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The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) was established with a generous gift from Norman (Class of ‘48) and Lenore Asher. CETL promotes the Learn Through Inquiry signature of Clark University. |
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Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events | External Events | Past Events
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Articulating Course Objectives Using IDEA Student Ratings
of Instruction
Wine and Cheese Facilitated Workshop
Wednesday, August 27, 3:30 – 5:00 pm
Location: Lurie Conference Room, Higgins University Center
Faculty who have volunteered to participate in the IDEA student
ratings pilot test in 08-09 (and others who are interested) are
invited to attend one of two preparation sessions for IDEA (SIR-II
does not require special training). In IDEA, students rate the
extent to which they have made progress on each of several course
objectives that the instructor has identified as important. Because
course objectives dictate teaching strategies and grading, effective
use of this system depends on instructors clearly articulating and
communicating objectives for their courses before the course starts.
This session will include a brief description of how the IDEA system
works; discussion of the general objectives on the IDEA form; and a
work session in which faculty write objectives for their own
courses. If you have a draft syllabus for the fall semester course
in which you will pilot IDEA, please bring that to the workshop.
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New Faculty Teaching Workshop
Tuesday, August 26, 8:30 – 3:00 pm
Room change: Now being held in the Dana Commons Fishbowl,
2nd Floor
This interactive session, designed especially for faculty new to
Clark will focus on teaching topics, with sessions on constructing a
syllabus, grading, and incorporating Clark's signature "learn
through inquiry" pedagogy into your teaching. It will be led by Judy
Miller, Associate Dean for Special Academic Initiatives.
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| Academic Advisors Workshop Friday,
August 22, 9 am-12 pm
Location: Lurie Conference Room, Higgins University Center
At this workshop, led by Kevin McKenna and Judy Miller, we’ll use
case study discussions to examine advisors’ responsibilities, review
academic policies and procedures, and discuss the various academic
and personal supports available to students. The workshop will be
particularly helpful for new advisors or faculty who have not
advised new students recently. A continental breakfast will be
available at 9:00 a.m. If you plan to attend the Academic
Orientation Book Discussion Lunch (see below), please register for
it separately.
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Academic Orientation Book
Discussion Lunch
Friday, August 22, 12 pm-1:30 pm
Location: Lurie Conference Room, Higgins University Center
This event will be a continuation of the advisors' workshop, but
please register for it separately. Here is your opportunity to get a
preview of the comments of the panelists who will be speaking at
Academic Orientation (which will take place on Friday, August 29,
from 2:45 to 4:00 PM) on the summer reading book, The Travels of a
T-Shirt in the Global Economy. Although there will be no small group
discussions this year, advisors of first year students are asked to
accompany their advisees to the panel sessions. At this session, we
will discuss how panelists can engage students in the large group
discussion sessions on Aug. 29, and how advisors and first year
seminar instructors might productively engage with the book with
their students in other venues. |
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| TA Workshop
Note: Start time change: Friday,
August 29, 9:00 am-2 pm
Location: Lurie Conference Room, Higgins University Center
In this interactive workshop, you will learn some absolutely
essential basics that will save you time and enhance your enjoyment
of your TA position!
Topics include communicating with your professor with Clark's
feedback and evaluation system; what makes a good TA; conducting
review and help sessions; and grading.
Lunch will be served.
Mandatory for all first year TAs.
To ensure adequate seating and food, please register
online.
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| TA/PLA Training: Responding to
Student Writing Three opportunities to attend:
Wednesday, September 10, 4:15 pm-5:30 pm, Persky Conference Room
Friday, September 26, 1:25 pm-2:40 pm, Rosenblatt Conference Room
Wednesday, October 15, 2:45 pm-4 pm, Lurie Conference Room
Jen Plante, Director of Clark’s Writing Center, will discuss with
TAs and PLAs sample student work designed to help them provide
constructive and useful feedback on student writing.
A light supper will be served at at the September 10 training.
