Welcome to the Teaching-Learning Academy
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Transcript of Welcome to the Teaching-Learning Academy
Welcome to the Teaching-Learning Academy
Overview
A Community of Scholars Studying and Enhancing
Western’s Learning Culture
Participants
Administrators Faculty Staff Students Community
Members
How do students participate in TLA?
The majority of students participate as part of their coursework in one of several courses:
Educ 109 Comm 322 Comm 339 (Applied Practicum in
Communication)Other students participate on a
volunteer basis.
2010: Celebrating 11 Years of STUDENT VOICES at Western Washington
University
TLA at Canada House and Beyond…
Teaching-Learning Academy
“Students as Co-Inquirers” Interest
Group in the International Society for
the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
(ISSOTL)
A.S. Student Voices Club
Conferences and
forums, e.g.
Scholars Week
Center for Education,
Equity and
Diversity
Objectives A deeper understanding of teaching and learning Multiple perspectives to enhance learning Action projects to enhance Western’s learning
culture Student voices in learning initiatives Celebrating contributions to teaching and learning
Activities Meet bimonthly in dialogue groups Sponsor all-campus forums on
teaching and learning Create campus partnerships Share findings locally, nationally
and internationally Lead special interest group on
“Students as Co-Inquirers” within the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSOTL)
Process Together develop a BIG
question on T&L to study for the year.
Use question to survey ourselves.
Invite others into the study.
Analyze the results.
Share findings and translate into action.
Overall Results
Participants report:
more positive attitudes toward students/faculty/staff
new insights into teaching & learning
more informed teaching & learning practices
advancement of institutional change initiatives
Agreements Be respectful.Listen patiently with the primary goal of understanding. Give everyone
adequate air time & work to create a safe space for taking risks.Be open.Work to understand differences, not to erase them. Try out new ideas &
be open to disagreeing, making new connections, & challenging old views.
Be direct.Say clearly what you expect from others. Ask questions when you don’t
understand. Avoid presumptions; ask others what they think & why.Be present.Engage actively, but know that silence sometimes is ok. Try to be
prompt. Resist technological distractions. Come ready to contribute & listen.
Be ethical.Honor rights of others. Be honest in asking for & giving feedback; be
fair in evaluating others and their ideas.
Facilitation
Facilitate: to make easy
Use Agreements to ensure air time for all
Student facilitators – Comm 322 & Comm 339 students
TLA BIG Question for 2009-2010 What do WE mean by a sustainable,
reflective learning culture? And how might we use that shared understanding to strengthen connections:
between existing resources and members of the campus community to provide individualized guidance and co-mentoring?
between the lived experiences of teachers and learners outside of the classroom and what is happening in the classroom to provide engaging learning experiences?
across borders within WWU and between WWU and external communities to provide interdisciplinary/community-based learning experiences?
Hallmarks of a Reflective Learning Culture
More time and slowed pace
Inspiring, natural places
Encouragement of creative & innovative ways to learn and teach
Exploratory activities such as writing, drawing/ painting, creative movement
Time to work both alone and with groups
Moving from Talk to Action 09-10New insights and 5 reflective learning
proposals: 1) Campus Commons2) Promising Practices3) Common Interest
Groups4) Community Welcome
Days5) Reflective Garden
Next Steps…
Developing a BIG question together~
So what’s on your mind?
Developing a BIG question together~
So what’s on your mind?