Recent Developments in International Teaching Assistant (ITA) Training – Mareike Mueller

Launched in the spring term of 2008, the ITA program is currently heading into its third year of existence, and so it’s about time to have a closer look at some current developments within the program. My reflections will mainly refer to the fall and winter terms of 2009 and 2010 respectively, in which I have worked as an ITA Developer for this program. Continue reading Recent Developments in International Teaching Assistant (ITA) Training – Mareike Mueller

Faculty-Level Teaching Awards: Why Bother? — Mario Coniglio

The ritual is the same each year  – I, as our Faculty’s liaison for Waterloo’s Distinguished Teaching Awards (DTA), email reminders to our Department Chairs and School Directors about the February nomination deadline. Soon after, around reading week, I receive the Science dossiers from Verna in the CTE, and shortly after that, we have our suggested ranking to forward to the DTA committee. Continue reading Faculty-Level Teaching Awards: Why Bother? — Mario Coniglio

Two Endings, and Beyond (Worn Down But Happy) – Trevor Holmes

So I’m grading some of my 164 exams, 164 papers, 1600+ discussion board postings from Cultural Studies 101 (KS 101) over at that other place. My eyes are finally glazing over and I wish everyone could write exams on laptops. But it’s lovely — really lovely — to read the exams and final Intellectual Response Papers (IRPs). More students than ever took me up on the challenge to write IRPs on alternate field observations and / or use a different format (photo essay, video, zine, whatever). The portion of their exam that was take-home asks them to reflect (with evidence) on their 10 minijournal entries from the 12-week term. So many “aha” moments arise with that part of the exam. Continue reading Two Endings, and Beyond (Worn Down But Happy) – Trevor Holmes

Six Reasons I Like Laptops in the Classroom — Linda Carson

I’ve stood at the back of a lecture hall and seen the flickering laptop screens: email and Facebook and online poker. I recently heard of a student, braver or foolhardier than most, on Chatroulette during a class. How’d I hear? One of my own students tweeted it from a couple of rows behind him.

As I watched the number of laptops rise in my classroom this year, I made a mental note to keep an eye on their effect. I expected to give a speech, a few weeks into term, about shutting down the tech sometimes to improve our classroom interaction. That’s not what happened.

I didn’t start it. It took me a while to realize it was happening. Now I’m just trying not to get in the way. Continue reading Six Reasons I Like Laptops in the Classroom — Linda Carson

What I’ve Learned by Working with an Award-winning Teacher – Afsaneh Nabifar

The teaching practicum for UW’s Certificate in University Teaching (CUT) helped me enhance several of my teaching skills. Through this course, I got the chance to practice lecturing, receive feedback on my teaching skills, and become more self-aware and critically reflective of my teaching style. However, what made my experience special was the opportunity to work with a faculty member who is an award-winning teacher.  Professor Alex Penlidis was my observer and mentor Continue reading What I’ve Learned by Working with an Award-winning Teacher – Afsaneh Nabifar

Looking Forward to the OND – Jane Holbrook

I spent most of yesterday starting to get my presentation together for the upcoming Opportunities and New Directions conference that will be held here, on campus, on Thursday, April 28th in Hagey Hall. This is the second year that UW will be hosting this one-day conference of research on teaching and learning. Dr Nicola Simmons, our CTE Research and Evaluation Consultant, is aiming to make this an annual event. Continue reading Looking Forward to the OND – Jane Holbrook