Undergraduate Education

Mary F. WackVice Provost for Undergraduate

Education

Chuck MunsonChair, Teaching Academy

WSU New Faculty OrientationAugust 18, 2014

Preview

•Classrooms & Technology

•Students

•Resources

•Teaching Academy

TECHNOLOGY

Classrooms and Academic Media Services ams.wsu.edu

Angel Learning Management System angel.wsu.edu

Zzusis (Wa-Zzu-Sys) zzusis.wsu.edu

STUDENTS

Undergraduate Demographics and Teaching

• Solid middleoAvg. SAT 1060oAvg. HS GPA 3.29

• Average hides wide variationoAcademically advancedoAcademically vulnerable

Launch Into Learning Initiative teach.wsu.edu

• Get students off to a good fast start

• Lower barriers to success

• “The A Game” – book, workshops

• Student resources:

Cougarsuccess.wsu.edu

40% are First Generation

First-gen Personal Strengths

•Resiliency

•Sense of responsibility

•Willingness to take risks

•Optimistic

•Goal directed

What You Can Do• Risk-takers, optimistic, goal-directed, resilient--

These are great learners!

• Principles of good teaching practice apply here and everywhere

• Help students learn from mistakes—teachable moments, revision, retakes

• Help students network and connect—resources, mentors, other students; group projects

What Makes a Good Instructor?From “Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education,”

by Chickering, A.W. & Gamson, Z.F., AAHE Bulletin, 1987, 39(7), 3-7

1. Encourages student-faculty contact

2. Develops reciprocity and cooperation

3. Encourages active learning

4. Gives prompt feedback

5. Emphasizes time on task

6. Communicates high expectations

7. Respects diverse talents and ways of learning

Student Finances

•1/3 are Pell Grant eligible (low income)

•75% receive financial aid; 75% of need met

•Financial challenges and stresses•Early: books•Early & late: food

http://www.openwa.org/washington-45/

http://www.openwa.org/find-oer/

Academic Success and Career Center (ASCC = “Ask”)

•Info & support for students & faculty

•Study skills workshops

•Time Management

•Tutoring

•Career Services

Teachingteach.wsu.edu

Partnership with Library Personnel www.wsulibs.wsu.edu

•Expected by accreditation standards, req'd by gen ed courses

•Customized support for classes

•Subject-specific information portals

Teaching Expectations

• Clear and complete syllabus–Academic integrity

• Grading criteria explained–Midterm grades

• Assess student work and participate in department and university assessment

• Be aware of Academic Regulations in Catalogwww.registrar.wsu.edu/Registrar/Apps/AcadRegs.ASPX

Tenure and Promotion: Save course evaluations and course materials

Seven Learning Goals of the Baccalaureate

•Govern undergraduate education

•Framework for assessment

•Learning outcomes required on syllabi

Undergraduates receive Goals bookmarks that are written in student-friendly language.

Emphasis on Writing

•Includes “Writing in the Major” (M) courses

•Student and institutional assessment—junior writing portfolio

•Support for faculty and students

•Writing Center tutorials—walk-in and for credit

Teaching Academy• 12 original members in 2004

• Currently 23 members; major expansion planned

• Charged with helping to improve teaching & learning at WSU

Some past activities

• Learning goals

• TA training

• Outstanding non-tenure track instructor award

• Hosted teaching and learning workshops

Teaching AcademyFuture goals• Peer evaluation and

mentoring• Assist faculty with tenure

and promotion packets• Provide regular teaching

workshops for faculty and TAs

• Create an award for teaching innovation

Course and syllabus development

Teaching Your First CourseA.Don’t start with the “perfect course” and reduce; start with the “minimum course” and add.

B.Biggest problem: giving too much information (if you had only 7 weeks to teach, what would you cut?).

C.Don’t reinvent the wheel: borrow notes and sit in on lectures/courses.

D.Prepare months in advance (being prepared & organized creates confidence).

E.Establish and maintain credibility by what you wear, how you act in public, not just teaching from the book, incorporating some of your own research, not trying to show that you have all the answers.

F.Reflect. What teachers did you admire, and why?

G.Be fair: consistent grading, absentee policies, etc.

“When I hear, I forget. When I see, I remember. When I do, I understand.” Calvin Coolidge“The person who knows how will always get the job, but the person who knows why will always be their boss.” John Munson“It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” Ursula K. LeGuin“Setting an example is better than preaching.” William B. Miller & Vicki L. Schenk“Kids may forget what we taught them, but they’ll never forget how we treated them.”

Doug Lowery, Principal, Hilliard Memorial Middle School, 2004

When teaching works right, you’ve got 100s of allies and alumns with fond memories. There is no more satisfying feeling. Good Luck!

Final Thoughts