Teaching Academy

Preparing You for Teaching Success and Excellence

Tuesday, October 26th was the inaugural meeting of The Teaching Academy.  The program plans monthly meetings to help graduate students prepare for University/College level teaching, both as a TA / GA as well as in their academic endeavors after they graduate.  Upcoming meetings will cover topics such as course preparation; class management; developing and using grading rubrics; using technology in the classroom and many others.  The Academy will help prepare individuals for the teaching experience, as well as the academic job market.

Second Meeting of the Teaching Academy

The UTPA Teaching Academy held its second monthly meeting, Tuesday, November 30th on campus.  A notable presentation by Edgar Gonzalez and Anthony Salinas provided information on the latest technology available to campus instructors, T.A.’s and G.A.’s.

An enhancement to the widely utilized Blackboard; Tegrity and Clickers, from Turning Technology, are two new tools available. Not only are they user friendly, they are highly effective.

Tegrity, a lecture capture device, offers the instructors the flexibility to record lectures inside and outside of the classroom.   Tegrity will enable the student to review the lecture without a need to schedule a meeting due to missed instruction.  While this in no way can replace the classroom lecture, it is a great supplement to any course. Material can be easily downloaded to Blackboard and accessed by the students the same day of recording.  Recording answers to common questions and particular areas of interest, lend to the instructor’s ability to more effectively manage their office hours.

Clickers, similar to a small remote control,  allow an increase of interaction between the student and the instructor regardless of class size.  Clickers hold up to 100 questions and can display graphical results immediately.  The device can be used for scheduled and unscheduled quizzes, which will give the instructor a better understanding of areas that may need further concentration.   Essentially, the clickers function as active benchmarks that can be used in the classroom.  The use of clickers for exams, virtually eliminates Scantron’s and can provide students with grades before they even exit the classroom.

These new enhancements to the teaching field are just a couple of examples of the sessions that are currently being scheduled for the Spring semester.  The Teaching Academy actively supports and researches the newest tools in academia excellence.  The next meeting will be held in February 2011 and is sure to provide a plethora of information on the advancement of higher learning education.

Third Meeting of the Teaching Academy

The Teaching Academy’s February meeting was both an informative and practical demonstration of Active Learning Pedagogies thanks to the expertise of Dr. Chris Smith, assistant professor in the Chemistry Department.  Attendees had the opportunity to participate hands-on in one of many active learning strategies by working in small groups.  Exchange of ideas and experiences helped participants learn which methods have worked well for one another and why.  It became apparent different strategies were more or less effective in different disciplines and settings.
On March 29th Dr. Jessica Lavariega Monforti, associate professor in Political Science, will present on Classroom Management.  More information will follow shortly.

Fourth Meeting of the Teaching Academy

The May meeting of The Teaching Academy brought Dr. Randy Olson's expertise as both a scientist and filmmaker to UTPA graduate students. Based on his book, "Don't be Such a Scientist", Dr. Olson expressed the importance of communicating any field of expertise in a manner that is not only accurate, but also enjoyable and effective to one's audience. Particularly in an academic setting, framing material in an exciting and interesting format helps develop greater interest and acceptance of ideas.

Summer Boot Camp

The Summer Boot Camp was a four day, intensive program that focused on developing the knowledge and skills graduate students need to be prepared for their future in higher education. Topics that were covered included developing and using a learner-centered syllabus, and hands-on experience of Team-based Learning, a method gaining popularity in many disciplines. Students also learned about cutting-edge technologies that will serve as great teaching tools, and handling difficult classroom situations. Several experienced faculty members contributed to the boot camp.

September Teaching Academy Meeting

Dr. Jessica Lavariega Monforti led a very helpful session on how to find a job in academia. From developing an effective C.V. to handling a campus visit, her expertise provided students with the tools they need to embark on a well-prepared, intelligently thought out job search.

October Teaching Academy Meeting

In the October meeting of the Teaching Academy, Dr. Chris Smith focused on avoiding, handling and resolving conflict in the classroom. Attendees learned about how to deal with grade grubbers, disruptive students and disrespecting peers.

November Teaching Academy Meeting

The November teaching academy brought together members of the Center for Online Learning, Teaching and Technology and UTPA faculty members who regularly use SecondLife as part of their curriculum. Graduate students saw firsthand how this tool enables professors to connect with students on new levels, and ways in which another dimension can be brought into a course.