in the ACUE Effective Online Teaching Practices course. In this roundtable panel discussion, faculty participants will discuss the experience, share their top take-aways, and share examples of practices they’ve implemented.Date: October 25 from 2:00-3:00 pm
Through the Eyes of Students
Facilitated by Dr. Laura Jacobi
Would you like the opportunity to hear from students what strategies work best in helping them to learn? In this 5-week certificate program facilitated by Laura Jacobi (University MavPASS Faculty Liaison) and students who have been trained in or experienced various learning strategies, we will explore learning from the student perspective. Through participation, we hope to answer the following questions:
- What pedagogical strategies work best in the classroom in supporting student learning?
- What environment supports student learning, and how can professors foster it?
- What are the best ways to create and foster an inclusive classroom environment?
- What types of assessments help students to best comprehend and retain the curriculum?
Dates: Thursdays (10/27-12/1, except for 11/25) at 3:00 pm
Student Stories: Evidence-Based Online Course Design
Facilitated by Dr. Carrie Lewis Miller and Michael ManderfeldThis certificate draws on data from two different surveys, implemented between 2019-2022, designed to understand the student experience in online courses based on course design elements. These sessions will share survey results from our 500+ student respondents and examine course design implications in light of the findings. Applicable online course revisions will be discussed, and consultations for implementation will be available.Dates: Mondays (11/7-11/28) at 2:00 pm or Tuesdays (11/8-11/29) at 10:00 am
Students Consulting on Teaching (SCOT) Observations
Requests for SCOT observations are now open. The Students Consulting On Teaching (SCOT) program is dedicated to quality education at Minnesota State Mankato and to providing faculty members with information that helps them have a better sense of what is happening in their classrooms. The program is available to both new and veteran teachers. We recommend observations after the first test situation. Student consultants respond to professors' invitations to gather data on classroom activities and provide them with confidential observation reflections.
To request SCOT observations, fill out this brief survey.
CETL Program Proposals
Will you share your teaching and learning expertise with your colleagues? The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning is soliciting program proposals for Spring 2023 from faculty and staff.
To submit your proposal, fill out this form.
Program Proposals are due on October 28th by 4:00 pm
CALL FOR APPLICANTS
CETL Faculty Fellows Program
The mission of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning is to support faculty members’ personal growth in ways that advance social justice and racial equity. We help faculty develop effective teaching practices and support their ongoing professional development.
To support this goal, a Faculty Fellows program has been designed to give cohorts of faculty the opportunity to advance their teaching, scholarship, professional development, student growth, and service to the university and the broader community. Through this program faculty will pursue work on a particular pedagogical topic to advance racial equity and social justice and develop materials designed to improve teaching and learning in their courses. Each cohort will be led by a facilitator with expertise in teaching and/or research in the area in which they lead for this program.
Faculty Fellows will attend weekly professional development trainings and learning modules, develop teaching and learning tools, engage in scholarly activities to assess the effectiveness of the teaching and learning tools, and disseminate the findings of their work at the Scholar at Work Conference. This program will run for an academic year, beginning in the Fall and concluding after the Scholars at Work Conference.
Cohorts for Faculty Fellows (subject to interest and funding) include:
- The Socially Just Classroom
- Writing to Learn and Engage
- Decreasing Equity Gaps in Gateway Courses
More details about the cohorts and submission information can be found here. Contact Brooke Burk with any questions (brooke.burk@mnsu.edu).
Applications are due by November 1, 2022.
Teaching and Learning Spotlight
CETL’s Teaching and Learning Spotlight is Dr. R. Danielle Scott. Dr. Scott is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech, Hearing, and Rehabilitation Services. She was nominated for teaching critical thinking through courses focusing on cultural humility and multicultural issues in the Speech Rehabilitation Program. She engages students in developing critical thinking skills around equity, diversity, and inclusion issues through various culturally responsive and antiracist teaching practices.
