Nilson Engages Faculty at Teaching Symposium to Help Students Become Self-Regulated Learners

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

From left, Lynn Meade, co-director; Kathy Sloan, vice provost of faculty affairs; Lori Libbert, HEI Program coordinator; and Linda Nilson, author of "Creating Self Regulated Learners: Strategies to Strengthen Student' Self Awareness and Learning Skills."

Teaching matters at the U of A, which is why 126 faculty attended a half-day symposium designed to advance their knowledge of teaching and learning.

The Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center hosted nationally recognized speaker and author Linda Nilson. Nilson spoke with faculty about how to engage students into becoming self-regulated learners. Her talk focused on key things that teachers can do to help students learn how to learn. She stressed that self-regulated learners perform better in class and think deeper about topics. In addition, they become more motivated learners, which will benefit them in college and in their professional lives.

One faculty member wrote of Nilson's presentation, "I really appreciated her clarity that learning is always the responsibility of the learner. As teachers, we can't take everything on ourselves, but there are things we can do to help students to take on that responsibility for themselves."

In addition to attending the headline event, faculty participated in one of the five breakout sessions:

• Advice for Dealing with Struggling Students — Shanda Hood, Mathematical Sciences, and Josh Girshner, Mathematical Sciences;
• Integrating Teaching and Scholarship — Lindsey Aloia, Communication; Kris Brye, Crop, Soil & Environmental Sciences; and Paul Cronan, Information Systems;
• Teaching Tips: New Ideas for Technology and Interaction — Margaret Butcher, Communication; Sheri Deaton, Curriculum & Instruction; Beverly Hodges, Information Systems; Stephen Rowe, Accounting; Marc Scott, Supply Chain Management; Angie Smith-Nix, Health, Human Performance & Recreation; and Young Hye Song, Biomedical Engineering;
• Empowering International Faculty as Teachers — Adnan Alrubaye, Poultry Science & Biological Sciences, and Rocio Paez, Sociology & Criminology; and
• Blackboard TIPs and Hacks — Kathryn Zawisza, IT Services, and Heather Walker, Chemical Engineering.

The day's events were opened by Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs Kathy Sloan, who encouraged faculty to look out for each other and to check on one another.

The Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center's vision is to provide innovative and engaging programs and resources for our faculty that will promote excellence and will enrich academic programs and learning experiences on our campus. Programs are guided by the co-directors, Don Johnson, Lynn Meade and Carole Shook. Check the TFSC webpage for upcoming events.