WELCOME TO THE TEACHING-LEARNING ACADEMY

TLAExploring multiple views of teaching and learning at Western Washington

University

Since 2001

HISTORY & BACKGROUND1998 : Carnegie Academy for the Scholarship of

Teaching & Learning (CASTL)Campus Conversations Program

1999: “Sounds good, but where are the students?

            

2001: Teaching-Learning Academy launched“Learning Reconsidered” course

2005-Present: “Civil Discourse as Interactive Learning” course & “Applied Practicum in Comm.”

OBJECTIVES Civil discourse including disagreement Deeper understanding of teacher-learner

relationships

Best individual & institutional teaching & learning practices

Enhanced learning environment at WWU Celebrating contributions to teaching and learning

PARTICIPATIONWhy participate?

STRUCTURE One of a kind

structure for staff, students, faculty, administrators, community

Equal playing field – flattened hierarchy

ACTIVITIES Every-other-week

dialogue groups Forums on teaching &

learning Campus partnerships An international interest

group on Students as Co-inquirers

Presentations & publications

TLA RESEARCH AGENDADevelop the BIG question for the year.

Explore and gather data to address the question. Draft action proposals.

Refine action proposals and celebrate the year’s accomplishments.

DIALOGUE GROUP SCHEDULE Every OTHER week in the Learning Commons,WL 270

Four meeting options:Wednesdays 12-1:20 & 2-3:20Thursdays 12-1:20 & 2-3:20

Expectations for Comm 339 students, for volunteers

Need to miss your regular group? Attend another.

DIALOGUE: DIVERGENT CONVERSATION

From G. Gerard, “What is Dialogue?” in Rediscover the Transformative Power of Dialogue, Dominick Abel Literary Agency, 1998.

DIALOGUE FACILITATIONFacilitate: to make easy

Student facilitators – Comm 339

Use Agreements to ensure air time for all

AGREEMENTSBe respectful.

Be open.

Be direct.

Be present.

Be ethical.

RESULTSMore positive individual attitudes

Better informed individual teaching & learning practices

Actual institutional change

ATTITUDINAL SHIFTSI can’t believe how much students care

about their own learning. ~ many faculty & staff

I can’t believe how much faculty & staff & community members care about my learning. ~many students

Sometimes, it’s really hard to get to TLA, but I’m always glad I did because I leave feeling inspired and refreshed. ~ many faculty, students, staff, community

NEW PRACTICESAfter participating in TLA, I now go to office

hours sometimes just to talk to a teacher. ~ many students

After talking in TLA, I ask questions in class and feel less intimidated by my instructors. ~ many students

Often, I’ll hear students say something in TLA that helps them learn, and I’ll go right to my class and try it out. ~ many faculty

INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE2006: What keeps us from genuine dialogue

across differences? Online dialogue forum idea (Viking Village)

2009: What do we mean by reflective learning and how might we strengthen reflective learning practices at WWU?

Reflective Garden

2010: What if we envisioned the most creative WWU we could imagine. What would it look like?

Improving general ed. programs, Learning Commons, Viking Landing

LAST YEAR’S BIG QUESTION

How can we engage and connect multiple voices to strengthen WWU as a 21st-

century liberal arts university?

2011-12 PROPOSALS Communication TLA-sponsored focus groups with various audiences on a liberal

arts education Create a TLA document compiling our findings on the liberal arts

at WWU for Special Collections

Curriculum * Increase service-learning/community-based/ practicum

experiences, especially in general education program. Mark some existing upper-level courses for general ed credit to

signal that liberal arts extend throughout the undergraduate career.

Professional Development * Promote engaging & reflective practices to faculty teaching

general education courses. Recognize the work of faculty exemplifying the liberal arts

especially faculty teaching in the all-important foundational general education courses.

*UNDER REVIEW BY CUE

TLA CONTACT INFOWebsite: http://library.wwu.edu/tla

Facebook: Search for WWU Teaching-Learning Academy

Contact info: Carmen.Werder@wwu.edu 650-7329 Shevell.Thibou@wwu.edu 650-7368 TLA@wwu.edu 650-2329

Program Offices WL 265 A & B, Carmen’s Office WL 462

Dialogue Location: Meeting Space WL 270

INDIVIDUAL/COLLECTIVE CHANGEAnyone have an example of howa TLA conversation may haveinfluenced some change in yourown context?

INTRODUCTIONSName?

What is one word or phrase about you that will help us enter into dialogue with you?

TODAY’S DIALOGUE STARTER

On a post-it:

What is one thing connected to teaching and learning at WWU that you wish TLA would explore this year?

2012-2013 BIG QUESTION

What will we decide?

DIALOGUE GROUP PROMPTWhat are at least four

things your group would like to see TLA study this

year?