Oct. 25th, Issue 12, Fall 2023
| |
|
| | News from Moody College'sCenter for Advancing Teaching Excellence
| |
As we enter the homestretch of the fall semester, we would like to reflect on and cherish the valuable connections made here at Moody College – connections among faculty, among students, to people outside of the classroom, across disciplines, and into the community. Our connections mold us, sustain us, and remind us of the interdependent nature of communication. Moreover, connections made from prior knowledge to new understandings, between individual classes or entire disciplines, and from the university to various industries point to the importance of expanding connections among people with varied points of view for richer lived experiences. As we gear up to go boldly into the second half of the term, we hope to support a teaching environment that continues to move toward student-centered approaches to help learners develop an array of connections.
As your thought partners in instructional design, we want to help you leverage the power of connections for educational purposes. Whether you attend a teaching exchange event, make use of our online resources, or make a consult appointment, we hope to connect soon!
| |
We need your teaching questions!
As a community of practice, Moody College faculty create a culture of student empowerment and sense of belonging in the learning process. Burning questions provide the grist for resolving issues that we encounter daily in our instructional planning, delivery, and reflection. Curiosity about teaching approaches helps continually refresh practice to improve the student experience and build effective relationships. What burning instructional question would you like to resolve? What teaching approaches are you curious about exploring?
Look for the new Ask CATE tab on the CATE website to submit your teaching questions.
| |
How can I leverage effective assessment practices to help students connect deeply with the learning?
In a recent Faculty Focus article (2023, September 20), Dr. Dimple Martin, the director of the Quality Enhancement Program at Miles College, observed that their professional learning community “shifted [their] focus from what was taught” to “what was learned” to promote fair and balanced assessment of learning. The author emphasizes the value of formative assessment with feedback to drive the learning process by allowing the learner to make adjustments in their acquisition of knowledge and skills.
One approach that gets to the heart of what was actually learned by individuals is having students create assessment items. For example, having students individually or collectively write exam items at multiple stages in the learning process captures valid assessments of their learning as it is happening. Assessment items are vetted at the student level and, in turn, at the instructor level in the form of feedback to improve the learning. This active instructional approach puts students in the position of metacognitive review of the content as they actively question, reflect on personal strengths and weaknesses related to the content, and enact think aloud protocols in the instance of collaborative activities.
The CATE team is ready, willing, and able to support your efforts to try new assessment strategies. Make a consult appointment to solidify a plan for focusing assessments on what learned.
| |
Moody Shout Outs
This fall, CATE would like to celebrate all the meaningful connections that make Moody College so special. Has someone had a positive impact on you? Is there a colleague, professor, instructor, teaching assistant, undergraduate learning assistant, or staff member who has inspired you, challenged you, engaged you, mentored you, or otherwise connected with you in some way? Do you want to thank them for making your experience at UT Austin extraordinary? Send a "shout out" to let them know you appreciate them!
Use this link to submit your message by Wednesday, November 15, and we'll share them just in time for the season of being grateful. You can choose to tell us your name, or you can remain anonymous. You can also select whether or not you approve of us posting your “shout out” on the Moody College website for others to see.
| |
Visting Scholar Luncheon
Wednesday, November 1, 12:00pm – 1:00 pm in the LBJ Conference room (CMA 5.136)
Ben Bays, Associate Professor in Radio-Television-Film, and CATE welcome visiting scholar, Associate Professor Rune Andersen from the University of Agder, Norway, for a faculty luncheon. As Head of Program for Academic Esports, Andersen will open the conversation on student-centered instructional approaches and the multiple career pathways across disciplines including engineering, fine arts, communication, business, and more. He will discuss the instructional design opportunities in the growing field of academic esports. RSVP here to save your spot!
| |
Fall 2023 Teaching Exchange Speaker Series
CATE hosts Teaching Exchange Speaker Series events where instructors hear a brief teaching-focused presentation from a colleague, then they can informally raise questions, share ideas, and explore potential solutions. The focus is dialogue, sharing, and exploration in a collegial, social atmosphere. Please respond to this brief survey to help us improve our Teaching Exchange offerings.
| |
Thursday, November 2, 11:30am – 12:15pm in the LBJ Conference room (CMA 5.136)
The final speaker in the CATE Fall 2023 Teaching Exchange Speaker Series is Scott Stroud. Professor Stroud will support participants to consider designing course activities that result in vetted, student-created content. His undergraduate and graduate students research and write timely case studies on ethical issues in the field to support learning through a public website. Ultimately, this course learning experience is translating to a professional publication credit. After the presentation, the floor will be open to discussion of teaching ideas. Bring your lunch and light refreshments will be provided. Join us for the conversation to spark creative instructional approach ideas. RSVP here!
| |
CATE Open House
The CATE team held our biannual Open House on Tuesday, September 12th from 11am to 1pm. We had the pleasure of making new connections and were also able to re-connect with colleagues after a long summer! CATE Director Mary Crawford and Instructional Designer Shelly Furness met visitors in the Collaboration Hub and gave tours of our spaces on the fifth floor of CMA. In the CATE Conference Room, Graduate Assistant Kat Williams, Social Media Manager Jessica Garcia, and ULA Coordinator Miu Nakata shared teaching resources, snacks, and giveaways. We had meaningful conversations about the new term and were able to come to a deeper understanding of teaching needs in Moody College. Overall, having connected with so many wonderful instructors during our Open House, the CATE team is ready to transfer those insights into more practical ways we can continue to support teaching excellence at the Moody College of Communication!
| |
As part of the UT Austin Experiential Learning Initiative, the Center for Teaching and Learning recognized UT faculty who design "learning by doing" course activities. The Experiential Learning Awards highlighted student-nominated faculty who design and implement experiential learning in their courses. Moody College was well represented in the number of faculty nominated across schools and departments. Those recognized for experiential learning excellence were:
| |
| | Spotlight on Moody Faculty & Learning Spaces
| |
The Lab is home to the Integrated Communications Campaigns Capstone experience for senior majors at the Stan Richards School of Advertising and Public Relations. Each class is student-led and operates exactly as a real advertising agency would with real clients to create advertising campaigns and provide strategic communication services. Through inviting corporate stakeholders who come to judge and provide feedback on student pitches, students gain authentic practice, valuable insights, and lasting connections with individuals in the industry! Visit the fourth floor of DMC to see The Lab, beautifully encased with glass.
| |
"The students do everything on their own and the faculty are just here to guide and observe. With the experiential learning method, the work just comes out so much better and its more realistic to what students will experience in industry!"
Liza Lewis, Assistant Professor of Instruction at the Stan Richards School of Advertising & Public Relations, Program Director for The Lab
| |
"The Lab is such a great resource for students when taken advantage of. It is possible to just go through the motions, attend class, and then leave. However, making an effort to utilize all that The Lab has to offer, like speaking to professors, attending the 'lunch and learns' with industry professionals, and taking the class seriously, will set you up for success in the future."
Emily Hoppie, UT Alumi & Former TA for The Lab
| |
|
|
|
