Welcome to our November newsletter! As you seek out the waning rays of the late autumn sun, we hope you find time to read and enjoy this month’s newsletter, which includes updates and multiple ways of staying connected with the Teaching Academy.
This month, we look back at two recent Teaching Academy events: the Fall Retreat and our 30-Year Celebration! We celebrate a gaggle of new members for their outstanding contributions to teaching and learning. We highlight upcoming learning opportunities from the Discussion Project and our Clinical Corner. And… join the Indigenous Student Center Coalition in celebrating Native November 2023: “Laughter is Medicine”!
Questions or comments about the newsletter? Contact Dan Pell and Sarah Pultorak, Editors, editor-uwta-newsletter@g-groups.wisc.edu
Upcoming Events | What’s happening in the Academy?
- Teaching and Learning Meetups. Open to all! First and Third Thursdays, 4-6pm at the Memorial Union in the Rathskeller. We’ll grab a table or two for informal conversations. Look for the “T&L Meetup” table tents. Come connect with other educators who are passionate about teaching and learning. Bring a question or comment you’d like to talk about, or just jump into conversation at hand. Food, coffee, and other beverages nearby. Join us! Questions about the T&L Meetups? Contact John Martin johnmartin@wisc.edu
- Save the Date! 2024 Winter Retreat, Fri Feb 2, 9–1130am, DeLuca Forum, WID. Contact Dan Pell & Angela Kita retreats-uwta@g-groups.wisc.edu
Recognizing our new members
These individuals have been recognized for outstanding commitment to teaching and learning. Welcome to the Teaching Academy!
- Fellows: Kitty Montgomery, Nursing, Amy Stickford Becker, Academic Affairs – SMPH, Peter van Kan, Kinesiology, Madelyne Greene, Nursing.
- Future Faculty Partners: Mariah Knowles, iSchool.
- Affiliates: Ayse Okur, Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, Mitra Sharafi, Law School.
Member FYI | News, Events, Training, and Learning Opportunities
Laughter is Medicine | Keynote by Dallas Goldtooth | Native November Keynote | Nov 30, 7-9pm, Gordon Dining & Event Center | REGISTER to reserve a seat. UW-Madison celebrates Native November with this year’s theme: Laughter is Medicine, which recognizes that despite the traumas experienced by Indigenous folks, humor has remained a constant light in the community. All throughout the month, the Indigenous Student Center Coalition is hosting a number of events and programs open to all to celebrate and share joy in our Indigenous identities! Find out more about Native November programming.
The Discussion Project (Sign up for Winter) has in person (waiting list only) and online courses open for Winter 2024! A free three-day in-person or seven two-hour zoom session course, The Discussion Project supports UW-Madison instructors and leaders in designing and implementing high quality classroom discussion. Over 850 UW instructors have taken The Discussion Project from every school and college on campus. We hope you can join us! | REGISTER. Questions about the Discussion Project? Contact discussion-project@education.wisc.edu
Have something to share? Academy members work in diverse roles and learning environments across our university. If you have news, events, training, or opportunities you would like to share with the Academy, contact Dan Pell (editor-uwta-newsletter@g-groups.wisc.edu) Messages received by the second Monday of the month may be included in that month’s newsletter.
30 Year Anniversary Recap | Reflections, Hopes, and Dreams
In the words of Jim Taylor, founding member of the Teaching Academy and the initial advocate for the teaching academy back in 1992 and 1993:
“I felt a lot of love … from all the speakers at the reunion. That shows that the Teaching Academy is in good shape and is serving its Fellows as was intended.”
~50 members participated, including some long-time Academy supporters and EC members including: Jim Taylor, Steve Hardin, Bassam Shakhashiri, Steve Ackerman, Chris Olsen, Ruth Olson, Margaret Nellis, Cheryl Diermyer, Janet Batzli, Nick Balster, Jamie Henke, Beth Martin, Michael Maguire, Pam Mcgranaham, John Parrish, Morton Ann Gernsbacher, Dan Pell, Carolyn Leissen, Molly Harris, and many more!
During a group activity, attendees were asked to write their hopes and dreams, which were later coded for themes. The results collectively paint a comprehensive picture of the multifaceted nature of the Academy, highlighting its role in community building, professional development, innovation, inclusivity, mentorship, and adaptability in the context of teaching and learning at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Let’s continue discussing the strange body that the Academy is, and the role(s) it can continue to play on campus — even as everything evolves.
Huge thanks to the planning team (and their supervisors/colleagues): Kelly Copolo, James Taylor, Pamela Mcgranahan, Patty Sigler, Angela Kita, and Karen Skibba.
Missed the event? Want to watch again?
- Read Jim Taylor’s article (and video) on How and Why Was the Teaching Academy Created?
- Read Teaching Academy Members’ Hopes and Dreams
Lessons from the Fall Retreat | How to Build a Culture of Feedback
Over 150 people took part in the Teaching Academy’s Fall Retreat, featuring Ayse Okur(Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis), Mitra Sharafi (Law), Sandrine Pell (Collaborative Language Program), and Tracy Puccinelli (Biomedical Engineering).
Our Q&A Recap has direct links to our panelists’ individual presentations and answers to 28 audience questions, such as:
- Using mid-semester feedback | Tracy Jane Puccinelli
- Students writing advice for future students | Mitra Sharafi
- Feedback as a skill, from student perspective | Ayse Okur
- Quick ways to gather frequent feedback in a class | Sandrine Pell
The panelists explore setting a foundation for gathering feedback from students, processes to approach feedback, and practical stories of using feedback to improve teaching and learning.
