Pre-Institute Online Activity:

Preparing for a Teaching Institute

Note that this activity must be completed online. You are welcome to do the pre-reading in one sitting and submit your responses in another but once you begin submitting responses, you cannot save your work and come back to it later.

Click to return to the Teaching Institute Resources

Learning Skills

reflecting, goal setting, accepting ownership

Why?

Any learning experience is more valuable when the learner is able to personally assume ownership for the learning. Each of you made the decision to participate in this institute for reasons that met some personal need. In this pre-Institute activity, you have the opportunity to do some preparatory reading, thinking, and writing that will enrich your experience at this event. At the start of the Institute we will ask each of you to share your background, your strengths and areas for growth, and your personal goals for the event. This will help the facilitators customize the agenda to better meet the needs of the audience. 
Learning Objectives

  1. Reflect on the multi-media resources (two modules from the Faculty Guidebook and an online video presentation) that provides a foundation for pursuing improved teaching/learning methods.

  2. Articulate elements of your personal educational philosophy so that Teaching Institute facilitators and participants can know you better and so that you can be more aware of your own motivations and ways of working and learning.

  3. Understand the broad learning goals and teaching methods associated with this faculty development event.

  4. Assess personal needs and wants for the Teaching Institute against what is planned for the entire group.

Performance Criteria

A high performer, in the context of this activity, is able to meet the following criteria:

  1. Identification of at least three thought-provoking insights about the challenges facing higher education, the profile of a quality faculty member, and the Teaching Institute.

  2. Clearly and concisely written educational philosophy statement that one is willing to share with students and colleagues.

  3. Three personal outcomes identified and stated in a way that can be understood by others present at the Teaching Institute.

Plan

  1. Browse the multi-media resources that serve as background for this event. Note that all links below open in a new browser window.

  1. Review the Overview of the Teaching Institute

  2. Review the following terms and phrases (terms have been highlighted and may be found in the Glossary—.pdf)

    Activity
    Assessment
    Attribute
    Bloom’s Taxonomy
    Classification of Learning Skills
    Course Design
    Critical Thinking Questions
    Enriched Learning Environment

    Evaluation
    Facilitation
    Information Processing
    Learner Development
    Learning-Centered
    Learning Outcomes
    Learning Skills
    Methodology

    Performance Criteria
    Process Education
    Professional Development
    Rubric
    Self-grower
    SII Method of Assessment Reporting
    Student Success

  3. Complete the Online Participant Survey Form (available below).

  4. Be prepared to share your survey responses with Institute participants.
 

Broad Learning Goals for a Teaching Institute

Pacific Crest’s goals for this Institute are to help participants:

Learn the language and concepts of Process Education

  • Expand familiarity with effective teaching practices grounded in learning theory

  • Experience the dynamics of a productive quality learning environment

  • Learn and use effective assessment techniques

  • Value the role of methodologies in strengthening the learning process

  • Appreciate the complexity of high quality course and activity design

  • Understand the difference between assessment and evaluation

  • Motivate faculty to analyze current practice(s) with respect to student learning and appreciate the benefits of Process Education
 

Participant Survey

Name:          
Discipline: 
Institution:
   
1.

In which areas of the faculty profile have you made your most significant/unique contributions as an educator? What are these contributions?
2.

In which areas of the faculty profile do you have the greatest room to grow? In what ways would this growth be valuable?

 
3.

What improvements would you recommend to the faculty profile as a framework for individuals and teams in responding to the changing expectations for higher education?

Teaching Institute Reflections
4.

What are the broad learning goals for this Institute and how do you envision these goals being realized?
5.

What aspects of this event are you looking forward to? Why?
6.

What aspects of this event will be the most challenging? Why?

Educational Philosophy

Reflect on your own educational philosophy and the processes and tools you use. Use the space provided below to articulate your educational philosophy. You may want to use the questions below to prompt your thinking and guide your writing.

   • What are your motivations for teaching at the college level?
  • Why did you choose your discipline?
  • What is your attitude toward students? What do you respect? What bothers you?
  • Where are your strengths as an educator and how do you use them?
  • What would you like to change in your courses? How could this be done?
  • What do you want others to say about your legacy as a teacher?
 

List three (3) personal goals you would like to meet during your participation in the Teaching Institute

Goal 1:

Goal 2:

Goal 3:

When you are satisfied with your responses, simply hit the submit button.