Leading Classroom Discussion on Difficult Topics
Apr. 11, 2011—CFT Graduate Teaching Fellow, Leanna Fuller, reflects on the recent Teaching Workshop: Difficult Dialogues in this follow-up post to that event. On March 23rd, 18 participants from 11 Vanderbilt departments gathered at the Center for Teaching to discuss the challenge of leading classroom discussions on difficult topics. We began by talking in small groups about...
Finding the Time to Teach Part 5 – Grade More Efficiently
Apr. 8, 2011—Finding the Time to Teach Part 5 – Grade More Efficiently is the fifth of a series of posts written by CFT Graduate Teaching Fellow, Lily Claiborne. These blog posts are intended to share ideas for prioritizing, planning, working efficiently, and avoiding procrastination – resulting in a more balanced, successful life in academia. In my GradSTEP...
CFT Launches New Resources for Service Learning
Apr. 8, 2011—The last thirty years have seen the growth of a movement within higher education to encourage colleges and universities to be more engaged in public life – by conducting “public scholarship,” by supporting public service and community development, and by teaching students to become more critical and effective citizens. This movement, most often taking the...
CIRTL Network Online Courses on the College Classroom and Problem-Based Learning
Apr. 7, 2011—The Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) has announced their fall online courses on college teaching open to graduate students and post-docs in the sciences, engineering, and mathematics. These courses are interactive, synchronous, online learning experiences designed to prepare grad students and post-docs for future faculty roles. Course descriptions are included...
See What I Mean: Visual Presentations
Apr. 7, 2011—by CFT Assistant Director Derek Bruff This post is part of our spring “See What I Mean” blog series highlighting the effective use of visuals in presentations and lectures. Yesterday I led a workshop for doctoral students in the Teaching & Learning department here on the use of effective visuals in presentations. The 20 or...
Upcoming: Karl Smith on Engineering Education Research (April 12)
Apr. 6, 2011—by CFT Assistant Director Derek Bruff The Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) is sponsoring a talk next week by Karl Smith, Professor of Cooperative Learning in Engineering Education at Purdue University and Morse–Alumni Distinguished Teaching Professor and Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Minnesota. Professor Smith’s talk, titled...
Junior Faculty Teaching Fellow Spotlight: Sean M. Polyn
Apr. 6, 2011—Each month, the CFT Blog highlights the work of our Junior Faculty Teaching Fellows. This month, Sean Polyn, Assistant Professor of Psychology talks about his teaching philosophy and interests. My research focuses on how people remember things that happened to them recently. Since starting, I have taught Principles of Experimental Design twice. This is a...
Finding the Time to Teach Part 4 – Encourage Active Students
Apr. 4, 2011—Finding the Time to Teach Part 4 – Encourage Active Students is the fourth of a series of posts written by CFT Graduate Teaching Fellow, Lily Claiborne. These blog posts are intended to share ideas for prioritizing, planning, working efficiently, and avoiding procrastination – resulting in a more balanced, successful life in academia. In my GradSTEP...
Teaching Calculus through Fingerpainting
Apr. 1, 2011—by CFT Assistant Director Derek Bruff As part of the Center’s continuing exploration of the role of visual thinking in teaching and learning, we’re glad to share this interview with Vanderbilt mathematics professor Sal Froipol on his use of fingerpainting to teach calculus. We recognize that everyone’s teaching context is different, but we hope that...
Imagining America PAGE Conference April 28-29, 2011
Mar. 31, 2011—Update: This event has been postponed. Check with the Warren Center for updates. Imagining America will hold a two day symposium on publicly active graduate education at Vanderbilt University on April 28th and 29th, 2011. The first day of the workshop – Thursday, April 28th from 2 to 5pm – will be focused exclusively on...