Cookies and drinks will be served at the October 15 training.
To ensure adequate seating and food, please register online.
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Faculty and PLAs are asked to confer about which of these sessions are useful
for PLAs, given the needs of the particular course. PLAs who are being paid with
CETL funds are required to attend the sessions that are deemed
relevant by their faculty mentor. All faculty and PLAs are strongly
urged to attend the Introduction session and the How is it Going? session
together.
Please register for the sessions you plan to attend at least five days in
advance. If you find you are unable to attend a session for which you have
registered, please email cetl@clarku.edu to cancel
your registration.
PLA Training: Introduction to the PLA Role (Faculty in Attendance)
Two opportunities to attend:
Friday, September 5, 1:25 pm-2:40 pm, Dana Commons Fishbowl
Monday, September 8, 4:15 pm-5:30 pm, Grace Conference Room
Teaching teams from PLA assisted courses, including faculty, TAs,
and PLAs, are invited to consider and negotiate the roles of each
member in this new teaching model.
A light supper will be served at the September 8 training.
To ensure adequate food and seating, please register online.
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PLA Training: Using Blackboard and CICADA (Clark's new course
management system)The principles of discussion
facilitation will be covered in the session on Facilitating Online
and Face to Face Discussions. The mechanics of working with
Blackboard and CICADA (discussion boards, posting content, and
gradebook management) will be covered in modular videos, available
online. Watch this space for more details.
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PLA Training: Facilitating Group Projects
Three opportunities to attend:
Monday, September 8, 5:45 pm-7 pm, Grace Conference Room
Monday, September 15, 4:30 pm-5:45 pm, Lurie Conference Room
Friday, September 19, 1:25-2:40, Dana Commons Multipurpose Room
Judy Miller, Director of CETL, will introduce some real life group
dynamics scenarios (including a video) and will lead a discussion on
how a PLA can intervene productively.
A light supper will be served at the September 8 training.
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TA/PLA Training: Responding to Student Writing
Wednesday, September 10, 4:15 pm-5:30 pm, Persky Conference Room
Friday, September 26, 1:25 pm-2:40 pm, Rosenblatt Conference Room
Wednesday, October 15, 2:45 pm-4 pm, Lurie Conference Room
Jen Plante, Director of Clark’s Writing Center, will discuss with
TAs and PLAs sample student work designed to help them provide
constructive and useful feedback on student writing.
A light supper will be served at at the September 10 training.
Cookies and drinks will be served at the October 15 training.
To ensure adequate seating and food, please register online.
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PLA Training: Helping Students Prepare Oral Reports
Two opportunities to attend:
Wednesday, September 10, 5:45 pm-7 pm, Persky Conference Room
Monday, September 22, 4:30 pm-5:45 pm, Persky Conference Room
Kevin Keenan, CETL graduate assistant, will lead an
interactive workshop on how to work with students who are preparing
oral reports for your class.
A light supper will be served at the September 10 training.
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PLA Training: Facilitating Online and Face to Face Discussions
Three opportunities to attend:
Monday, September 15, 4:15 pm-5:30 pm, Persky Conference Room
Friday, October 3, 1:25-2:40, Rosenblatt Conference Room
Monday, October 6, 4:30-5:45, Persky Conference Room
Location: TBD
Kevin Keenan, CETL graduate assistant, will lead a discussion about
how PLAs can lead small group discussions. This session will deal
with both online and face to face discussions because the principles
of effective discussion leadership are the same. The mechanics of
facilitating discussions using Blackboard or CICADA course
management systems are dealt with in the relevant video modules.
A light supper will be served at the September 15 training.
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PLA Training: Working with Students Outside Class
Three opportunities to attend:
Monday, September 15, 5:45 pm-7 pm, Persky Conference Room
Friday, October 17, 1:25 pm-2:40 pm, Rosenblatt Conference Room
Monday, October 20, 4:30 pm-5:45 pm, Rosenblatt Conference Room
Kevin Keenan, CETL graduate assistant, will lead an interactive
workshop on how to work productively with students in office hours
and help sessions.