Check out our full interview here.
IRB Drop-in Sessions
Have questions about how to submit your research for IRB approval? Curious about research ethics? Honestly, not even sure where to begin? Please join us for no-pressure drop-in sessions monthly 10:00-11:00 am. Hosted by Jason Kaufman, Director of the Institutional Review Board. All question are welcome.
Zoom
https://minnstate.zoom.us/my/jasonakaufman
Zoom ID:691-078-7144
Passcode:1701
- AMA with the IRB
- Scheduled: Oct 28, 2022 at 10:00 to 11:00 am, CDT
- AMA with the IRB
- Scheduled: Nov 18, 2022 at 10:00 to 11:00 am, CST
- AMA with the IRB
- Scheduled: Dec 9, 2022 at 10:00 to 11:00 am, CST
- AMA with the IRB
- Scheduled: Jan 13, 2023 at 10:00 to 11:00 am, CST
- AMA with the IRB
- Scheduled: Jan 27, 2023 at 10:00 to 11:00 am, CST
- AMA with the IRB
- Scheduled: Feb 24, 2023 at 10:00 to 11:00 am, CST
- AMA with the IRB
- Scheduled: Mar 24, 2023 at 10:00 to 11:00 am, CDT
- AMA with the IRB
- Scheduled: Apr 28, 2023 at 10:00 to 11:00 am, CDT
LinkedIn Learning Courses
As we move towards the mid-term, check out October’s featured LinkedIn Learning courses to build your skills. (You need to sign in to LinkedIn Learning to view the links.)
- Academic Research Skills
- How to Cultivate Work-Life Balance
- Mental well-being
- Microsoft Teams Training
Introducing the Excellence in Teaching Series
Minnesota State is filled with incredible faculty who are doing amazing work focused on their teaching craft. The purpose of the Network for Educational Development (NED) Excellence in Teaching Series is to continue honoring and showcasing the experience and expertise of the Board of Trustees Awards for Excellence Educators of the Year through the opportunity to present, share, or teach about teaching and learning topics that have contributed to their recognition as excellent educators.
Join the first installment of this series, “The Teacher’s Life: Guided Reflection for Renewal” on Saturday, October 8, 2022. This virtual workshop is facilitated by 2016 Educator of the Year Bill Breen from Anoka-Ramsey Community College.
You may register here.
Creating Space for Democracy: Methods for Promoting Civil Discourse in Higher Education
How can educators use civil discourse to address increasing polarization and free speech controversies on campus? Drawing on lessons from Creating Space for Democracy, this session will introduce various methods of dialogue and deliberation, including case study examples from leading dialogue practitioners. Participants will leave this session with ideas and practices for promoting free spaces for civil discourse in classroom, student life, and community settings. This session will take place on October 12, 2022 from 1:00-2:30 PM.
You can register for this workshop here.
Annual Mentoring Conference
Fostering Diverse Communities of Mentorship: Evidence-Based Practices for Reciprocal Growth
The University of New Mexico Mentoring lnstitute's Annual Conference aims to host a broad constituency, including divisions of higher education, academic researchers, educators, community leaders, administrators, non-profit partners, government agencies, and other professionals. They will be offering a variety of intense, 6-hour workshops aimed at developing effective mentoring skills. These workshops include:
- Pre-Conference Workshops: Monday, October 24, 8:00-11:00 am & 2:00-5:00 pm
- Coaching and Leadership Approaches to Mentoring
- Weaving Negotiation Skills Into Mentorship
- How to Develop Trust in Mentoring Relationships
- Post-Conference Workshops: Friday, October 28, 8:00-11:00 am & 2:00-5:00 pm
- Developing Critical Thinking Skills in Mentees
- Mentoring Across Differences: Transforming Individuals, Relationships, Institutions, and Professions
- Assessment of Mentoring Programs and Relationships
More information about the conference can be found here.
A full schedule of the conference can be found here.
Registration can be found here.
