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Collage of professors teaching. "A journey into the art of teaching"

Teaching & Learning Academy

Anchored in the ACC Faculty Values, developed by twenty-five faculty for faculty, and supported by the resources of TLED with assistance from the Office of Distance & Alternative Education, the Teaching and Learning Academy (TLA) contributes to student success by expanding faculty teaching practices. The program is designed to support faculty based on evidence-based teaching strategies, reflective practice, and teaching innovation. Essential to the Teaching and Learning Academy is the creation of a cohort of faculty who will learn from each other by exploring the scholarship, art, and passion of teaching.

The Teaching and Learning Academy offers faculty 4 courses. Each course is 15 hours that includes 12 hours of asynchronous online coursework. The remaining 3 hours are completed in a Cohort Meeting the last Friday of each course from 8:30 to 11:30 am. The Cohort Meeting is dedicated to faculty sharing, learning, and collaborating with each other about the art and heart of teaching.

There are two ways faculty may complete the Teaching and Learning Academy. Most comprehensive is the option offered over fall and spring semesters. The other option, for those for whom a yearlong commitment is not possible, provides the faculty the option to complete the courses in one summer.

If you have any questions about the Teaching and Learning Academy, please contact Silke Morin via smorin@austincc.edu.

Fall 2023 & Spring 2024 Program

The yearlong program begins with a synchronous, virtual meeting to establish a community of learners that explores the scholarship, art, and passion of teaching and continues over Fall and Spring semesters through hybrid coursework. The 2023-2024 Kick Off is scheduled for Friday, September 8th, 2023 from 9:00am to 2:00pm.

Please Note: The Cohort Meetings will be held synchronously online.

Fall 2023 Course Details

Teaching to the Brain
September 11th to October 6th, 2023

Cohort Meeting Date: October 13th, 2023 – 8:30am to 11:30am

Building a Community of Learners
October 16th to November 10th, 2023

Cohort Meeting Date: November 17th, 2023 – 8:30am to 11:30am

Spring 2024 Course Details

Engaging Students for Learning
January 29th to February 23rd, 2024

Cohort Meeting Date: March 1st, 2024 – 8:30am to 11:30am

Assessing Students’ Learning
March 18th to April 12th, 2024

Cohort Meeting Date: April 19th, 2024 – 8:30am to 11:30am

Fall 2023-Spring 2024 Completion & Stipend Information

Upon successful completion of the year-long version of the TLA, participants will receive 15 hours of professional development credit and a stipend of $1200. Faculty may choose to also receive 1.5 hours of Continuing Education credit for each completed course.

Scholarships to NISOD, the Lilly-Austin Conference, or SXSWedu will also be provided. If preferred, a scholarship to another local conference that strengthens teaching may be possible. Participation in one of these conferences is optional.

 

Participants will be recognized by the Provost and by TLED as a Teaching & Learning Champion and will receive digital badges for each course completed.

Submit Application

The application deadline for the 2023-2024 Year-Long TLA is Friday, June 30, 2023.

If you have any questions about the Teaching and Learning Academy, please contact Silke Morin via smorin@austincc.edu.

TLA Course Descriptions

Teaching to the Brain
In this course, faculty members will examine innovative teaching strategies supported by research and evidence-based practices within the psychology and neuroscience of learning. Tools for improving students learning, whether in a face-to-face or distance education course, will be presented. Topics covered include the neuroscience of learning, how memory works, metacognition strategies that promote students’ reflection and persistence, and innovative techniques to foster a growth mindset. Faculty members will reflect on and share ideas with colleagues for implementing the strategies presented.

Building a Community of Learners
Learn to design a community of learners in the classroom, whether teaching face-to-face or a distance education course. In this course faculty members will examine approaches for constructing an inclusive, welcoming learning community for all students. Topics covered include setting the tone of the learning environment to foster interaction, communication, and inclusion; universal course design; culturally responsive teaching; applying an equity lens to examine power imbalances and conflicts in the learning environment. Faculty members will reflect on and share strategies with colleagues for creating inclusive classrooms.

Engaging Students for Learning
Find out how to engage students to become more active learners, whether in a face-to-face or distance education course. This course examines evidence-based teaching practices that engage students and deepen student’s understanding of course material. Topics covered include the impact of adult learning on curricular design, using active learning strategies in the classroom, interactive lectures and collaborative learning approaches Faculty members will reflect on and share with colleagues strategies and teaching practices to increase students’ learning.

Assessing Students’ Learning
Examine evidence-based practices in assessment to enhance student learning in face-to-face and distance learning courses. This course provides an overview of assessments and evaluation methods that enable robust and fair results about student performance. Topics covered include an overview of different approaches to effective instructional assessment, designing equitable assessments, tools to assess learning, and using course outcome data to enhance teaching practices. Faculty members will reflect on and share with colleagues assessment strategies to increase students’ learning and their professional development plans.

TLA Module Developers

Program Alumni

Since 2019, over 100 faculty have graduated from the TLA.

Faculty Values

Faculty Values Supporting Student Success

Anchored in the ACC Faculty Values and developed by faculty for faculty, the Teaching and Learning Academy (TLA) contributes to student success by supporting faculty through evidence-based teaching strategies, reflective practice, and teaching innovation.

Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact

For questions about the Teaching and Learning Academy, please contact Silke Morin via smorin@austincc.edu.