| |
Letter from the Director
Welcome back to another semester and yet more snow! The December teaching conference seems long ago, but for those who would like to see what took place, or refresh your memory, the video and other postings are now available on the CELT website. Check out the upcoming workshops below.
We look forward to another semester working with you.
Linda Jarvin |
In the News
From the Chronicle of Higher Education |
What's the Problem With Quiet Students? Anyone? Anyone? Do all students have to talk?
The Elements of Clunk Frustrated by student writing? You are not alone!
A Professor's Plea: Try Teaching 'Naked' What if it were just you up there? |
Upcoming Events
A workshop in two parts. co-sponsored by CELT, The Center for STEM Diversity and the LGBT Center.
Part 1: What You Might Not "See" in Your Classroom
A panel of students that represent some of the diversity in the student body at Tufts will talk about their experience in the classroom.
March 11th, 12-2
Part 2: Promising Practices that Benefit All
Faculty will discuss ways to modify teaching practices in ways that will more evenly benefit all students.
March 18th, 12-2
If you are interested in attending, email us at celt@tufts.edu for more details.
| |
|
|
|
Faculty Spotlight
Right now Roger Tobin, Professor of Physics and Astronomy, current Department Chair and recipient of the 2010 Lilian and Joseph Leibner Award for Excellence in Teaching and Advising of Students is featured on the homepage of the CELT website.
|
Interdisciplinary Team Teaching
Team teaching has its rewards and challenges as those who have tried it can attest. When done well, however, it can create a dynamic learning environment for students, and stimulate new directions for research for faculty. Anything done as a team takes more time, but faculty who have team taught interdisciplinary courses through the Tufts University Seminar program find the investment worthwhile. In this issue of our newsletter we will share some tips for and resources about effective team teaching across the disciplines. What are some of the benefits?
- It's a great way to integrate the disciplines.
- It can create a dynamic and interactive learning environment for both students and faculty. In fact, one faculty member at the end of the course said to his colleague: "I learned so much from your lecture. I was so energized that I went home and talked all night to my wife about it."
- It can improve your teaching skills, because you have to clearly articulate what you do and how you do it.
- It can inspire new teaching strategies and intellectual partnerships.
What are some of the challenges? - It does require more time than individual teachng to meet, plan, and synthesize teaching concepts and styles.
- It demands more organization and planning for faculty to create "one voice" for students through learning objectives, assignments and grading policies.
- It can be challenging to contruct assignments that help to develop and assess true interdisciplinary understanding.
- It requires constant communication between faculty.
What are some tips we can share based on our experience? - Plan all of the course as a team.
- Have a good sense of humor.
- Set and adhere to milestones.
- Share responsibilities but have an appointed leader.
- Develop a shared language.
- Remain open to learning from your colleagues.
- All members of the team should attend all lectures and know what your role is for each class.
- Balance lecture with in-class conversation and activities that extend the learning.
- Find an overarching framework for that ties the course together to help students organize unwieldy topics.
- Connect the theory to rich experience using a variety of teaching methods - using case studies, field trips, simulations, invited guest speakers.
Other universities concur - to see Stanford University's "10 Commandments of Team Teaching," click here! For a book chapter that provides more detailed description of a process for developing a team taught interdisciplnary course, click here. ________________________________________ While in the space available we can only pique your interest, the CELT staff is always happy to consult with you or provide you with more information. We also welcome feedback and ideas for future newsletter topics. Please email us at celt@tufts.edu. |
|
|
|