A light supper will be served at the September 15 training.
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PLA Training: Dealing with Disruptive/Disengaged Students
Two opportunities to attend:
Wednesday, September 17, 4:15 pm-5:30 pm, Rosenblatt Conference Room
Monday, September 29, 4:30 pm-5:45 pm, Rosenblatt Conference Room
Judy Miller, Director of CETL, will lead participants in role plays
and discussion of PLA response to disruptive and disengaged student
behavior.
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PLA Training: How's It Going?Three opportunities to
attend:
Wednesday, October 15, 4:15 pm-5:30 pm, Lurie Conference Room
Monday, October 27, 4:30 pm-5:45 pm, Persky Conference Room
Friday, October 31, 1:25 pm-2:40 pm, Persky Conference Room
In this midterm “checkup” session, teaching teams (faculty, TAs,
and PLAs) are asked to bring the results of midterm feedback they
have collected from their students. We will discuss what’s going
well, and brainstorm mid-course changes that might be helpful.
Cookies and drinks will be served at the October 15 training.
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Lunch with Pietra Rivoli (author of The Travels of a T Shirt in the
Global Economy)
Wednesday, September 3, 12 pm-1:30 pm
Location: Rosenblatt Conference RoomPresidential Scholars are invited to a small lunch
meeting with the author of Clark's summer reading book. Ms. Rivoli
will be the Convocation speaker later this same afternoon (2-4,
Atwood Hall); this is your opportunity to share your questions and
ideas with her! Attendance is limited to 12, and reservations will
be taken on a first come, first served basis.
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Presidential Scholars ReceptionThursday, September 25,
4:30 pm-6 pm
Location: Dana Commons Fishbowl
Kick off the academic year by getting to know your fellow
Presidential Scholars, and, if you wish, invite your favorite
faculty member to accompany you (s/he will be honored!). This
reception is purely social, with good food and drink.
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Discussion with Lewis Hyde
Friday, Sept. 19, 2:00-2:45 PM
Location: Dana Commons Fishbowl
Who Owns Culture? Why?
The rise of digital copying and of the internet has made the
ownership of creative work a much contested topic. On the one side
we have the entertainment industry trying to secure and enlarge its
holdings; on the other we have a variety of open source models, not
just in software but in cultural production generally (as with, for
example, musicians who post their work on the internet in search of
audience rather than income, or as with the Public Library of
Science which now produces half a dozen open-access journals).
In the background lie questions that have been debated ever since
the seventeenth-century: How exactly can incorporeal things be made
into 'property'? What is the best way to balance the public good and
individual incentive? When does the ownership of ideas become a form
of speech control? How shall be distinguish piracy from simple
access to knowledge?
Our discussion with Professor Hyde will explore these and other
questions. Attendance is limited to 12, and reservations will be
taken on a first come, first served basis.
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Announcements |
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New Publication Opportunity!
Currents in Teaching and Learning is a new online
journal seeking submissions from faculty and graduate
students for its Fall 2008 inaugural issue.
The Certificate in College Teaching Program
was recently featured in an article in the
Teaching Professor Newsletter.
Are you a senior interested in pursuing a PhD?
Check the funding opportunities provided by
the
Graduate Research Fellowship
of the National Science
Foundation.
Attention juniors and seniors! Would you
like graduate schools to know about the research you've done
at Clark? Sign up for the
Registry of
Undergraduate Researchers. By being part of this
database, your information will be made available to
graduate schools and you could get invitations to apply or
to visit campuses and labs.
Attention Undergraduates! Have you recently had original
research published in an academic journal? The
Council on Undergraduate Research is looking for you. |
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Tips for Professional Development |
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CETL is located on the third floor of the Corner House at the corner of Charlotte and Woodland Streets. |
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