2011-12 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 Melissa Bilbro by email or 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 2012:
WED, JANUARY 18
3:00-4:00 PM
Mission Impossible: Answering all your vexing questions
Good afternoon, Baylor colleagues; the abstract you are now reading is for an interactive session with Dr. Ed Burger. Rather than a coup or overthrow of the ATL, he has agreed to a special Q&A session addressing any and all topics. Your mission, should you decide to attend this lively and possibly dangerous event, is to bring questions-questions about teaching, scholarship, research, or anything else. As always, should you or any of your colleagues not survive the session, the ATL will disavow any knowledge of your actions. Good luck.
Click here to register.
TUE, JANUARY 24
3:30-4:30 PM
Active Learning in Large Lecture Courses
Dr. Paul Primrose (Chemistry & Biochemistry) will describe his use of Echo 360-a lecture capture software that records, manages, and distributes course content to students anytime and anywhere-to create active, problem-solving environments in his organic chemistry courses.
Click here to register.
THU, FEBRUARY 2
2:30-4:00 PM
Suicide Prevention – QPR Gatekeeper Training Course
National data show that 10% of students seriously consider suicide and 1.5% of students attempt suicide each year. The purpose of this course is to provide training on how to talk to students at risk of suicide. QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer – three simple steps to follow when talking to someone who may be at risk of suicide. Jim Marsh, Director of Counseling Services, will teach participants to do the following: (1) Recognize the warning signs of suicide (2) Know how to offer hope (3) Know how to get help and save a life.
Click here to register.
MON, FEBRUARY 6
11:30 AM-12:30 PM
How to Master Discussion-Based Teaching*
Dr. Andy Arterbury (Truett Seminary) will share tips for successful, discussion-based teaching. His session will cover the benefits of discussion based teaching, ideas for successfully utilizing discussion in your classroom, and approaches to handling challenges that may arise. (Pizza lunch provided)
Click here to register.
WED, FEBRUARY 15
12:00-1:00 PM
Scientific Teaching
Drs. Tamarah Adair and Marcie Moehnke (Biology) recently attended the National Academies Summer Institute on Undergraduate Education in Biology. In this seminar, they will discuss the concept of “scientific teaching,” which aims to approach teaching with the same scientific method one would employ in a research laboratory setting. Science education research has analyzed various teaching methods, and the data continues to illustrate that active learning techniques which engage students are more effective learning tools than some traditional methods. (Pizza lunch provided)
Click here to register.
TUE, FEBRUARY 21
3:30-4:30 PM
AAUP Principles: Academic Freedom and Shared Governance
Dr. Lynn Tatum (BIC & Religion) is the immediate past president of the Texas Conference of the American Association of University Professors [AAUP]. At Baylor, he teaches both Middle East Studies and Religion, and so has a keen interest in Academic Freedom issues and shared governance principles, particularly at religious universities. Tatum will discuss the implications of these principles for faculty life at Baylor. To learn more about the AAUP and open inquiry, register today!
Click here to register.
MON, MARCH 5
2:00-3:00 PM
Getting Students to Read Assignments*
What motivates students to read assignments before class? It may be too easy for teachers to complain about “lazy” students without assessing their own abilities to use readings effectively in a comprehensive learning plan. Dr. Laine Scales, Professor of Higher Education, will suggest ways to skillfully plan assignments, select texts, prepare students to encounter the readings, and present clear expectations. By strategically assigning and using readings, teachers can increase student motivation to prepare in productive ways.
Click here to register.
WED, MARCH 21 (rescheduled from Feb 
2:30-3:30 PM
Teaching and Personalism
ATL Graduate Fellow Joel Schwartz (Philosophy) will show that philosophy is more than something that happens in the ivory towers by looking at personalism and the role it plays in teaching. Schwartz will discuss the need for professors and students to see themselves and each other as persons and consider ways to facilitate that perspective in and out of classroom. His session will address the role of personalism in lecture, discussion, and course assignments.
Click here to register.
MON, APRIL 2
2:30-3:30 PM
The 411 on Web 2.0
In this seminar, Academy for Teaching and Learning’s Graduate Fellow Addy Meira will share what there is to know about Web 2.0 technologies and how they can help with your teaching and learning.
Click here to register.
TUE, APRIL 10
3:30-4:30 PM
Teaching vs. Learning Paradigms*
Dr. Barbara Purdum-Cassidy (Curriculum & Instruction) will distinguish between teaching paradigms and learning paradigms by focusing on the key characteristics of each. She will then discuss the shift from teaching to learning paradigms in higher education and analyze the value of both paradigms for learning communities.
Click here to register.
TUE, APRIL 24
3:30-4:30 PM
What’s my Teaching Philosophy?
Dr. Robert Baird (Philosophy) will explain the meaning, purpose, and value of a personal teaching philosophy within academic contexts. In addition to sharing examples of strong teaching philosophy statements, Baird will suggest ways to refine and articulate your teaching philosophy for potential employers.
Click here to register.
More SETs coming soon!
* These SETs are recommended for graduate student Teachers of Record (TOR) who have not completed a teaching preparation course in their home departments. If you are completing SET in lieu of CORE or departmental preparation, you must attend a minimum of 5 SET before or during your first semester of teaching.
