Big Impacts: Assessing and communicating the value of learning initiatives
Concurrent Session 4
Brief Abstract
Research-intensive universities have long been charged with favoring research over teaching and many liberal arts institutions favor face-to-face instruction. However, in the last few years, major teaching and learning initiatives have had an extensive impact on the discourse on teaching and learning at the highest levels of the university. In this conversational session we will explore how we assess the impacts of learning initiatives and communicate these to adminstrators, our campus communities, funders, and legislators.
Presenters
Extended Abstract
Research-intensive universities are often criticized as not placing a primary focus on teaching – issues of teaching and learning are not often discussed at the highest levels of the institution. The development of learning spaces, based on sound pedagogical principles, has had an enormous impact on the physical campuses of many institutions, but how do we assess and communicate that impact to stakeholders?
In this conversation that works, participants will consider questions such as:
- Have the development of MOOCs, Learning Spaces and other teaching and learning initiatives have changed the profile of teaching and learning on your campus?
- Do course redesign projects and funded learning projects produce sustained changed to support student learning?
- How do you build a culture of project evaluation in your learning initiative projects?
- Who is the audience who should be engaged in your learning initiatives (administrators, faculty, students, alumni, community members, global learners)?
Participants will contribute to a shared assessment and communication plan that they can take back to their campuses and adapt to their own contexts.