Faculty Development
The Faculty Development arm of the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), led by Dr. Leslie Ortquist-Ahrens, offers resources and professional development opportunities for individuals and groups in two ways: 1) through direct services and 2) as a collaborative home for faculty colleagues who bring particular areas of experience, expertise, and perspective to the shared project of teaching and learning. By serving directly and operating as an umbrella for coordinating and publicizing faculty-led activities, Faculty Development is able to foster a community of excellence among faculty in service and support of student learning. Much of the work of this unit of the CTL takes place through the following programs and opportunities, but it also manifests in a variety of more informal collaborations within and outside the CTL:
All CTL faculty development programs and services are confidential, voluntary, and formative.
Faculty Development and Student-Faculty Partnerships are located on the main level of the Hutchins Library near the circulation desk (Room 206).
Services
Faculty and staff members with teaching responsibilities, department chairs, and division chairs, are welcomed to contact Leslie Ortquist-Ahrens to schedule an individual consultation about any teaching and learning topics or about select departmental/divisional needs, particularly as these involve mentoring and faculty development, curriculum development, and other teaching-related issues.
Consultations are available on a wide range of topics related to teaching, learning, professional development, and academic leadership. Such consultations have focused on:
Teaching
- meeting learners where they are
- scaffolding: offering challenge with support
- exploring new teaching strategies or pedagogies
- encountering the research on student learning
- assessing student learning formatively in the classroom
- giving feedback on student work
- grading effectively and efficiently
- using student evaluation feedback as a springboard for making changes
- redesigning a course
- getting feedback on a syllabus or assignment design
- using active learning strategies
- designing effective group work
- starting a scholarship of teaching and learning inquiry
- preparing teaching materials for promotion and tenure or for post-tenure review
Departmental or divisional leadership / mentoring and supervision
- serving as a new chair
- conducting classroom observations and performance consultation
- supporting and mentoring faculty on different types of contracts (adjunct, limited term appointments, postdoc fellows, tenure-track, tenured faculty)
- working with pre-tenure faculty members and their peer review teams
- engaging in and leading curriculum redesign
- building relationships and managing conflict
Classroom Observations and Feedback
Instructors may request a confidential classroom observation if they are interested in formative feedback and about their practice from an experienced and supportive observer. Contact Leslie Ortquist-Ahrens (ortquistahrensl@berea.edu).
Events and Programs
Faculty Development through the CTL supports instructors—generally in community with one another—as they work to become ever more informed, creative, critical, and equity-minded teachers and professionals.