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Sticklen participates in NSF Workshop for SoTL Center Directors

posted Jun 28, 2010, 3:05 PM by Jon Sticklen   [ updated Jul 4, 2010, 11:36 AM ]
Jon Sticklen, Director of CEER, took part in an NSF workshop held in DC on July 1-2. The workshop was titled "The Role of Centers for Teaching and Learning in Improvement of Undergraduate Engineering Education" and focused on centers like CEER. The workshop was by invitation only.

Notably,  the keynote talk of the workshop, help on Thursday evening July 1, was given by Prof. Leah Jamieson, Dean of the College of Engineering, Purdue University. Her topic was on the current status on the ASEE/NSF-supported thrust to layout a plan of action for improving undergraduate engineering education in the US. The MSU College of Engineering had two departments participating in a first round survey to gauge the sentiment of engineering faculty and administrators around the US. 

Dean Jamieson reported that data gathering for the survey is currently coming to an end, and that an analysis of the results will be undertaken soon. Report out of the results will be in Fall, 2010. 

The workshop in general focused on the relationship between Centers for Teaching and Learning (CTLs) and College of Engineering. In addition to CEER, there were several other centers represented whose charter included a mandate to engage in engineering education research - including the center at the University of Washington headed by Cindy Altman. 

A number of take home steps to take to further the work of the CTLs were brought back to Sticklen. These will be mulled over in the coming months for selection of steps that we can take locally. 

All charges for the workshop were covered by NSF through a CCLI phase II grant. 

Activities during the workshop are described on the workshop website: http://ctl.iupui.edu/projects/nsf/. The agenda is below. 

 



Agenda

Thursday, July 1

7:30 – 8:30 am
Breakfast
8:30 – 10:00 am
Motivation for the Workshop
Pratibha Varma-Nelson
 
Centers for Teaching and Learning and Engineering Faculty Professional Development Pre-Workshop Survey Results
Stephen Hundley
 
View from NSF
Russ Pimmel
 
Workshop Overview
Terri Tarr
10:00 – 10:15 am
Break
10:15 – 11:15 am
Working Session 1: Identifying Ways of Using Engineering Faculty Understanding of Student Learning Issues to Inform the Planning of Professional Development Programs
Questions
  • What are the student learning issues in engineering?
  • How can faculty insights into student learning issues inform the planning of professional development programs?
  • How can faculty and CTL staff partner to create learning environments more supportive of all students?
Group Product
  • Four PowerPoint slides (one per question, one with overall recommendation)
11:15 – 12:00 pm
Working Session 1 Reports and Recommendations
12:00 – 1:00 pm
Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 pm
Working Session 2: Identifying Needed Supports for Development of Faculty as Educators
Questions
  • What kinds of opportunities do faculty members need for lifelong development as educators?
  • How do we motivate and reward faculty to participate in these opportunities?
  • What campus partnerships need to be formed or enhanced to support these outcomes?
Group Product
  • Four PowerPoint slides (one per question, one with overall recommendation)
2:00 – 2:45 pm
Working Session 2 Reports and Recommendations
2:45 – 3:15 pm
Break
3:15 – 4:15 pm
Working Session 3: Outlining Strategies for Leveraging Resources at CTLs to Enhance Undergraduate Engineering Education
Questions
  • What kinds of collaborations between CTLs and engineering faculty would have the most positive impact on undergraduate engineering education?
  • How can engineering faculty, administrators, and CTL directors promote collaborations between CTLs and engineering faculty?
  • How can CTLs from multiple institutions work together to meet common challenges in improving undergraduate engineering education?
Group Product
  • Four PowerPoint slides (one per question, one with overall recommendation)
4:15 – 5:00 pm
Working Session 3 Reports and Recommendations
5:00 – 6:00 pm
Break
6:00 – 7:00 pm
Dinner
7:00 – 8:00 pm
Keynote Address: Catalyzing the Next Decade of Engineering Education Innovation 
Leah H. Jamieson, John A. Edwardson Dean of Engineering, Purdue University
Co-chair, ASEE Report on Creating a Culture for Scholarly and Systematic Innovation in Engineering Education

Friday, July 2

7:30 – 8:30 am
Breakfast
8:30 – 9:15 am
Working Session 4: Preparing Recommendations For How Engineering Administrators Can Support Educational Innovation and Professional Development
Questions
  • How can university and school of engineering administrators support and recognize educational innovation and professional development?
  • How can CTLs help administrators accomplish their agenda?
  • What types of teaching and learning outcomes would be considered appropriate to include in promotion and tenure dossiers?
Group Product
  • Four PowerPoint slides (one per question, one with overall recommendation)
9:15 – 10:00 am
Working Session 4 Reports and Recommendations
10:15 – 10:30 am
Break
10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Panel: Where Do We Go From Here?
Moderator: Pratibha Varma-Nelson
Panelists: Russ Pimmel and one representative from each working group
Panel Questions
  • What are the final key points and recommendations of this group?
  • Where can funding be found to support these recommendations and initiatives?
Question For All Participants
  • What are your lessons learned and your action items from this workshop?
12:00 pm
Workshop adjourns
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
PI and Advisory Board Lunch
1:30 – 4:30 pm
PI and Advisory Board Report Writing Meeting