Center
for Teaching Excellence Home Page
The IUP 
Project
A Campus-wide Effort to Promote More Effective Teaching
The IUP Center for Teaching Excellence has sponsored an effort to
promote effective teaching through the use of workshops, monthly
meetings and small "teaching circles." This program, called the
Reflective Practice (RP) Project, was initially designed as a
follow-up to the SSHE Summer Academy of 1993. The following
information presents the history of the project, the evolution of the
small group teaching circles, faculty assessment of the impact of the
project, the workshops and monthly meeting topics, and our plans for
the future. The Reflective Practice co-directors this year are:
Laurel J. Black — coordinator of weekend workshops, email
ljblack@iup.edu
Francisco Alarcón — coordinator of cross-disciplinary & departmental
teaching circles, email falarcon@iup.edu
Stephanie Taylor-Davis (email stdavis@iup.edu) and Valeri Helterbran
(email vhelter@iup.edu) — coordinators of monthly large
group meetings
John Woolcock — coordinator for assessment, email woolcock@iup.edu
The Reflective
Practice Project: An
Executive Summary
The Reflective Practice Project: Frequently Asked Questions
The Reflective Practice Project: 10th Year Anniversary Memory
Book (4.7 MB .pdf file)
Reflective Practice Scholarly
Outreach, 1997-2005
Information About Joining Reflective
Practice for Fall 2007:
Assessment Tools for Reflective
Practice
2007-2008Reflective Practice Large Group
Meetings
-
August 23
(Thursday)
3:15-4:30pm – 210 Stabley Library Open Meeting –
“How Can I Use This? Easy Teaching Props to Encourage
Participation”Co-Directors: Laurel J. Black, Francisco Alarcón,
Stephanie Taylor-Davis, Valeri Helterbran, John Woolcock
-
October 11 (Thursday)
3:15-4:30pm – Crimson Event Center, Folger Hall
"Integrating Instructional Technology – WHY use it?"
-
November 7
(Wednesday) 3:15-4:30pm – Crimson Event Center, Folger Hall
"Grading and UN-Grading: Get Acquainted with Both"
-
December 6 (Thursday)
3:15-4:30pm – Suites on Lower Grant - G5
"Learning Communities and Residential Revival: Faculty Connections beyond the
Classroom"
-
February 6
(Wednesday) 3:30-4:45pm – Crimson Event Center, Folger Hall
"Motivating Students!"
-
March 6 (Thursday)
3:30-4:45pm – Crimson Event Center, Folger Hall"Critical
Thinking Activities for Students"
-
April 2 (Wednesday)
3:30-4:45pm – Crimson Event Center, Folger Hall"Visual
Learning: What Works?"
-
April 29 (Tuesday)
5:00-7:00pm – Crimson Event Center, Folger Hall
Recognition Dinner
2006-2007
Reflective Practice Large Group
Meetings
- August 24
(Thursday) 2:00-4:00pm – Open Meeting – “Energizing
Ways to Recharge
Your Classes”
Director: Laurel J. Black; Co-Directors: Francisco Alarcón,
Stephanie Taylor-Davis, Valeri Helterbran, John Woolcock
- September 6
(Wednesday) 3:15-4:30pm – Crimson Event Center, Folger Hall
“Matchmaker,
Matchmaker” ~ Forming
Teaching Circles
- October 5
(Thursday) 3:15-4:30pm – Crimson Event Center, Folger Hall
Civic Engagement
and
Responsibility as
Student
Motivators
- November 1
(Wednesday) 3:15-4:30pm – Location to be announced
Writing for
Publication
- December 7
(Thursday) 3:15-4:30pm – Crimson Event Center, Folger Hall
Share and
Compare: Fun & Engaging Assignments
- February 7
(Wednesday) 3:15-4:30pm – Crimson Event Center, Folger Hall
Critical Thinking
- March 8
(Thursday) 3:15-4:30pm – Crimson Event Center, Folger Hall
Integrating Instructional Technology
- April 4 (Wednesday) 3:15-4:30pm – Oak
Room, Foster Hall
Stimulating Student Discussion Using the Socratic
Seminar
- May 3
(Thursday) 5:00-7:00pm – Crimson Event Center, Folger Hall
Recognition Dinner
Reflective Practice
Workshops
- October 28: Visual Teaching in an Auditory
World
Ellyn Arwood and Joanna Kaakinen will focus on cognitive processing of
information: how exactly our students learn. It goes beyond learning styles to
the hard-wiring that students and faculty may not be aware of, and offers
participants advice on alternatives to standard lecturing as well as ways to
