Welcome to our March newsletter! With spring break right around the corner (but which corner?), 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, plan your next six months of community events and professional development! Learn about using Action Research to improve teaching and student learning with the Language Institute. Apply for a microgrant to look at data-informed education practices from the Learning Analytics Center of Excellence and the Division of Teaching and Learning. Explore about the connection between authentic assessment and student engagement, belonging and commitment with the Center for Teaching, Learning and Mentoring. Grab your space in the Discussion Project’s late summer and fall courses. Looking for something a little less formal? Talk education over your drink of choice at a Teaching and Learning Meetup!
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?
Leadership Opportunity | The Academy Executive Committee Seeks Members
The Executive Committee (EC) of the Teaching Academy is looking for Future Faculty Partner (FFP) members and 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 ExComm. The ExComm meets monthly. 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, John Martin (Academic Staff Co-Chair) johnmartin@wisc.edu or Adrian Treves (Interim Faculty Co-Chair) atreves@wisc.edu for more information.
Member+ Event | Emerging Changes in Teaching at UW-Madison
Date/time: Wednesday, April 24, 2:30-3:30pm (virtual event)
Description: Join other Teaching Academy members and (and guests!) for a discussion about the top changes that you’ve noticed with your classes and those that your colleagues are facing today. How are they similar or different to what higher education trend-watchers have identified for 2024? Let’s have a conversation about the most salient issues in campus teaching and learning today. More details: M+ Event april 2024: Emerging Trends in Higher Education. REGISTER: https://forms.gle/3pX94AmDJoJJxPCR7
Teaching Academy Best Practices Showcase
SAVE THE DATE! Thu, August 22 (details will be shared later). Do you have a unique assignment idea, active learning example, interesting teaching method, or any other learning-by-doing activity that works well with your students? Could it be applied to other courses/subjects? Could it spark similar ideas for your colleagues? Come share your expertise at our Teaching Academy Best Practices Showcase!
Invited presenters will share their teaching ideas in approximately 10 minutes. Please allow time for participants to try out or discuss your activity. We encourage you to make your presentation active, just like you would in the classroom. | SHARE A SUBMISSION
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. Contact John Martin johnmartin@wisc.edu if you’re planning to join.
Division of Teaching and Learning | Apply for LACE Microgrants
The Learning Analytics Center of Excellence (LACE) and the Division of Teaching and Learning (DTL) invite you to participate in our Microgrant Program for the 2024-2025 academic year.
- Grant Amount: $2,000
- Microgrant Applications Due: Sun, April 21, 2024
This year’s microgrant program focuses on a critical question: How does engagement with online course content potentially impact student performance? Ready to explore data-empowered education practices? Start by downloading the information packet to learn about expectations, time commitment and course readiness. Let’s make a positive impact on student learning together! Please share with others who you think may be interested in applying. Questions about LACE Micro Grants? Contact Mary K Thompson mary.thompson@wisc.edu
What are the benefits of Participating?
- Collaborate closely with a data architect to understand data in your online course.
- Leverage course data for evidence-based decisions that support student success.
- Engage with other grantees in three meetings throughout the academic year.
- Showcase your innovations and learning at an end-of-year event.
- Share your learning with campus colleagues beyond the grant cycle to support data empowered work for student success.
Member FYI | News, Events, Training, and Learning Opportunities
The Language Institute | Action Research in Second Language Classrooms
Fri April 5, 12-3:00pm, 1418 Van Hise Hall | LEARN MORE AND REGISTER |Action research empowers teachers to be researchers who reflect on and improve their classroom instruction in a systematic way. This workshop for UW-Madison language instructors led by Helen Shen from the University of Iowa will provide an introduction to action research, focusing on aspects of its theoretical foundation, research topics, characteristics, and research procedures, followed by step-by-step practice to learn how to use action research methods to conduct research in language classrooms. The workshop will include information on criteria for developing a good action research plan, ethical considerations for action research, and formats for writing up an action research report. Questions about the Language Institute? Contact Dianna Murphy diannamurphy@wisc.edu
The Discussion Project | Sign up for Summer and Fall 2024
Registration is open for the Discussion Project for August 2024 (in person) and Fall 2024 (online). A free three-day in-person course, The Discussion Project supports UW-Madison instructors and leaders in designing and implementing high quality classroom discussion. Over 900 UW instructors have taken The Discussion Project from every school and college on campus. We hope you can join us! | VIEW INFORMATION & 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 & Sarah Pultorak editor-uwta-newsletter@g-groups.wisc.edu Messages received by the second Monday of the month may be included in that month’s newsletter.
CTLM Updates | Engage with the Center for Teaching, Learning & Mentoring
Moving to More Authentic Assessments
On April 26, hear from two noted contributors to the Assessment for Learning movement, Professors Sally Brown and Kay Sambell. They’ll share strategies for systematically and efficiently designing assessments to promote learning and foster student engagement, belonging, and commitment. | LEARN MORE & REGISTER
Enhancing Online Education
CTLM is offering spring and summer programs supporting online and hybrid instructors. Instructors who complete five micro-courses will receive a certification and letter of recognition to their dean and chair. | LEARN MORE & REGISTER
Self-guided Resources
- Course Success Self-Review: In under an hour, this anonymous tool will help you identify ways to strengthen the design and delivery of your course and provide targeted feedback and resources. | LEARN MORE
- Instructional Resources KnowledgeBase (KB): Find resources that provide a quick introduction and concrete solutions to teaching challenges. | VIEW THE KB
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 | Want to be observed in your teaching?
The Teaching Academy’s Feedback on Teaching (FoT) program offers a formative review of your instructional approaches from an invited observer, followed by a peer-to-peer conversation on how to improve student learning. | LEARN MORE | Want to observe? The Teaching Academy’s Feedback on Teaching (FoT) program is looking for academy members to serve as peer observers. | REGISTER AS A PEER OBSERVER | Please contact teachingacademy@provost.wisc.edu if you are interested in volunteering.
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.
Questions about membership? Are you an FFP who has moved on to another position in the University? Contact uwta-membership@g-groups.wisc.edu
Learning Community Update | Clinical Teachers’ Corner
Share your experience! Do you have ideas for continuing education? Would you be interested in presenting your work to other clinical teachers? The UW Interprofessional Continuing Education Partnership (UW ICEP) is looking for faculty who are interested in developing new continuing education programs.
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
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.
Leadership Opportunity | The UWTA Executive Committee Seeks Members
The Executive Committee (EC) of the Teaching Academy is looking for Future Faculty Partner (FFP) members and 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 ExComm. The EC meets monthly. 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 a Committee
- 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