Welcome to the Teaching-Learning Academy

1. Welcome to the Teaching-Learning Academy

2. TLA Exploring multiple views of teaching and learning at Western Washington University Since 2001

3. History & Background • 1998 : 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.”

4. 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

5. Participation Why participate? To have YOUR voice heard!

6. Structure • One of a kind structure for staff, students, faculty, administrators, community • Equal playing field – flattened hierarchy

7. Activities • Every-other-week dialogue groups • Forums on teaching & learning • Campus partnerships • An international interest group on Students as Co-inquirers • Presentations & publications

8. TLA Research Agenda • Develop 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.

9. Dialogue Group Schedule • Every OTHER week in the Learning Commons,WL 270 • Four meeting options: • Wednesdays 12-1:20 & 2-3:20 • Thursdays 12-1:20 & 2-3:20 • Expectations for Comm 339 students, for volunteers • Need to miss your regular group? Attend another.

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

11. Dialogue Facilitation • Facilitate: to make easy • Student facilitators – Comm 339 • Use Agreements to ensure air time for all

12. Agreements • Be respectful. • Be open. • Be direct. • Be present. • Be ethical.

13. Results • More positive individual attitudes • Better informed individual teaching & learning practices • Actual institutional change

14. Attitudinal Shifts • I 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

15. New Practices • After 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

16. Institutional Change • 2006: 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

17. Last Year’s BIG Question How can we engage and connect multiple voices to strengthen WWU as a 21st-century liberal arts university?

18. 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

19. TLA Contact Info • Website: 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

20. Individual/Collective Change • Anyone have an example of how • a TLA conversation may have • influenced some change in your • own context?

21. Introductions • Name? • What is one word or phrase about you that will help us enter into dialogue with you?

22. 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?

23. 2012-2013BIG Question What will we decide?

24. Dialogue Group Prompt • What are at least four things your group would like to see TLA study this year?