alter other course assignments to improve student learning. We should leave
this workshop with strategies we can use in the rest of the first semester and
which we can apply to the courses we are designing for spring semester
- February 10: The Scholarship of Teaching
and Learning
In her book Enhancing Scholarly Work on Teaching and Learning:
Professional Literature that Makes a Difference, Maryellen Weimer lists four
benefits that can accrue from becoming familiar with such work: “lessons about
pedagogical scholarship for the disciplines to learn from each other; the
power of well-established findings to advance the profession; more effective
advocacy for those working to advance the teaching-learning agenda; and the
power of reading widely to improve individual practice.” In this workshop she
will begin to familiarize us with exemplars of such pedagogical literature and
help us start the process of structuring our classes based on sound research
findings. We will also begin to think about how we can conduct research on our
own teaching that will add valuable knowledge to this field.
Handouts (Word documents)
2005-2006
Reflective Practice
Workshops
- October 15: Maximizing
the "R" in RP-Reflective Practice In Action versus On Action
- Reflection-in-Action and
Reflection-on-Action by Laurel Black
- Reflection-in-Action and
Reflection-on-Action by Judith Villa
- Reflective Journals by Gian
Pagnucci
Reflective Practice Large Group
Meetings
- August 25, 2005 Opening Meeting - “The
Power and Perils of Intuition in the Classroom”
The Center for Teaching Excellence-sponsored Reflective
Practice Group blends monthly large group
meetings and small cross-disciplinary and departmental teaching
circles dedicated to improving teaching and learning at IUP.
- September 7, 2005 “Matchmaker-Matchmaker ~
Forming Your Cross-Disciplinary Teaching Circles”
Reflective Practice Large Group meeting to introduce concept of
teaching circles and provide an opportunity for faculty to meet
with others to join departmental and/or cross-disciplinary
teaching circles.
- November 2, 2005 Going Places – “Working with
International & ESL Students” and “Highlights of Faculty Opportunities for
Scholarly Exchange”
- December 1,
2005“White Elephant Gift Exchange ---
Share the Greatest Gift from Your Teaching Tool Box”
This alternative format meeting is designed to provide Reflective
Practice members with an opportunity to share with one another something that
is an indispensable aid to their teaching. Each member should bring an "item"
to share. This item should not include your name as the bearer or the gift. If
it is a tangible object, the item should be wrapped in a gift box/bag and
include a description using the form below. If your Gift is a concept or idea,
then just complete the form provided and put your description in an envelope.
Total cost for anything you should do should not exceed $5.00.
- February 1, 2006 “Transformative Learning: A
Changing Path to Discovering What You Don’t Know About What Influences Your
Teaching”
Panelists will share perspectives on their realization of and
movement to deeply engage students in learning-- what works and/or makes a
difference for them and their students. There will be an opportunity for
members to ask questions of the panel and/or to provide their own
experiences/insights.
- March 2, 2006 “Fostering Motivation and Learning
in the Grading Process”
This session will provide a forum for faculty AND a panel of
students to explore Learning vs. Earning - What Makes Students Really Think!
Dr. Valerie Helterbran, a faculty member in Professional Studies in Education,
will introduce strategies/approaches and experiences that she has had in
fostering motivation and learning in the grading process. Four students and/or
instructor assistants on the panel who will share their experiences and
perspectives regarding motivation and learning in the grading process. There
will be an opportunity for faculty attendees to ask questions of the
faculty/student panel and/or to provide their own experiences/insights to add
to the discussion.
