Documentation:CTLT programs/New Faculty Program

The Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology offers an ongoing development program for pre-tenured faculty members. The program is meant to support you in your teaching and learning endeavours, research projects and administrative duties.

The program’s initiatives reflect the suggestions of junior faculty members who have been key contributors. You will notice that the program includes interactive workshops, studio sessions, one-on-one consultations, writing groups and social events. The program addresses issues that are specific to teaching and learning, to the supervision of Graduate Students, to research and to more personal life issues. It attempts to use a holistic approach, to be highly participatory, collaborative and modular.

The program is optional, of course, and it is not meant to make extra work for you. It is designed with the intention of making things easier and helping you in your position as a junior faculty member at UBC.

Pre-Tenured Faculty Program objectives are to:

1. Learn about your administrative responsibilities at UBC;
2. Develop as a teacher and learner and build a Teaching Portfolio;
3. Set career goals and clarify yours and your department’s expectations;
4. Receive support and encouragement from colleagues;
5. Learn how to be a successful graduate student supervisor (including learning about FoGS’ rules and regulations).

• If you would like to be involved, contact Luisa Canuto

You may also find the information at these websites useful:

• Princeton’s Scholar as Teacher Tip Sheet

• Iowa State University’s Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning

• University of Michigan Centre for Research on Learning and Teaching

New Faculty Seminars

Each summer, during the 2nd or 3rd week of August, we offer a series of six three-hour summer seminars focusing on teaching and learning.

This three-day series of seminars focuses on issues that are particularly meaningful to new faculty members. The seminars range from planning for the first day and week in the classroom, to evaluating students’ learning, to deciding whether to use WebCT (Web Course Tools). Two seminars are scheduled each day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, offering practical tips to help you in your teaching.

Below is a sample of previous new faculty seminars hosted by the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology. New faculty are contacted each year and informed of upcoming series. Please contact Luisa Canuto (luisa.canuto@ubc.ca) for additional information.

• Surviving and Thriving the First Day and First Week of Class On that very first day, and first week, many students will form lasting and important impressions of your course. They will get a sense of where they are going and how they will get there. It is an important opportunity to set the tone for the rest of the term inspire your students and motivate them to give their best. During this seminar we will discuss strategies for making the first day of class a success. We will use specific examples and you will have the opportunity to design guidelines, which are appropriate to your class, and reflect on the expectations you want to communicate to your students.
• Interactive Teaching Techniques Interested in delivering dynamic lessons, and increasing student motivation and retention? The thoughtful use of interactive teaching techniques in your classroom can help you to accomplish all of these goals. In this session, we will explore interactive strategies and you will take away some techniques to incorporate into your classroom.
• Copyright and Intellectual Property Issues This seminar will provide you with copyright basics in Canada and at UBC followed by a practical discussion of how copyright affects all aspects of your teaching and research productivity at UBC. Through scenarios participants will delve into copyright as it applies to teaching and learning especially with respect to learning technologies. Get answers to questions such as, “What is copyright?” “Where are the boundaries with relation to handouts, course websites, course packages, presentations, and your own research?” “How much can I share with students online?” We will help you sort through your toughest copyright questions. After this seminar you will be able to better develop and re-examine your own teaching resources with respect to intellectual property issues.
• What WebCT Can Do for You: an Overview This session will provide an overview of WebCT (Web Course Tools) & the tools it offers. WebCT CE (Campus Edition) is a set of tools organized into a system to deliver online courses or to augment classroom-based courses. Instructors can select from among a variety of tools to create an online course environment. Popular tools include a course content manager, online quizzes, discussions, chat rooms, grade book, glossary and much more. If you are considering the use of WebCT CE for your course, but do not know enough to make an informed decision about it, this session is for you. Examples from a variety of courses will be showcased.
• Course Design You want your course to be organized, to provide positive learning experiences, and to incorporate meaningful assessment of learning, whether formal or informal. But what do we need to do to achieve this? Join us for an overview of the ‘nuts and bolts’ of course planning. You’ll leave with practical tips and techniques to: organize your course and learning objectives; design lesson plans; choose effective teaching/learning activities; use appropriate materials, resources and supplies; develop a useful course outline; clarify expectations and responsibilities; and decide how you will assess learning. Bring along any materials that you already have for a course you would like to work on.
• The Art of Evaluation: Creating Rubrics Would you like to be able to explain more effectively what you’re looking for when you grade a paper, project, or presentation? Do your students find it difficult to clearly understand what constitutes “A” work and “B” work? Would you like to give the kind of feedback that will help your students improve the next time they face a similar task? Join us to learn more about the use of grading rubrics – marking guides that clearly define what qualities are important in an assignment, and provide detailed grading standards for various levels of performance. After designing a grading rubric for one of your own assignments, you will give and receive feedback on each other’s ideas. Please bring some information about one of your assignments and its related grading criteria.
• Technology and Teaching, What’s available at UBC and What to Expect: an Overview UBC faculty members have embraced the use of a wide range of technology-infused methods and tools to support their teaching and learning goals. WebCT, weblogs, wikis, a timeline tool, learning objects, clickers, simulations, games, e-portfolios, RSS… the list is extensive. Two common questions that most faculty have about these tools are:

1. Why would I use a particular tool or method?
2. Who can I go to for advice and support?

This workshop will look at both of these questions. You will be introduced to a selection of the tools, including a chance to have some limited ” hands – on ” exploration. You will also have an opportunity to meet and discuss why faculty have chosen to use particular tools and techniques, and meet some of the staff who support faculty at UBC.