CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FULLERTON
SPRING 2009
I. Possible Faculty Development Workshop Topics － 5 to 6 topics will be chosen
A) Active Learning Techniques (2 hrs)
This workshop focuses on how to actively engage your students in learning through classroom instruction. Participants will learn how to create a collaborative and active learning environment by participating in workshop activities that may be used in a college course. Multiple instructional strategies will be shared along with an emphasis on the benefits of utilizing concrete experiences with learners.
B) Assessing Student Learning (2 hrs)
Assessment is a critical component in the teaching and learning process. In this workshop, the role assessment plays and how assessment can be integrated into the teaching and learning process to help facilitate student learning and inform teaching will be explored.
C) Enhance Student Learning: Creating and Managing Groups Effectively in the Classroom (2 hrs)
This workshop provides the ideological background on why teams work, how to develop and promote teamwork, managing the team process, fostering group discussions, sample group activities, the role the instructor plays in enhancing group learning, and tips on evaluating team and individual performance.
D) Planning and Running Effective Classroom Discussion (2 hrs)
This workshop will address the art of leading discussions, the rationale behind classroom discussions, common concerns held by instructors and students, strategies for preparing students for discussion, and strategies for preparing for class.
University Extended Education
E) Instructional Strategies to Encourage Critical Thinking (2 hrs)
This workshop explores the presentation of instructional strategies to encourage active learning and critical thinking. Student dispositions toward critical thinking, instructional strategies for individual and cooperative learning activities and an academic problem solving model will be included.
F) Teaching Large Groups (2 hrs)
Teaching large lecture classes can be a daunting endeavor, particularly for colleagues who’ve recently joined the professorial ranks. In this workshop, we’ll have some guidelines for success, buttressed by “in-the-trenches” experience. What can seem to be a largely unrewarding assignment can be made to be tolerable at least and even rewarding for student and professor alike.
G) Adapting American Pedagogy for Non-American Classrooms (2 hrs)
This workshop will explore American pedagogy and teaching techniques. Discussion of these techniques will focus on identifying educational strategies that may be adapted to suit a non-American college-level classroom. Participants will also have an opportunity to learn and model presentation techniques of class materials to promote and maintain student interaction.
H) Using Technology to Facilitate Active Learning in your Classes (2 hrs)
Interested in actively engaging your students in a variety of learning activities? Learn how meaningful learning experiences can be designed around commonly available web resources. Add one part free, easily accessible and current web resources with 2 parts creativity, and watch your students get involved in issues relevant to your discipline.
II. Specialized Classes
A) Homeroom and Classroom Management Techniques (Hrs. To Be Determined)
Cultural and pedagogical observations will serve as a point of discussion to review concepts presented in the various workshops attended by the visiting professors. Classroom observations will also contribute to the discussions to aid in comprehension of the varying styles. Time to prepare and practice for the guest presentations will also be set aside. Part of this time may also be used to attend group observations of scheduled CSUF faculty classes.
University Extended Education
B) Public Speaking & Presentations (Hrs. To Be Determined)
Gain confidence in your speaking ability as you learn to prepare and deliver professional and technical presentations. Instruction and practice in organization, clarity, pronunciation, effective transitioning, visual aids, body language, listening, and speech patterns will also be covered.
III. American Language Program Classes (optional) － participants will have the option to sit in and attend English as a Second Language classes in the intensive American Language Program if available. A sample of topics are listed below:
- Grammar
- Vocabulary
- Integrated Skills
- Oral Language
- Composition
IV. Mentor Professor and Guest Presentations
- Interact and collaborate with mentor professor on effective American pedagogical methods and techniques to interact student interaction
- Mentoring faculty will meet at least 2 times with their assigned visiting professor to discuss class observations, teaching styles and methods
- Give two 20 min video-taped guest presentations or one 30-40 minute presentation in mentor professor's class
V. Classroom Observations
- Attend and observe at least 2 graduate or undergraduate-level classes in a related or different discipline
- Observe mentor professor classes 3-4 times