- April 5, 2006 "Strategies to Promote
Academic Integrity"
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Cheryl Samuels, and her
Executive Assistant, Jake DeCarlo join us to talk about the IUP Academic
Integrity policy and procedures. They will provide insights regarding the
process and how faculty can best prepare should they be faced with confronting
a student with an academic integrity violation. In addition, Dr. Tina Perdue,
Interim Director of the Writing Center, will present an overview of the
services that the Center can provide to support faculty efforts in the
classroom and to help students to prevent plagiarism and other academic
integrity violations. There will be time during the meeting for small groups
of faculty to share their experiences and solutions related to the topic of
academic integrity.
- April 27, 2006 Annual Recognition Banquet
In addition to recognizing the individual accomplishments of RP
members, we would like to use this event as a forum for Teaching Circles (both
departmental and interdisciplinary) to showcase their goals and activities
during the course of this academic year. We would like each Teaching Circle to
present this information in either a flyer/brochure or a poster format. For
those opting for the brochure/flyer format, we would like to have copies
available for distribution at the Recognition Dinner, and later we would like
to post this information on the RP website. For those opting for the poster
format, we will have space available to display the posters at the recognition
dinner. The dinner is usually attended by a large number of RP members, the
Provost and the Deans of each College. This event will be an excellent way for
you to receive recognition for the work you have done. It is also an excellent
opportunity for RP to showcase and promote the diversity of interests and
accomplishments supported through the Center for Teaching Excellence.
2004-2005
Reflective Practice Large Group
Meetings
- August 26, 2004 Organization
Meeting and Introduction to Reflective Practice
The Center for Teaching Excellence-sponsored Reflective
Practice Group continues with a blend of monthly large group
meetings and small cross-disciplinary and departmental teaching
circles dedicated to improving teaching and learning at
IUP.
- September 1, 2004 Matchmaker,
Matchmaker and Teaching Circle Formation
Reflective Practice Large Group meeting to introduce concept of
teaching circles and provide an opportunity for faculty to meet
with others to join departmental and/or cross-disciplinary
teaching circles.
- October 7, 2004
Advising: What You Need to Know
Presenters will provide an overview about their topic.
Participants will break into smaller groups to rotate through
tables where the presenters will share additional information
and answer questions. Presenters for this session include:
Jackie Beck, Michelle Norwood (new campus advising/scheduling
program), Richard Lamberski (Virtual Advisor), and Rebecca
Sterley (National Academic Advising Association).
- November 3, 2004 Formative Dialog
Workshop
Don't miss the opportunity to learn answers to questions like:
What is Formative Dialog Anyway?, In What Ways Can I
Use Formative Dialog to Develop My Teaching? and What
Happens If I'd Like to Get Involved? We won't just be
talking about Formative Dialog; The Reflective Practice
Co-Directors are planning to SHOW you what it is all about and
to how you might benefit from this service for the RP
members!
- December 2, 2004 Yum! A Holiday
Taste Testing Showcase
We have a RELAXING program planned. Spend a bit of time talking
with other RP members and enjoying sweet delights graciously
provided by the IUP Academy of Culinary Arts and
snacks/beverages provided by Aramark. Our fun will include a
Holiday Cooking Demonstration presented by local Chef Bob
Piccirillo and Mrs. Diane Wagoner, faculty member (and
registered dietitian) in the Department of Food and
Nutrition.
- February 2, 2005 Technology and
On-Line Courses
A panel discussion with faculty who are experienced in teaching
on-line to share their perspectives and strategies on how to
effectively teach in an on-line environment (both distance
education as a compliment to in-resident instruction) ñ
what works for them and their students!
- March 3, 2005 Effective and Efficient
Grading Using Rubrics
Dr. Mary Ann Rafoth, facilitator. A discussion on Effective and
Efficient Grading Using Rubrics. Several faculty have submitted
their rubrics and all attendees at the meeting will receive a
packet containing these rubric examples. Along with information
regarding guiding principles for rubric development and
evaluation, faculty will share rubrics they have found
particularly useful (from their perspective as well as that of the
student).
