Dear Colleagues,
Welcome back! The air is (sort of) brisk, college basketball is in full swing, and campus is hopping - the spring semester has begun! Here are ways to spend some of that renewed energy with colleagues discussing the objects of our love and attention (it's February - see what I did there?): the students.
Solicit Student Feedback on Teaching:
- One simple feedback tool is the mid-semester feedback survey template, which is already available in Canvas. Just import the "quiz" to your course, edit as prefered, and publish. Provide a short and sincere announcement to the class in person or on Canvas to invite students to take the anonymous mid-semester feedback survey. I usually prep all this at the beginning of the semester and time it in Canvas to post automatically so I don't forget to do it in the hustle-and-bustle of the semester.
- If you use an in-class response system, it can be helpful to use this tool to informally ask students how they felt about a recent exam or quiz, perhaps posting results in a word cloud or summarized likert scale data.
- If you're interested in a more rigorous, analytical, and structured method of feedback, consider a Small Group Instructional Diagnosis. A FIC consultant solicits feedback from the students during class time (the instructor will be asked to step out of the room). The consultant then summarizes the feedback, works up an action plan and shares the report with the instructor. The process is confidential and the report is not shared with anyone but the instructor. Contact Anne Braseby in the FIC for more information or to schedule an SGID consultation.
The student voice is just one component of the teaching reflection process. In the coming months, I'll share opportunities to learn more about peer observation and ways to encourage routine self-reflection on teaching.
February also brings opportunities to explore Inclusive Teaching and Learning:
- Everyone is invited to the Provost's Teaching Fellows' Forward Session 1: Inclusive Teaching and Learning (Wednesday, February 26, 9-10:30am in SZB 450AF). In this session, attendees will discuss: What makes a course inclusive? What can instructors do to foster inclusive teaching and learning? What can the university do? The session will be facilitated by Adria Battaglia (FIC) and Danica Sumpter (PTF, Nursing). Please RSVP Here.
- The first Unviersal Design for Learning (UDL) Spring Series kicks off this month with Session 1: Universal Design for Learning 101: What Is It? (February 25th, 11:30-1pm, SZB 450AF). Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework that promotes inclusion and equity in higher education contexts by identifying and reducing barriers that some students face, in ways that promote the retention and success of all students. This session is facilitated by Emily Shryock (Services for Students with Disabilities) and Adria Battaglia (FIC). Lunch will be served. Please RSVP Here.
Don't have the ability to attend a Forward Session or UDL Workshop? Check out some of these Two-Minute Teaching Tips on Inclusive Teaching from your colleagues:
Want to explore what inclusive teaching and learning might look like in your course and/or department? Consider applying for an Instructor-Led Learning Community Grant. Deadline for grant applications is March 25th. Looking for inspiration? See what previous grant recipients have done at the Grants Showcase taking place on February 28th, 9-11am in SZB 450AF; Please RSVP Here by February 24.
Finally, there are many helpful campus resources on Inclusive Teaching. Here are a few:
Whew, that's a lot! Looking forward to seeing you around campus, and hopefully, at one or more of these events. Until then, I wish you a productive and energetic start to the new semester.
Warmly,
