Gainesville Campus, Nesbitt 5105
We invite you to join the 2014-2015 Teaching Conversations/New Faculty Institute (NFI) , a series of six conversational sessions that take place throughout the academic year. All seasoned and new faculty/teaching staff are invited. We’ll provide cookies & drinks; you bring your good ideas. See fall plan and agenda below for more details.
This year, four of the NFI meetings will be held in conjunction with Teaching Conversations: How Learning Works. These groups will meet together — same place and time – see below. To stimulate discussion, we’ll use chapters from How Learning Works: Seven Research-Based Principles for Smart Teaching. (Please contact CTLL if you do not have a copy of the book. The chapters covered in Fall Meeting #1 are available in D2L. The book will also be on reserve in the libraries.) One of the most beneficial aspects of these Teaching Conversations will be the camaraderie of sharing our experiences and our best ideas from our classroom practices.
CERTIFICATES
If you participate in the NFI program, you can garner two certificates to include in your promotion and tenure portfolio: New Faculty Institute Certificate and Teaching Academy Certificate (the culmination of those Teaching Conversations).
In order to earn these certificates, you must
- Attend meetings on your campus (see below). If your schedule does not allow you to be at the meetings, you can write at least 250 words for each chapter in our online discussions in eLearning.
- Contribute to online discussions for NFI
- Submit a reflective analysis in April/May 2015
a. For the New Faculty Institute Certificate: Write a three-page summary statement that is a first draft of a summary document required in the promotion and tenure portfolio. This statement outlines your philosophy, goals, progress, and plans related to teaching, research, and service.
b. For the Teaching Academy Certificate: Write a two-page summary outlining the relevance of How Learning Works to your pedagogy.
AGENDA for New Faculty Institute 2014-2015
Fall Meeting #1: Introduction and Conclusion of How Learning Works: Seven Research-Based Principles for Smart Teaching
Fall Meeting #2: Chapters 1 & 2 of How Learning Works (impact of prior knowledge and methods of organizing knowledge)
Fall Meeting #3: New faculty and mentor lunch and discussion of Faculty Annual Report and the successful path for promotion and tenure. Dates decided later.
Spring Meeting #1: Chapters 3 & 4 of How Learning Works (student motivation and mastery). See dates below.
Spring Meeting #2: Chapters 5 & 6 of How Learning Works (practice, feedback, and course climate). See dates below.
Spring Meeting #3: Creating Work-Life Balance (selected readings from Boice’s Advice for New Faculty Members) for a successful career. See dates below.
April/May: Submit summary statement outlining your philosophy, goals, progress, and plans related to teaching, research, and service. Submission due by May 15th.
Spring Dates
Dahlonega Campus (DC)
Wednesday, February 11, 2015 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | DC: Barnes Hall 216
Wednesday, March 25, 2015 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | DC: Barnes Hall 216
Wednesday, April 22, 2015 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | DC: Barnes Hall 216
Gainesville Campus (GC)
Wednesday, February 4, 2015 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | GC: Nesbitt 5105
Wednesday, March 11, 2015 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | GC: Nesbitt 5105
Wednesday, April 22, 2015 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | GC: Nesbitt 5105
Oconee Campus (OC)
Wednesday, February 4, 2015 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | OC: Classroom 310
Wednesday, March 11, 2015 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | OC: Classroom 310
Wednesday, April 22, 2015 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | OC: Classroom 310
Note also NFI includes an online meeting space with useful materials for new faculty; this is in D2L (Desire2Learn). In essence, you’re invited to see your peers from our orientations again during these three face-to-face meetings each semester and virtually in online discussions. We blend these formats so that faculty can participate in one or both venues. To get access, please register via RSVP to the Teaching Conversations/New Faculty Institute on your campus.
In short, the NFI introduces newly-hired faculty to the UNG missions of “quality education, service, inquiry and creativity.” The NFI facilitates acclimation to the institution and promotes teaching excellence and professional development.
We look forward to seeing you.