2010
Call for Proposals – NSF STEM Talent Expansion Program Centers (STEP Centers) – Due August 4, 2010
Jul. 23, 2010—From the National Science Foundation, a call for proposals for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program Centers (STEP Centers): The STEP Centers competition allows a group of faculty representing a cross section of institutions of higher education to identify a national challenge or opportunity in undergraduate education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics...
Sixteen Suggestions for Teaching with Clickers
Jul. 23, 2010—An excerpt from CFT assistant director Derek Bruff’s book, Teaching with Classroom Response Systems: Creating Active Learning Environments, was published on the Tomorrow’s Professor listserv this week. In the excerpt, Derek shares sixteen tips for teaching with clickers, including this one: “7. Have students respond to clicker questions several time throughout a class session. Although...
The Ethics of Personalized Medicine as a First-Year Common Experience
Jul. 23, 2010—Recently, the University of California at Berkeley announced a change to their usual practice of having incoming first-year undergraduates read a common book. This fall, they were asking new students “to return a cotton swab covered in cells collected from their inner cheeks in an effort to introduce them to the emerging field of personalized...
Motivating Students with Application Projects and Poster Sessions
Jul. 23, 2010—CFT assistant director Derek Bruff has another guest post on ProfHacker today: “Motivating Students with Application Projects and Poster Sessions.” In the post, Derek describes an assignment he typically gives in his more “applied” math courses, an application project that gives students a chance to apply the math they have learned in the course to...
CFT Staff Can Help You Review and Recreate Over the Summer
Jul. 23, 2010—Summer time is here, and many faculty members have a break from their usual schedules, a chance to slow down a bit and recreate. If you’ve got a breather, you may find this an opportune time to review and refresh your teaching plans and practices. The Center for Teaching is open all summer, with consultants...
Reflecting On and Documenting Your Teaching Effectiveness
Jul. 23, 2010—With the academic year drawn to a close, now is a good time to reflect on teaching experiences while they’re still fresh. At a recent CFT workshop, 23 faculty gathered to do just that, exploring how to write about teaching, why it’s important to do so, audiences and purposes for such reflections, and concrete strategies...
A Video Introduction to Team-Based Learning
Jun. 7, 2010—The Division of Instructional Innovation and Assessment at the University of Texas-Austin has recently produced a very information 12-minute video on Team-Based Learning (TBL). A core component of TBL is that class time is spent having students work through problems or case studies in permanent teams, usually consisting of six students each. Students respond to...
CIRTLCast June 9 – Engaging Students in Learning Through Diversity (LtD) Using Environmental Case Studies
Jun. 2, 2010—From our colleagues at the CIRTL Network, an interactive webinar of interest to graduate students and faculty in the sciences and engineering: Engaging Students in Learning Through Diversity (LtD) Using Environmental Case Studies June, 9, Bruce Herbert, Professor of Geology & Geophysics, Texas A&M University, 1-2pm CT Solutions to environmental issues are usually based upon...
Teaching Assistant Orientation 2010 Registration Now Open
May. 31, 2010—The Center for Teaching will host its annual Teaching Assistant Orientation on August 18 and 19, 2010 in Buttrick Hall. Teaching Assistant Orientation (TAO) prepares graduate students to assume their teaching duties with confidence by engaging them in interactive sessions about teaching methods and resources. By attending TAO, you will… Discover effective teaching techniques relevant...
Fall Graduate Course: Preparation for Teaching (for Students in the Sciences, Engineering, & Math)
May. 27, 2010—Stacy Klein-Gardner (Teaching & Learning, Biomedical Engineering) is offering a one-credit graduate course on college teaching this fall. BME 395. Preparation for Teaching. Basics of curriculum design, assessment, accreditation. Diversity in the classroom and classroom management. Technology for teaching, assessment, and communication. Basics of K-12 outreach. Open to graduate students in all STEM disciplines wishing...