Spring Institute on College Teaching and Learning

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Integrating Active Learning:
Classroom, Online & Global Instruction

May 13-15, 2008

Program A:
Design and Implementation of Active and Cooperative Learning in Large Classes

Presenter: Karl Smith
Location: Gold A Room, MSU Union

Many faculty members are exploring cooperative learning or other forms of active engagement to encourage students to be active participants in their own learning as well as the learning of other students. But how do we structure these experiences to ensure that they lead to enhanced learning?

This workshop emphasizes the instructor’s role in designing and implementing individual and group strategies in connection with active and cooperative learning. Individual strategies include engagement writing, reflection exercises, and several classroom assessment techniques. Group strategies include many forms of informal and formal cooperative learning, including turn-to-your-neighbor, Problem-Based Learning, constructive controversy and many others. Research-based key elements of cooperative learning are explained, modeled, and coached. These include positive interdependence, individual and group accountability, face-to-face interaction, teamwork skills, and group processing. Participants will learn about the instructor’s role in designing, structuring, and implementing active and cooperative learning in large classes. Challenges and barriers to implementing active and cooperative learning and how to overcome them will be addressed.

Participants will experience hands-on activities, video examples, small and large group discussion, and have the opportunity to design and review activities for their own course. All participants will receive a free text on the workshop topic. Ten spaces in this workshop are reserved for MSU graduate students.

Fee: Free to MSU affiliates; $190 for all others
Tuesday - Wednesday, May 13-14, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Breakfast and lunch included.

Karl Smith is Cooperative Learning Professor of Engineering Education and Fellow, Discovery Learning Center, Purdue University, and Morse-Alumni Distinguished Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Minnesota.

This workshop is jointly sponsored by the Office of Faculty and Organizational Development and the Graduate School.

Program B:

Blended 101: Combining Online and Traditional Instruction

Presenters: vuDAT Team, led by Brandon Blinkenberg
Location: Parlor A, MSU Union

Participants should (1) bring a syllabus for an existing course to “blend,” (2) be comfortable with basic computer technology (e.g., Microsoft Office and ANGEL), and (3) allow time during the week to review online content and to meet individually with Virtual University Design & Technology (vuDAT) consultants.

Blended courses combine the best aspects of online and traditional instruction for a flexible learning experience that benefits students, faculty, and administrators. Participants in this workshop will experience blended learning as they develop a blended course plan.

Day one of the workshop will include discussions of blending strategies and best practices, as well as communication tools, ways to encourage student preparation for class, and examples from award-winning blended courses. On days two and three, participants will have the opportunity to meet individually with vuDAT consultants to develop and refine their blended course plans. On the final day of the workshop, all participants will share their course plans with fellow participants and receive feedback on their designs.

Blended 101 is limited to 20 participants.
Please register for this workshop by April 11 at http://vudat.msu.edu/blended101

Fee: Free to MSU affiliates. Open to MSU affiliates only.

Tuesday-Friday, May 13-16. Only the first day of this workshop is in the MSU Union.

Brandon Blinkenberg is an eProducer with vuDAT.
This workshop is jointly sponsored by the Office of Libraries, Computing & Technology and F&OD.

Program C:
Collaborating to Create Engaging Global and Multicultural Learning Environments

Presenters: Christa Olson & Brian Bridges
Location: Green Room, MSU Union

This three-day workshop provides intensive, hands-on practice in which individual instructors and program developers discuss, create, and share models for infusing globally-aware, multicultural perspectives into the curriculum and co-curriculum. Instructors will review exemplary courses and extract strategies relevant for a specific course or program of study they wish to develop or enhance. Directors of campus programs will identify exemplary co-curricular practices that complement curricular efforts and discuss tactics for further enhancing them. Participants will share their work in progress and collaborate on compiling a repertoire of pedagogical strategies that effectively address the newly developed global competencies for MSU students.

This workshop will focus on the following four key topics: (1) Self-reflection on our identities as global citizens and how these influence our approaches to teaching and learning; (2) knowing our students; (3) multiculturally- and globally-inclusive course content; and (4) exploration of multicultural and global teaching methods, as well as the connection between them. Participants will engage in action planning and learn abut the specific resources and programs at MSU that can enhance their research, teaching, and related activities.

Fee: Free to MSU affiliates; $225 for all others. Fee includes all meals, parking and workshop supplies.

Tuesday-Thursday, May 13-15, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Breakfast and lunch included.

Christa Olson is Associate Director of the American Council of Education (ACE) Center for International Initiatives. Brian Bridges is Associate Director of the ACE Center for Racial & Ethnic Equity. This session is cosponsored by the Offices for Inclusion & Intercultural Initiatives, Undergraduate Education, and F&OD.

Program D:
Documenting the Complexity of Teaching: Teaching Portfolios -- What, Why and How

Presenter: Deborah DeZure
Location: Parlor A, MSU Union

In an effort to capture the complexity of teaching, institutions nationally and internationally are using teaching portfolios to document teaching for purposes of evaluation in tenure and promotion decisions as well as to promote growth and improvement. Interest in their use is increasing at MSU among units that want to move beyond student evaluations as the primary means to assess teaching effectiveness.

The purpose of this program is to provide an introduction to the use of teaching portfolios in higher education, including what they are, why and how they are used, key components and variations, and how they are evaluated in the context of peer review. Models of reflective statements on teaching will also be discussed. Finally, participants will explore ways to adapt teaching portfolios to disciplinary practice and departmental needs. Individuals, department and college advisory committee members, and unit teams are encouraged to attend.

Fee: Free to MSU affiliates; $75 for all others. Fee includes all meals, parking and workshop supplies.

Wednesday, May 14, 8:30 a.m.– 12:00 p.m. Breakfast and lunch included.
If you would like to be added to the waiting list for this session, please email facdevel@msu.edu with your name, email address, and phone number, or call 517-432-2033.

Deborah DeZure is Assistant Provost for Faculty Development and Organizational Development at Michigan State University.