- April 6, 2005 End of Year Assessment
and Teaching Circle Showcase
Our program focus will be on the Scholarship of Teaching,
specifically, "How to Turn RP Participation into
Presentation and/or Publication." In addition to providing
an opportunity for RP members to share accomplishments in this
area, this meeting will provide you with an opportunity to see at
least one example of a poster designed to communicate RP teaching
circle activities. Our discussion will emphasize sharing of ideas
and perspectives on posters as a way of promoting what you have
done in RP and teaching. Publications, presentations, and grant
writing are also areas in which the scholarship of teaching will
be discussed.
Workshops sponsored by the Center for
Teaching Excellence
- Outcomes Assessment D E
A L: Design Engage Assess
& Apply Link
September 17, 2004
Facilitator: Dr. Barbara Walvoord
A WORKSHOP designed to:
1. create an Outcomes Assessment framework for each department and
program that is meaningful and useable.
2. examine how departments can use existing data to measure
student/program outcomes.
3. provide a variety of outcome measurement strategies for
classroom and program use.
4. suggest application strategies to facilitate reflection and
facilitate the use of the data collected for program
improvement.
You WILL leave this workshop with a complete skeletal plan of
Action towards meeting our Outcome Assessment goals.
- Spirituality Across The Curriculum
Retreat/Workshop: An Investigation of Zen Principles and Their
Applications to the Educational Environment
September 25, 2004
Facilitator:
Dai-En Bennage
As part of a yearlong examination of the principles of Zen, the
Spirituality Across the Curriculum teaching circle will host a
faculty/student retreat to explore what Zen might contribute to
the teaching/learning process.
- Encouraging Classroom Civility Through
Behavioral Interventions, Teamwork, and Collaboration" OR "With a
Team, You Get Eggroll!
November 6, 2004
Speaker: Karen M. Heller, M.A.
Civility . . . . Is this an issue in your class? In your program?
In your College? Come to a highly interactive workshop to learn
strategies for dealing with civility issues and ways to avoid
possible confrontations.
- Advising Workshop
January 22, 2005
Facilitator: Dr. Tom Brown
Pathways to Persistence is a simulation exercise that
challenges some of the common myths and misconceptions about
attrition, identifies many of the real reasons students leave
college, and considers evidence suggesting that what happens to
students after they enroll is often more important than their
pre-enrollment attributes and experiences. Pathways makes the
point that increased persistence is the by-product of a campus
environment which combines high quality teaching, comprehensive
student services, and an effective academic advising program.
Conceptual and Relational Issues in Advising presentation
will address academic advising as an extension of the classroom
teaching done by faculty members, which supports students to
develop and achieve their personal, academic and career goals. The
session will provide a framework to guide the work of advisors,
consider the roles and responsibilities of advisors and advisees,
and identify specific student needs and expectations in advising.
Finally, we will reflect on the skills, attitudes, and behaviors
that are essential to forming effective advising and teaching
relationships.
Supporting the Achievement and Success of At-Risk Students
presentation and discussion will identify the characteristics,
challenges and effective strategies for advising specific student
populations that are at-risk for leaving college and/or for not
achieving their full potential. Participants will consider basic
theories of student learning and motivation and learn about
concrete, tangible strategies that can increase student
engagement, achievement, and persistence.
- The Framework for Teaching
Workshop
Facilitator: Charlotte Danielson
March 19, 2005
The workshop is designed to introduce Ms. Danielson's
research-based set of components of instruction. The components
are aligned to the INTASC standards, and grounded in a
constructivist view of learning and teaching. The Framework for
Teaching applies to all instructional settings, whether they are
in early childhood, elementary, middle school, high school, or
college. How the various skills of teaching are manifested in
these different settings is of course different, but the
underlying concepts are the same in all environments.
Teaching
Circle Reports - 2004-2005
2003-2004
2002-2003
2001-2002
2000-2001
1999-2000
1998-1999
1997-1998
1996-1997
1995-1996
1994-1995
1993-1994
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