What are Delta Participants Learning about the Practice of Teaching?

NSF Supplement Pillar Study

CIRTL Network Meeting – Project Update (10/21/10)

Chris Pfund & Brian ManskeUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison

Research Data

CC= The College Classroom, DCC = Diversity in the College Classroom, InEd = Informal Education, ETT = Effective Teaching with Technology, IMD = Instructional Materials Development, ISIF = International Students, International Faculty; CCLE = Creating a Collaborative Learning Environment, EL = Expeditions in Learning, Intern = Internship Seminar

Final Evaluation

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Final Evaluation Questions

1. What major concepts* are you taking away from this course, program or activity that will affect your practice as an educator? If possible, please give 2 3 ‐specific examples.

2. Suppose that you were preparing to teach some scientific concept from your discipline (e.g., the nitrogen cycle, amplitude, statistical significance, human development in early childhood). Describe the steps that you would take to do so, based on what you’ve learned in this course, program or activity.

*Please note: Questions did NOT specifically ask participants to name or describe the pillars

Study Objectives

• Identify the teaching and learning themes present in participant responses to the two final evaluation questions

• Examine the occurrence of pillar language and concepts within these themes

Coding Bins w/ Example

WORDLE (www.wordle.net)

Words removed for readability: teaching, students, learning, class, concept, different

Theme Prevalence by Respondent

0 50 100 150 200 250

Toolbox for Teaching

Teacher Role

Teacher Improvement

Pillars - TAR (Teaching-as-Research)

Pillars - LtD (Learning-through-Diversity)

Pillars - LC (Learning Community)

Pillars - generic

Philosophy on Teaching or Learning

Literature (education)

Learning Style

Learning Goals & Outcomes

Learning & Learners

Inclusive Teaching

Group Work

Diverse Students

Diverse Instruction (using)

Design (instructional, course,…

Community

Classroom Environment

Career Related

Assessment & Evaluation

Active Learning & Student Engagement

Pillar Related Themes

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180

Learning Goals & Outcomes

Assessment & Evaluation

Teaching-as-Research (by name)

Learning Style

Inclusive Teaching

Diverse Students

Learning-through-Diversity (by name)

Group Work

Community

Learning Community (by name)

LC

LtD

TAR

Discussion Questions1. What do we expect Delta Program (and CIRTL

Network Program) participants to say about their teaching practice? What would be a satisfactory answer? What themes/ elements would it include?

2. Do we expect CIRTL Network participants to integrate the pillars into descriptions of their teaching practice?

A. By name?B. Conceptually? C. To what level of detail?

3. If we expect integration of the pillars and/or pillar-related concepts across the CIRTL Network, what participant outcomes will indicate success?

4. To what extent does common language matter in the CIRTL Network community?