The CU Boulder Center for Teaching & Learning (CTL), established in May 2020, continues to support faculty, instructors and graduate students across campus through classroom-focused programming. In its initial year, the CTL supported over 3400 educators through more than 250 events and trainings during the last academic year. Read more about the CTL’s inaugural year in its annual report.
Throughout the summer, the CTL continues to offer free, individualized teaching consultations for all educators regarding any teaching-related topic, as well as new and updated online teaching resources.
ASSETT partnership comprehensively supports faculty
On June 1, the Arts & Sciences Support of Education Through Technology (ASSETT) team moved to the Center for Teaching & Learning from its former home in the academic technology unit of the Office of Information Technology (OIT). In transitioning to the CTL, ASSETT finds a natural home and joins a vibrant staff that supports improved teaching campuswide.
ASSETT began in 2008 in an effort to provide more comprehensive services to the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences in order to help them integrate technologies effectively into their teaching. ASSETT’s focus will remain on the College of Arts and Sciences and the team will maintain a relationship with OIT through coordination with Aisha Jackson, assistant vice chancellor and assistant vice provost for academic and learning technologies.
Upcoming conferences offer teaching preparation opportunities
From Aug. 9 to 13, the CTL will host the first annual Equitable Teaching Conference, a free, weeklong workshop series for CU Boulder faculty, graduate students and teaching staff who would like to prepare for fall semester with a focus on equity-minded practices. The conference will provide opportunities to learn how educators can take responsibility for the climate in their classrooms, employ new teaching practices that are proactively inclusive and create spaces of belonging in their classrooms for all students.
The CTL will host Fall Intensive from Aug. 18 to 20 for educators new to teaching at CU Boulder. Three days of workshops will cover a variety of teaching topics, provide opportunities for professional development in postsecondary education and offer exploration of nonacademic jobs. While these sessions are designed for graduate students, many are applicable to any educator new to CU Boulder and anyone is welcome at any number of sessions throughout the series.
New micro-credential programs explore inclusive teaching topics
Two new micro-credential programs offered through the CTL will be launched in fall 2021:
- Just and Equitable Teaching offers multifaceted professional development on equity and social justice in teaching practices. The program helps participants to build the skills to design and support a culture of equity in their department around teaching and learning.
- Teaching International Students prepares faculty, graduate students and teaching staff to provide better academic experiences for international students in the United States. Participating educators gain an understanding of the unique experiences of international students and their needs, as well as explore how to apply this knowledge to course and assignment design, teaching and mentoring practices, and fostering success inside and outside the classroom.
While traditional degrees and other certifications recognize full programs of academic study, micro-credentials provide a way to recognize and document the acquisition of specific skills or competencies. Upon successful completion of a micro-credential program, learners are issued a digital badge that allows achievements to be displayed and shared. Educators can display the badge on their profile and course materials, signaling to students their commitment to continually improving their teaching practices.
