Current TLED Projects and Initiatives
TLED projects and initiatives include its annual theme to promote specific topics in higher education, new pilot programs to support faculty and students, and events such as the Data Summit and General Assembly.
TLED Transform_ED
TransformED is a year-long research initiative and plan to anticipate the evolution and future impact of change across diverse academic and student affairs areas at Austin Community College District (ACC). The Teaching and Learning Excellence Division’s approach to the Transform_ED effort focused on collaboration and participation and applying the Theory of Change process. Our endeavor analyzes the domains of teaching, learning, and their convergence with imminent occupational and educational transformations in the changing landscape molded by advancements in technology, globalization, and the shifting needs of society. Click the link below to learn more!
TLED Website Redesign Project
The Teaching & Learning Excellence Division (TLED) is excited to announce a website redesign to better serve our stakeholders! Our goal is to create a modern, user-friendly, and accessible digital space that connects our audiences of faculty, staff, and ACC community to our services and essential resources. For the project overview and latest updates, please visit the link below.
TLED Calendar
Each year, the Teaching & Learning Excellence Division (TLED) creates a print wall calendar designed around a theme to inspire faculty to dive deeply into higher education issues. The theme also guides TLED’s work in professional development, projects, and communications.
The theme for AY 2025 is “Empowering Students by Meeting Basic Needs.” More will be shared on this topic throughout the year via events, newsletters, videos, and social media.
ACC Data Summit
The collegewide data summit will be focused on the results of Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart’s 100-day listening and data-gathering sessions to launch a new direction for all employees focused on ‘The North Star.’
The theory of change and 100-Day Report will serve as the framework for this summit. The Chancellor will share information about our redefined college values developed by ACC students, describe the state of the college through data visualization, and outline our work going forward to ‘love our students to success’….together.
TLED Frameworks to Address Changes for Senate Bill (SB) 17
In June of 2023, the 88th Texas State Legislature passed and signed into law Senate Bill 17 “relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at public institutions of higher education.” The law goes into effect on January 1, 2024, and amends Texas Education Code 51.5325 effective January 1, 2024.
Learn more about how TLED is addressing these changes to adhere to SB 17.
Austin Community College (ACC) Ad Astra Platinum Analytics
The purpose of this plan is to define and organize the implementation plan for the Ad Astra Platinum Analytics tool, including IT system integration, system documentation, training, business procedures, and data analysis.
ACC Faculty Evaluation Proposed Revisions
The proposed revisions for faculty evaluation were driven by faculty and designed by faculty, evolving from the Faculty Development and Evaluation Task Force’s 2018 survey on faculty development and evaluation needs. The proposed revisions are offered by the Faculty Evaluation Work Group, a sub-committee of the Faculty Development and Evaluation Committee, as a starting point to use for a collegewide discussion to craft a meaningful, equitable, transparent, reflective evaluation process for adjunct and full-time faculty. These proposed revisions address the evaluation process. Student course evaluations will be addressed during Academic Year 2022-2023.
Badging Pilot
The concept of virtual badging has been in existence since the 1990s as a way to recognize users for their acquisition and mastery of skills, providing them with the ability to showcase their achievements by receiving and displaying graphical awards. Since its inception, badging has been picked up in both education as well as within the workforce as a way to match job openings with potentially better-qualified applicants. While there are many vendors that provide badging services, and each having their own pros/cons, the concept is the same: master a skill, receive a badge. The importance in badging, however, is not the quantity of badges that a user receives, but rather the quality of the badge.
This pilot was designed as a way to explore the logistical aspects, technical needs, and other facets under which Austin Community College as an organization can create, award, and maintain the issuing of badges to students, faculty, and staff for their ongoing development and mastery of skills.
Phase 1 Final Report – Fall 2020
The Phase 1 final report provides a summary of phase 1 and includes the next identified steps including recommending technology vendors.
Phase 2 Final Report – Summer 2021
Phase 2 was developed on findings from the Phase 1 final report, building the momentum and success of the first phase of the Badging @ACC Pilot.
Faculty Handbook Review Project
TLED is working collaboratively with ACC faculty to review and update the Faculty Handbook, view the page to learn more.
General Assembly
Each Fall semester Austin Community College employees from across the district gather at General Assembly to hear key college updates. This event helps connect the dots between an employee’s daily work and the strategic plan of the College. All ACC faculty and staff are invited to register and attend. To view previous General Assembly outlines go here.
Inspire Academic Alert
Inspire Academic Alert is a component of the Inspire comprehensive student support system. This component allows faculty to identify students who are experiencing challenges so they can work with them and connect them to academic guidance specialists for extra support. The system also can commend students who are doing well or showing improvements in their academic performance.
Miro Pilot
During the Spring 2022 semester (January 10, 2022 – May 13, 2022), selected faculty and the students enrolled in their courses will participate in a pilot of Miro, an interactive whiteboard tool used for real-time, visual collaboration.
Contact
For questions or assistance, please contact the TLED Faculty of Communications at tledcomms@austincc.edu