No-Fuss “Book” Club
As in years past, the CTL will host several discussions about current issues in higher ed. Rather than focusing on a single book, we will share articles, podcasts, or other short texts instead. While it’s still very much the case that you don’t need to have read (or listened) to the material in advance of the discussion, we also know some people hesitate to come when they feel they need to catch up on the reading first. We’re hoping these discrete and more quickly digestible texts will make it easier for those of you who feel that way to attend! The dates for this semester’s discussions are as follows:
- Thursday, September 17, 4-5pm, Cromwell 201 / Discussion led by CTL Advisory Committee Member Austin Lobo
- “The Future of Plagiarism” by David A. Bell
- Wednesday, October 28, 3:30-4:30pm, Cromwell 201/ Discussion led by CTL Advisory Committee Member Karen Manna
- Wednesday, November 18, 4–5pm, Cromwell 201/ Discussion led by CTL Advisory Board Member Joseph Prud’homme
Collaboration with the Associate Dean of Faculty
Dean Anne Marteel-Parrish continues to lead a robust series of mentoring events throughout the year. The CTL is collaborating with her office to co-host the following:
- Monday, September 28, 4-5pm, Cromwell 210 / Concept of Meaningful Teaching (part of the Pre-Tenure Faculty/Faculty Librarians cohort schedule though all are welcome to attend)
- Monday, November 9, 4-5pm, Cromwell 210/ Creating the Conditions for Learning
- Thursday, December 3, 4-5:30pm, Cromwell 210/ Innovative Teaching Show and Tell
- Join the CTL Fellows and the Innovation Plant Curriculum Fellows to learn more about the innovative teaching happening at Washington College
CTL Award for Innovation in Teaching
This year, the award for the Cromwell Award for Innovation in Teaching has been increased to $2500. Given the quality of teaching at Washington College, this is a highly competitive award. You can find additional information about that application here. The strongest applications typically include additional letters of support, testimonials from students, and/or additional materials from the course(s) being described in the applicant’s statement. Consider beginning your application now.
We will be hosting a lunch on October 5th from 11:30am-12:30pm in Hodson Dining Hall with some of the most recent winners. Please come and ask questions and learn more about their application process. The deadline for applications is October 15th.
Open Classrooms
Fall Open Classrooms will take place the week of October 19th and October 26th. Open Classrooms is an opportunity for faculty and teaching staff to attend and observe each other’s classes. It allows us to see how others structure their class periods, organize in-class activities, facilitate discussions, manage group work, flip classrooms, deliver lecture materials, and much else. Open Classroom observations are casual, intended as an chance to learn and grow through the observation of teaching excellence across campus. This year we are also including the option to open your invitation beyond faculty to include staff, coaches, and administrators if and as you are interested. If you’re interested in opening your classroom, please complete this form.
Learning Communities
A learning community is a small group of faculty and staff who are interested in deepening their knowledge about a particular topic and/or working together to develop a project or community of practice. These groups read, meet, discuss, plan, and possibly share what they learn with the broader community. This could take place over a semester or an entire academic year. CTL can help coordinate a community, provide lunch, or provide funding for books or other materials. If you’d like to form a learning community, please reach out!