TEC Workshops
The Teaching Excellence Center will be scheduling a variety of workshops on a year-round basis. In order to better accommodate different people's schedules, when possible we will offer each workshop at least twice and at different times. Please check back regularly as the list of workshop opportunities will be frequently updated. (Archive of Previous Workshops)
RSVPs are appreciated, but not required unless otherwise noted (tec@sfasu.edu).
More workshops and details will be posted soon!
Fall 2008 Workshops
Syllabus Writing: Are you sitting down to write those syllabi for the Spring semester? Now would be a great time to get some tips on effective syllabus creation. We will cover what to include, what not to include, and what SACS might like to see. We all need to have course syllabi posted online soon and we will cover the basics of web posting as well.
Led by: Norm Markworth
Dates and Times: Tuesday, Dec. 2, 1:30 PM
Thursday, Dec. 4, 2:00 PM
Location: TEC Classroom, Steen Library 220a
Designing Learning Outcomes (Online Tutorial): This revised PowerPoint-formatted tutorial explains the concepts of Backward Design, which are useful when creating the learning objectives for a course. It explains how this process links with the program learning objectives required for our SACS accreditation. The revised tutorial incorporates additional examples gained from the first two workshops in June, and it clarifies some points based on workshop discussions. (See the blank SFA Program Learning Objectives template). [Tutorial created by Amanda Rudolph and Lauren Scharff, June 2008.]
Designing Learning Outcomes (Face-to-Face Workshop): Although always of importance, a current focus due to SACS is the inclusion of assessable learning outcomes (i.e. course goals) on course syllabi. Re-examing your course goals and how you might assess them can also help revitalize a course and allow for creative revisions of approach. This workshop will follow the basic principles of Backward Design (as outlined by Wiggins and McTighe, 2005), and it will complement an online tutorial created by Amanda Rudoph and Lauren Scharff. During the workshop, participants will receive addtional information and examples, work on and share for feedback / discussion their efforts at using this approach for one of their courses.
***Before attending, please go through the online tutorial (see above). Bring a copy of your department's SACS learning objectives with you to the workshop. Also bring a copy of your syllabus for the course(s) for which you plan to develop learning objectives, and example exams / activities / assignments if possible.
Led by: Amanda Rudolph, Mark Seaman, and Lauren Scharff
Dates and Times: Monday, Sep. 22 9:00 - 10:30 AM
Thursday Sep. 25 (3-4:30)
Friday, Oct. 17 noon - 1:30 PM
Location: TEC Classroom, Steen Library 220a
Blogging 101: Workshop participants will learn about incorporating blogs and blogging into their teaching. We'll look at RSS feeds, exchange ideas on how to use blogs in both the face to face and online classrooms, and learn how to set up our own blog using a Google Blogger account. This will be a hands-on workshop, so that by the time you leave, you will have personally created your own googleblogger account and set up a blog.
Led by: Chay Runnels
Dates and Times: November 3, 3:00 - 4:00 PM and November 6, 3:00 - 4:30 PM
Location: InfoLab I computer room, Steen Library first floor
Incorporating Service Learning: Service learning is more than simply requiring students to perform community service / volunteer for a certain number of hours. The Teaching Excellence Center will be working with Student Life and the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs as they help SFA establish support (through community agency connections and mini-grants, etc.) for a focus on service learning. The TEC will offer a series of workshops that will share information about service learning, some concrete examples to illustrate a variety of ways different faculty have incorporated service learning into their classes, and work with you personally to develop service-learning projects that support your course objectives.
Dates and Times:
Monday, Oct. 13 9:00 - 10:00 AM
Monday, Oct. 20 noon - 1:00 PM
Monday Oct. 27 4:00 - 5:00 PM
Location: TEC Classroom, Steen Library 220a