TLC Reports
Newsletter March 2008
Volume 1 Issue 1
Teaching and Learning Center, University of Wisconsin-Stout
http://www.uwstout.edu/tlc tlcenter@uwstout.edu 232-1131
Online and Second Life--TLC Learning
Communities At Work
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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Websites That Assist Your
Teaching
Tech Tricks and
Assessment That Works
Does Engagement Foster
Learning?
Grant Opportunities
The TLC has initiated two TLC Learning Communities this spring.
Online Teaching is led by Juli Taylor. Fourteen participants
are meeting regularly to determine needs, perform a project,
discuss readings, and assess value.
Second Life is led by Dan Riordan. Twelve participants are
meeting regularly to investigate potential educational uses of this
application, practice using it with each other and with students,
and read relevant research on its uses.
For details contact Taylor at taylorju@uwstout.edu or
Riordan at riordand@uwstout.edu
Academic Transformation Begins
“The meaning of knowing
has shifted from being
able to remember and
repeat information to
being able to find and
use it.”
-Herbert Simon, Nobel
Laueate
The TLC, with support from the Provost, is sponsoring two
Academic Transformation Projects.
In the Speech, Language, Theater and Music department
Amanda Brown leads a group of six who are investigating the ways
in which they can integrate their syllabuses and the digital learning
environment into more learning for their students in Speech 100.
Mahshid Jalilvand leads a group of four economists who are
working on integrating technology into Economics 210. The groups
have been meeting since July.
Interim reports are available at
http://www.uwstout.edu/tlc/index.html. Scroll to UW-Stout Pilot
Academic Transformation Project, 2007-08 and click the
appropriate link.
TLC News
Page 2
Working with "Tech Tricks"; Using "Assessment that
Works"
“Effective instruction
begins with what
learners bring to the
setting…cultural
practices and beliefs as
well as knowledge.”
--How People Learn
During the spring 2008 semester, nine presenters will discuss eight
"tech tricks" ranging from Using the D2L Quiz Function at the
Beginning of Class to Understanding and Using YouTube. Four
presenters will discuss various aspects of assessing, ranging from
Assessing Students’ Prior Knowledge, Recall and Understanding to
Conducting Formative Assessment – Using D2L Course Feedback
Tool. For complete details see
http://www.uwstout.edu/tlc/SeriesIflyer_000.htm
New Instructors Meet During the Spring
The TLC is sponsoring two sessions for new instructors. Renee
Surdick discussed Problem Based Learning on February 29 and on
April 4 Anne Hoel will lead a Teacher Story session devoted to
professional satisfaction. See
http://www.uwstout.edu/tlc/documents/InstructorSessions_001.pdf
Websites To Assist Your Teaching
The TLC has created a number of electronic bibliographies to lead you to the
best sites for advice on all of the following teaching topics.
http://www.uwstout.edu/tlc/WebsitesthatHelpwithYourTeaching.htm
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Active Learning Strategies
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Gaming in Education
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Creating Rubrics
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First Day of Class
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Interactive Lectures
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Lecture Strategies
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Problem Based Learning
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Writing Learning Outcomes
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Online Best Practices
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Strategies for Using Laptops in Class
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Brief Articles on Using Laptops in Class
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A Guide to Active Learning During One Class Period
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Tips for Fostering Engagement
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Tips for Using D2L with Various Teaching Strategies
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Laptop learning
TLC News
Page 3
Book Club Explores Tagg's Learner Centered College
A group of five faculty members, led by Juli Taylor, is reading and
discussing John Tagg's The Learning Paradigm College. Tagg
delivered the keynote address to the Spring 2008 opening
convocation. After the group completes their work with Tagg's book
in March, they will select another for the second quarter.
For more details or to join the group contact Julie Taylor
taylorju@uwstout.edu
Does Engagement Foster Learning?
A group of eight faculty members, led by Dan Riordan, met
regularly during the Fall semester to create a research project that
will study the effect of engagement on learning. Led by BPA
Director Meridith Wentz, the group created a methodology that will
allow them to draw firm conclusions about the effects of
engagement.
The group originally met as part of a one-day institute on
engagement sponsored in June by the Title III program. The
summer institute and the engagement project are outgrowths of a
two-year project conducted jointly by BPA and TLC to determine
the UW-Stout student body perception of engagement.
For more details, or to join the study, contact Dan Riordan
riordand@uwstout.edu
New Instructor Workshop Takes Shape
Once again, in August 2008, the TLC and Title
III will sponsor a several-day workshop for
instructors beginning their first year at Stout.
The sessions include becoming
acclimated to Stout's digital learning
environment, exploring teaching and learning
strategies, enhancing teaching skills, and
understanding the characteristics of UW-Stout
students.
During 2008-2009, new instructors will
also attend a monthly workshop to deal with
the many issues of becoming accustomed to
teaching in the polytechnic, wireless
environment.
“What they learn is not a
static subject matter but
the very process of being
engaged in, and
participating in
developing, an ongoing
practice.”
--Etienne Wenger,
Communities of Practice
TLC News
Page 4
TLC Mentor Program Continues
Led by Anne Hoel, the TLC Mentors program has
matched 11 veteran teachers with 11 instructors
new to campus this year. If you wish to volunteer
to mentor in the fall, contact Anne at
hoela@uwstout.edu
Grant Opportunities Abound
The TLC is working with instructors to create
grant proposals in response to a call from
the UW-System Undergraduate Teaching and
Learning Grants (UTLG). The grants are
intended to fund Scholarship of Teaching and
Learning projects that are scalable system
wide.
The Academic Diversity and
Development Grant Program has also called
for proposals for projects that focus on
Closing the Achievement Gap.
For more details see
http://www.uwstout.edu/tlc/index.html
Teaching and Learning Center Board
These faculty and staff volunteer their
time and expertise to keep the TLC
focused on significant issues.
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Teaching and Learning Center
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Millennium Hall 104
University of Wisconsin-Stout
Menomonie, WI 54751
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Joy Becker
beckerjoy@uwstout.edu
Kari Dahl
dahlkar@uwstout.edu
Jane Henderson
hendersonj@uwstout.edu
Anne Kelly Hoel
hoela@uwstout.edu
Millie Kotulek
kotulekm@uwstout.edu
Mike Nicolai
nicolaim@uwstout.edu
Jeanne Rothaupt
rothauptj@uwstout.edu
Laura Schmidt
schmidtlaur@uwstout.edu
Juli Taylor
taylorju@uwstout.edu
Joan Thomas
thomasj@uwstout.edu
Julie Watts
wattsj@uwstout.edu
Meridith Wentz
wentzm@uwstout.edu
Dan Riordan, director
riordand@uwstout.edu
Web: http://www.uwstout.edu/tlc
Phone: 715-232-1131 or 715 232-5196
E-mail: tlcenter@uwstout.edu
TLC Mission Statement . . .
The Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) is devoted to the support of teaching and learning in
the academic community. The goal of the TLC is to encourage sharing and valuing of teaching
and learning by all members of the University of Wisconsin-Stout community.
In addition, the TLC will work to create a climate in which colleagues find satisfaction in
teaching and learning, enhance confidence about the effectiveness of teaching, and share
effective learning practices.