‘CFT Services’
Mid-Semester Student Feedback
Sep. 26, 2017—The feedback students provide about your teaching on their end-of-semester course evaluations can be valuable in helping you improve and refine your teaching. Soliciting mid-semester student feedback has the additional benefit of allowing you to hear your students’ concerns while there is still time in the semester to make appropriate changes. A Small Group Analysis...
Fall Blackboard News: New Features, New Support
Aug. 16, 2015—As the new administrative home for Blackboard, the Center for Teaching (CFT) is excited to announce a number of developments for Vanderbilt’s primary course management system, all part of Vanderbilt’s strategic investment in the use of technology to support student learning. New Features A number of platform upgrades were rolled out this summer providing new...
Peer review of teaching with a helping hand from the CFT
Aug. 11, 2015—by Cynthia Brame, Assistant Director Peer review is a cornerstone of the way that academics build new knowledge, helping to ensure high quality research that moves fields forward. Peer review of teaching can be a valuable tool for much the same reasons it is valuable for research. It can help departments and individuals reflect on...
Vanderbilt’s Newest Digital Learning Initiative
Sep. 19, 2012—By Derek Bruff, CFT Director This morning Vanderbilt announced a new partnership with the digital learning consortium Coursera. Coursera is an online platform for open-access, non-credit classes, available at no cost to participants. Such courses have been dubbed “MOOCs,” or massive open online courses, and Vanderbilt faculty will offer five such courses via Coursera this...
CFT Staff Can Help You Prepare for Fall Teaching
Aug. 8, 2012—Faculty and graduate student instructors preparing for fall courses are encouraged to take advantage of the CFT’s consultation services. Consultants are available to help you clarify the goals you have for your students’ learning and find ways to align your syllabus, assignments, and lesson plans with those goals. We’re also glad to help you reflect...
From the Director
Aug. 3, 2012—It’s been fascinating in recent weeks to read story after story about open, online education. Last spring, online courses at a handful of universities attracted hundreds of thousands of students. This summer brought news of more institutions experimenting in this arena, partnering with online education companies to do so. All this buzz has led to...
Reflecting On Your Teaching
Jun. 7, 2012—The regular academic year is over, grades are in, and graduations have been celebrated. As Nashville rolls into its hottest months, now is the ideal time to reflect on your teaching this year. Such reflection may take the form of thoughtful consideration of your learning goals and how your students met them. It may begin...
Interpreting and Making Sense of Course Evaluations
Dec. 14, 2011—As the semester draws to a close, our students are given the opportunity to provide us with a potentially valuable source of feedback on our teaching and its effects on their learning. You may find it challenging, however, to interpret what your end-of-semester course evaluations mean and decide how to act on them. The CFT...
CFT Staff Can Help You Prepare for Fall Teaching
Aug. 12, 2011— Faculty and graduate student instructors preparing for fall courses are encouraged to take advantage of the CFT’s consultation services. Consultants are available to help you clarify the goals you have for your students’ learning and find ways to align your syllabus, assignments, and lesson plans with those goals. We’re also glad to help you...
Make the Most of Your Course Preparation Time This Summer
Jun. 13, 2011—Summer time is here, and many faculty members have a break from their usual schedules, a chance to slow down a bit and start planning their fall courses. 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...