Welcome to the Teaching-Learning Academy

Overall

TLA: What you get when you cross

a think tank

with a feel tank

with a do tank

Objectives

Civil discourse including disagreement

A deeper understanding of teacher-learner relationships

Best individual & institutional teaching and learning practices

Optimal learning for everyone

Celebrating contributions to teaching and learning

Structure

One of a kind structure for staff, students, faculty, administrators, community

Equal playing field – flattened hierarchy

Participation

Why participate?

Share views on teaching & learningHear what others, especially

students, thinkMake learning, the community & the

world betterMake connections, partnerships,

network

Activities

Meet bimonthly in dialogue groups

Sponsor /co-sponsor all-campus forums on teaching & learning

Provide print and online resources on teaching & learning

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)

Dialogue-Study Process

Develop a BIG question on T&L to study for the year.

Use question(s) to study ourselves.

Invite others into the study.

Analyze and share the results.

Translate into action.

Dialogue Group Schedule

Every OTHER week

Four meeting options:Wednesdays at 12 & at 2 (Canada House)Thursdays at 12 & at 2 (Miller Hall 05, CEED)

80 mins

Dialogue Format: Structured Informality

Whole Group OpeningName badges, TREATS, review agenda &

dialogue prompt, form small groups

Small Group DialogueResponding to common prompt, recording

group highlights

Whole Group ClosingSharing & responding to small group

highlights – recording for TLA Highlights

Dialogue Facilitation

Facilitate: to make easy

Student facilitators – Comm 339

Use Agreements to ensure air time for all

2011: Celebrating 12 Years of STUDENT VOICES at Western Washington

University

Overall Results

Participants report:

more positive attitudesnew insights informed practices institutional change

TLA and Beyond

Teaching-Learning Academy

“Students as Co-Inquirers” Interest

Group in the International Society for

the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

(ISSOTL)

A.S. Board

Teaching &Learning

Leadership Cooperativ

e

WWU & Bellingha

m community partners

Sample Change Initiatives

2002: White paper on GURs 2003: Ethical education practices, fac. seminar on

ethics 2004: Stories of hope, “Good Stories for Good

Learning” project 2005: Sustaining practices, Sustain. Literacy 2006: Online dialogue forum (VV) 2007: Evaluating teaching recommendations 2008: Mentoring, Expanding Info Fair, Interactive

spaces recommendations, Rejuvenation practices 2009: Reflective Garden, Common Interest Groups,

Campus Commons, Reflective teaching practices

Reflective Garden Update

Spring groundbreaking for phase 1!

Fall

2010-2011 BIG Question

Developing a BIG question together~

So what’s on your mind?

What if we envisioned the most creative WWU we can imagine - one that fosters intellectual risk taking, life-long learning, and preparing graduates for a changing world?

What would this creative university look like if we took advantage of existing structures that already work this way and (re)invented new ones?

Winter: Connecting the Dots

Winter Proposals

Creating a Learning Commons

Improving the GURs

Other

Creating a Learning Commons Recommendations

1. Provide ample gathering and interactive spaces.

2. Be an information hub and central learning center.

3. Offer spaces for creative expression, wellness, and stress relief.

Creating a Learning Commons Recommendations

4. Create an inviting, aesthetically pleasing physical environment.

5. Sponsor regular learning events in the Commons.

6. Develop a virtual component of the Learning Commons.

See “Learning Commons Recommendations”

Learning Commons - Action

March 16 –

Recommendations to the Library’s Learning Commons Task Force

Under consideration for short- and long-term planning

Improving the GURsRecommendations

1. Clearer and ongoing communication about the purpose of the GURs.

2. More guidance in selecting and navigating GURs.

3. More coherency and relevancy in GUR curriculum

4. Enhanced development opportunities for faculty teaching the GURs

5. Expanded access to GURs. See “Improving the GURs”

GURs - Action

31 March –

Recommendations to the Committee on Undergraduate Education (CUE) responsible for GURs

TLA recommendations now the basis for CUE spring enhancing the GURs agenda

Other Recommendations

1. For Stress Relief:

2. For Aesthetic Pleasure

3. For Community Building

See “Creativity – Other Recommendations”

This We Believe About Creativity

i s contagious, healing, intrinsically rewarding, powerful, playful, personal, quantum, demanding, changing, limitless, indefinable, disobedient, committed, fickle, vital, fun, E=MC^2. the lens with which we view and shape,. the journey and the destination within myself, absolutely necessary for now and the future, and the gift of every person.

needs nurturing, trust, respect, time, the courage to explore, grow, change, and the chace to make mistakes

flourishes when people consciously build environments that nurture imagination and develonp connection, collaboration and teamwork.

arises without words, continues with inspiration and nourishes ourselves and our community.

belongs to everyone

This We Believe About Creativityfosters collaboration, feeds the soul, inspires agency, transforms,

facilitates life, enhances technology prospers in a culture of curiosity with multiple paths honoring the moments in between.

Ioffers infinite possibilities. hurts the head.

has no limits. Can be cultivated. Springs from variety. Can take many forms.

finds its roots in passion..flourishes with openness , enthusiasm and motion! Happens when we

DARE to take risks, be silly.

Makes learning deeper, wider, and longer-lasting.

Spring Activities

Video to document work http://education.ted.com/

Dialogue to advance proposals

Creative expression activities

Introductions

Name?

Something about you that will help us enter into dialogue with you?

Today’s Dialogue Starter

What might YOU do to advance creative learning at WWU?