Share Your Teaching Story

If you are a regular reader of this newsletter you know that this space is usually reserved to share instructor stories. With the start of the new semester and so many recent changes impacting education, we are using the space this week to ask you to share your story. We recognize that every instructor brings a unique perspective to the classroom. Sharing your effective teaching strategies and innovative approaches is an opportunity for others to learn from your success, and your missteps. We invite you to send us your stories for inclusion in an upcoming Teaching and Learning Newsletter. Please send your teaching stories to our Newsletter editor Jane Coleman (email: xueyang3@illinois.edu). Thank you for your dedication to excellence in education.

CITL Faculty Book Club

One book, eight friends, and infinite possibilities! The next chapter of the CITL Faculty Book Club will meet online. It’s a great way to connect with colleagues from different disciplines who are curious about the same topics that interest you. Our selected book will be Small Teaching Online: Applying Learning Science in Online Classes (Darby & Lang, 2019). The concept of small teaching is simple: small and strategic changes have enormous power to improve student learning. Instructors face unique and specific challenges when teaching an online course. This book offers small teaching strategies that will positively impact the online classroom. Topics presented in this book address all major components of UIUC’s definition and assessment of teaching excellence and are essential for instructors who will teach online. If you are a faculty member at UIUC or a post-doc with teaching responsibilities, please consider joining!

Please check your calendar to determine if you can commit to attending all of our meetings on the following Thursdays 11:30am - 1:00pm: Sep 14 & 28, and Oct 12 & 26, 2023. Visit the registration page to sign up.

Your Illinois Online Teaching Community is Here

Looking for a place where you can share online teaching strategies and experiences, make connections, or become inspired? Please join us on Microsoft Teams and be part of our vibrant online teaching community here at Illinois! You are welcome to join the conversation, post something interesting, or make a friend by asking a question.

Hold the Date: Fall 2023 Faculty Series on Teaching & Learning

Come join a dynamic learning community by participating in this specially designed seminar series for faculty (across all disciplines and rank). This five-part weekly series will begin Wednesday, Sept. 13^th  from 11:30 – 1:00. This series is open to first-time and previous attendees. The theme is on what the best college teachers know  about their students’ learning. We will start with “Understanding and Incorporating Informal (IEF) and Formal (ICES) Student Feedback.” Returning topics are on designing effective team projects, creating student-centered courses & syllabi, and new topics are on the “enhanced” lecture and strategies to improve learning.

Dates and registration are now open on our CITL calendar. Click here for the Faculty Series on Teaching & Learning flyer.

Canvas Open Office Hours
Every Thursday, 11am - 12pm
Zoom
Host: CITL Instructional Support Team

Art of Teaching: Lunchtime Seminar Series
Thursday, September 7, 12:00 - 1:00pm
Zoom (registration required)
Speaker: Andrea Faber Taylor, PhD - Crop Sciences (Horticultural Food Systems)
Host: Jordan Leising (CITL)

Using Informal Early Feedback
Tuesday, September 12, 10:00am - 111:30am
Zoom (Registration Link)
Host: Lucas Anderson (CITL)

F'23 Faculty Workshop Series on Teaching & Learning, wksp #1: Maximizing Informal (IEF) and Formal (ICES) Student Feedback to Enhance Teaching & Learning (I wish I had known that earlier)
Wednesday, September 13, 11:30am - 1:00pm
Location: Room 182, Armory Building (east side of the building)
Registration Link
Host: Cheelan Bo-Linn (CITL)

CITL Faculty Book Club: Small Teaching Online
Thursday, September 14, 11:30am - 1:00pm
Zoom (Registration Link)
Host: David Favre (CITL)

Stay tuned for this semester's events! Bookmark the CITL Event Calendar for all upcoming workshops and the Training Services (formerly FAST3) Calendar for additional training opportunities. 

Maximizing Learning: Harnessing the Benefits of Informal Early Feedback (IEF)

Incorporating informal early feedback into your classroom can be a game-changer in fostering an engaged and effective learning environment. By promptly gathering insights from students, you not only empower them to take ownership of their learning but also refine your teaching methods for better outcomes. 

Begin by integrating quick feedback mechanisms, such as anonymous polls or brief discussions, during the initial weeks of your course. These bite-sized interactions offer students a chance to voice their thoughts on what's working well and areas that may need adjustment. This not only promotes active participation but also grants you invaluable insights into the class's dynamics and comprehension levels. 

Interested in more guidance for crafting an IEF form or interpreting the results? Come and join the upcoming workshops scheduled for September 12th and 13th. These workshops delve into the design, implementation, and interpretation of the IEF. Whenever you have more questions about IEF, feel free to schedule a consultation with us.