Want to watch again? Share it with colleagues?
- Watch Full retreat Video (1h26m)
- Read the Participant Guide
- View the Slides from the Retreat
- Browse ideas and resources from participants in this Padlet
Want to help organize future Retreats? Contact retreats-uwta@g-groups.wisc.edu Angela Kita & Dan Pell, Co-Chairs
Leadership Opportunity | ExComm Seeks Graduate Student and Faculty Members
The Executive Committee (EC) of the Teaching Academy is looking for up to four Future Faculty Partner (FFP) members and two Faculty members. EC membership is evenly divided between Faculty, Future Faculty Partners and Academic Staff. Executive Committee members do not need to be long-term members of the Academy before joining the EC. The EC meets monthly for an hour. FFPs: take advantage of this opportunity to engage in leadership, networking, and collaboration with other active members of the Academy!
Contact Ailea Merriam-Pigg (FFP Co-Chair) merriampigg@wisc.edu and John Martin (Academic Staff Co-Chair) johnmartin@wisc.edu for more information.
Join us! Honor a colleague! | The Academy is seeking nominations
Now is the perfect time to honor a colleague or nominate yourself. Our mission is to promote, recognize and support excellence in teaching and learning among faculty, staff and students across campus and beyond. The Teaching Academy welcomes nominees who work in traditional classrooms, clinical practice, field instruction, or instructional support with learners at any level.
There are three types of membership: Future Faculty Partner (FFP), Fellow, and Affiliate. Learn how to become a Member.
Are you an FFP who has moved on to another position in the University? Contact teachingacademy@provost.wisc.edu to change status from FFP to Fellow.
CTLM Updates | Engage with the Center for Teaching, Learning & Mentoring
Apply now for the 2024 UW–Madison Course Design Institute
Teach a new course? Redesigning an existing course? Apply for the Center for Teaching, Learning & Mentoring’s Course Design Institute. This workshop aimed at enhancing the quality and effectiveness of course design to result in a better learning experience. The CTLM and campus partners will support instructors as they work on multiple aspects of their course. | LEARN MORE & APPLY
Looking for self-directed resources?
- Course Success Self-Review: Take this quick, anonymous survey to identify ways to strengthen the design and delivery of your course and receive targeted feedback and resources on the comprehensive Course Success website | LEARN MORE
- Instructional Resources KnowledgeBase: Find resources that provide a quick introduction and concrete solutions to teaching challenges.
If you’re not sure which of the above opportunities is right for you or you’re looking for a different kind of engagement or instructional support, please contact CTLM with your request – we look forward to working with you! To learn more about these programs or to register, visit the CTLM’s Professional Development Opportunities.
Feedback on Teaching | Seeking peer observers
The Teaching Academy’s Feedback on Teaching (FoT) program is looking for academy members to serve as peer observers. FoT provides a formative or summative review of a colleague’s instructional approaches, and to actively solicit a peer exchange of ideas on how to improve student learning. Please contact teachingacademy@provost.wisc.edu if you are interested in volunteering.
Learning Community Update | Clinical Teachers’ Corner
New Course: Education Essentials is a collection of modules aimed at developing key skills for all interprofessional health science teachers, in various teaching settings. How modules are utilized is flexible–one or more modules to all of them–to meet the various needs of our teachers based on their activities, schedules, and priorities.
Registration is free and modules can be completed at your own pace.| LEARN MORE & REGISTER
Explore:
Questions? Topics you would like to see? Announcements for the next issue? Contact Sara Scott (sfscott@wisc.edu)
Get involved! | Ways to contribute to the Academy’s ongoing activities
- Affiliate/Clinical Affiliate: Teaching experiential courses, from clinic to fieldwork? Become involved in growing the clinical affiliate or affiliate program. Contact teachingacademy@provost.wisc.edu
- Analytics Committee: Help ensure that we are capturing the right information to determine who the Academy’s programs are reaching, whether participants find them valuable, and most importantly, what was learned through participation. Contact teachingacademy@provost.wisc.edu
- Fall Retreat | Winter Retreat: Join the committee to plan, organize & facilitate campus-wide teaching development events. Contact retreats-uwta@g-groups.wisc.edu
- Feedback on Teaching (FoT) Committee: FoT offers an opportunity to participate in scaling up and implementing a new peer observation program across campus. Contact teachingacademy@provost.wisc.edu
- Member+ Events: We are seeking Fellows who are interested in organizing one-per-semester roundtable discussions among members on issues surrounding teaching & learning. Contact claire.barrett@wisc.edu
- Newsletter: Join the planning committee, contribute to the forum, act as guest editor for the Academy newsletter. Contact editor-uwta-newsletter@g-groups.wisc.edu
- Membership Committee: We are seeking Fellows (Faculty & Academic Staff) and FFPs to help review nominations. Honor great campus educators & promote excellence by helping to review nominations to the Teaching Academy. Contact johnmartin@wisc.edu
- U-Class: Explore teaching and learning from the student perspective by attending our U-CLaSS sessions. Contact jamie.henke@wisc.edu
- Teaching Academy Facebook Group: Are you on Facebook? So is the Teaching Academy! Join other Higher Ed teaching and learning enthusiasts for thought-provoking questions, shared resources, and asynchronous community connections. Contact johnmartin@wisc.edu