2012-13 Seminars for Excellence in Teaching
Since 2008, the Academy for Teaching and Learning has hosted a series of one-hour Seminars for Excellence in Teaching (SET) to help colleagues meet the historic expectations of excellence in teaching at Baylor. For new Teachers of Record (TOR), the SET satisfy SACS requirements for professional development in teaching. For more experienced TOR, SET facilitate the sharing of ideas and insights about teaching and learning today and encourages participants to renew their commitments to inspirational teaching.
Seminars are limited to 20 participants and convene in the Creekmore conference room (Jones 202), unless participants are told otherwise. All faculty members and graduate students, even those not serving as TOR, are invited to register for SET. Please see the schedule below for topics, dates, and times.
To register for a SET, please follow the link after each description and register through POD. Participants are selected on a first-come, first-served basis. For questions, contact the ATL at atl@baylor.edu or by phone at (254) 710-4064. If you are from the nursing school or another Baylor program outside Waco, let us know in advance of your interest in a particular seminar, and we may be able to accommodate you.
SETs for Spring 2013:
WED, JANUARY 30 | 4:00-5:00 PM
Teaching the Rassias Method—Alden Smith (Classics)
It may not be untrue to say that few of us who follow the high calling of teaching at the collegiate level actually follow a methodology of teaching. For most of us, our method flows naturally from our madness. While I am not suggesting that one “must” adopt a didactic methodology, in this talk I will suggest that consideration of teaching methods, particularly the Rassias method, can enhance our teaching, whether one adopts any aspects of that approach or decides to go in a direction quite different from it. In either case, the Rassias Method may provide a point of departure for formulating, thinking about, and rethinking our own individual approach(es). This paper will present a brief overview of Rassias’ method with a view to that very outcome.
MON, FEBRUARY 4 | 2:00-3:00 PM
Interdisciplinary Teaching—Mike Stegemoller (Finance)
What does it mean to “consider others as better than yourselves” in the context of the university? I will share some experiences of my own, and we will discuss some simple ways to enjoy the fruit of folks in disciplines different from our own.
WED, MARCH 6 | 3:00-4:00 PM
The Importance of Evaluation: Self-Reflection and Growth as a Teacher—Colby Moore (Biology)
Student evaluations often reflect the extremes of our struggles and joys in teaching. But are they valuable as tools for instructional improvement? What can we learn from student evaluations and how can we use them to develop a pedagogy that reflects what students want/need in our courses? In addition, how can self-evaluation become part of our routine as instructors? Join ATL Graduate Fellow Colby Moore to discuss how to respond to students needs and set goals for learning for future semesters.
THU, MARCH 7 | 9:00-10:00 AM
More than Chatting: Engaging Students in Class Discussion—Helen Harris (School of Social Work)
Objectives: Participants will leave with an enhanced appreciation for the joy of teaching, the gift of student participation, and several techniques for increasing student engagement.
Description: This interactive workshop format will include power point, discussion, and interactive exercises designed to model student engagement in the delivery of content. Participants will also receive handouts for further reading.
WED, MARCH 20 | 1:30-2:30 PM
Teaching and Learning Abroad: Leading a Successful International Study Experience—Laine Scales and Caroline Clark (The Graduate School)
Study abroad experiences can be an excellent tool for “educating men and women for worldwide leadership and service” as Baylor suggests in its mission statement. In this session we will share from our own experiences teaching and learning overseas in a variety of countries. We will suggest some important considerations when planning a study abroad course and describe how to prepare, execute, and reflect upon international experiences.
TUE, APRIL 2 | 11:00-12:00 PM
Assessing Creativity—Chris Hansen (Film and Digital Media)
When the classwork is primarily of a creative nature, what methods can we use to avoid allowing our assessments to become overly subjective or too focused on minutiae? On the other hand, how can we as instructors encourage creativity and innovation without sacrificing the assessment of expected qualitative norms? Professor Chris Hansen, Director of the Film & Digital Media program, will explore these concerns and discuss methods he has developed over the course of 9 years instructing creatively-based classes at Baylor.
THU, APRIL 11 | 3:00-4:00 PM
Discussion as a Formative Classroom Practice—Todd Buras (Philosophy)
In addition to helping students grasp course content, class discussions can be an important part of classroom practices that influence students’ intellectual and moral formation. Join Dr. Todd Buras, recipient of Baylor’s Robert L. Reid Teaching Excellence Award in Humanities, to reflect on the impact of classroom practices and discuss organizing and conducting formative classroom discussions.
TUE, APRIL 16 | 1:30-2:30 PM
Is There Still a Place for the Traditional Classroom Lecture—David Longfellow (History)
Educational studies have questioned the utility of the traditional lecture format–some suggest that students retain a surprisingly low percentage of information conveyed by lectures. Many professors view students’ ability to take notes and follow lengthy presentations with skepticism. Others feel that a technologically sophisticated generation is best approached through powerpoints, online media, course-centered chat rooms, and group interaction and projects. Does traditional lecturing still have a place? Should we ever expect it to completely disappear?
MON, APRIL 22 | 4:00-5:00 PM
Service Learning in a Christian Community—Lisa Baker (Biology)
Description coming soon
THU, APRIL 25 | 11:00-12:00 PM
Fostering a Learning Community in the Classroom—Gregory Poore (Philosophy)
Building relationships in the classroom provides a foundation for student learning. But what makes these relationships possible? How does an instructor foster their development? Join Graduate Fellow Gregory Poore for this seminar to discuss the significance of community in the classroom and share strategies for its development.
