Teaching and Faculty Support Center Supports Teaching With Winter Teaching Symposium Event

The Winter Teaching Symposium, sponsored by the Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center, was held on Jan. 12 at the Arkansas Union. More than 200 professors attended the event, which was offered both in person and remotely via Zoom. The sessions were designed to bring new ideas related to teaching at the beginning of the spring term and was built around the theme of shedding light on good teaching practices. 

After welcome remarks from Chancellor Charles Robinson and Provost Terry Martin, the event was anchored by two keynote presentations:

• Professor Lorraine Brewer, instructor of chemistry and biochemistry, spoke about engaging students: Creating a Space for Learning Together: Imagine the Potential!
• Vicki Collet, associate professor of curriculum and instruction, presented about mentoring and interaction styles: Supporting Learners through a Gradual Increase of Responsibility. 

Additionally, break-out sessions were offered. Breakouts included:

• Blackboard Ultra by Kathryn Zawisza, director of academic technology and innovation for IT Services and TIPS.
• Teaching and Mentoring International Students by Margaret Butcher (communication), Adriana Rossiter-Hofer (supply chain management) and Qin Weng (information systems).
• The Capstone Experience! Crafting and Assessing This Program to Fit into the General Education Learning Outcomes by Deb Korth (student success), Richard Cassady (industrial engineering), Nathan Kemper (agricultural economics and agribusiness), Denise Beike (psychology) and Jeannie Whayne (history).
• Active Learning: Planning Effective and Engaging Classroom Sessions by Faith Lessner (biology), Melinda Schroeder (mathematics) and Leslie Massey (engineering — first year program).
• Elevating Student Achievement Through Metacognition — Think About It! by Karl Schubert (data science) and Kristen Karpinski (student success).
• Using Student Feedback to Increase Teaching Proficiency by Susan Bristow (information systems) and Sarah Jensen (marketing).

The event was closed with a presentation by Stephanie Adams, the director of faculty development.

The Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center offers teaching-related programs numerous times throughout the semesters for faculty members. For more information on these programs or to be included in our mailing list, please reach out to Lori Libbert at tfsc@uark.edu.  If you have an idea and an interest in speaking at an event, please contact one of the co-directors, Lynn Meade (student success), Carole Shook (information systems) or Richard Cassady (industrial engineering).