Welcome to the Teaching-Learning Academy

1. Welcome to the Teaching-Learning Academy

2. A Community of Scholars Studying and Enhancing Western’s Learning Culture Overview

3. Participants • Administrators • Faculty • Staff • Students • Community Members

4. 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.

5. 2010: Celebrating 11 Years of STUDENT VOICES at Western Washington University

6. TLA at Canada House and Beyond… “Students as Co-Inquirers” Interest Group in the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSOTL) Teaching-Learning Academy Conferences and forums, e.g. Scholars Week Center for Education, Equity and Diversity A.S. Student Voices Club

7. 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

8. 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)

9. 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.

10. 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

11. Agreements Be respectful. Listen patiently with the primary goal of understanding. Give everyone adequate air time & work to create a safespace for taking risks. Be open. Work to understanddifferences, 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.

12. Facilitation • Facilitate: to make easy • Use Agreements to ensure air time for all • Student facilitators – Comm 322 & Comm 339 students

13. 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?

14. 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 bothalone and with groups

15. Moving from Talk to Action 09-10 New insights and 5 reflective learning proposals: Campus Commons Promising Practices Common Interest Groups Community Welcome Days Reflective Garden

16. Next Steps… Developing a BIG question together~ So what’s on your mind? Developing a BIG question together~ So what’s on your mind?