ARSeminarXIPEmerson

Slide1: 

Making it Work at Your Institution Tom Piechota – University of Nevada, Las Vegas Tonya Emerson – California State University, Chico Seminar XI

Facts about University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV): 

Facts about University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) 24,000 students Fastest growing community in U.S. Originally undergraduate focus National Universities–Doctoral Mix of traditional and non-traditional students

Civil and Environmental Engineering at UNLV: 

Civil and Environmental Engineering at UNLV College of Engineering 300 undergraduates 50 graduate students MS and PhD 15 faculty (5 focus areas) Many opportunities for student internships

Tom’s Duties: 

Tom’s Duties Assistant Professor (starting 5th year) Balance teaching and research Two classes per semester Only faculty in water resources 5 full-time & 5-7 part-time graduate students $100K/year research Service (ASCE Faculty advisor, National/Local committees, etc..)

Tom’s ExCEEd Experience: 

Tom’s ExCEEd Experience Encouraged by Department Chair and colleagues ExCEEd Graduate 2001 (West Point) ExCEEd Assistant Mentor 2002 (NAU) ExCEEd Assistant Mentor 2003 (Arkansas) 2 other faculty at UNLV also attended ExCEEd

Facts about CSU, Chico: 

Facts about CSU, Chico 13,500 students One of 23 state-supported universities A primarily undergraduate institution A practice-orientated teaching environment

Civil Engineering at CSU, Chico: 

Civil Engineering at CSU, Chico One of 5 engineering and technology departments on campus 4 full-time faculty members and 4 partially retired faculty in 5 areas 1st new hire in 18 years About 200 undergraduate students 75% EIT Pass Rate

Tonya’s Duties: 

Tonya’s Duties 12 units of teaching per semester Service Club advisor, committees chair, ASCE branch VP, student advising, etc., … Tenure requirements Excellent Teaching Professional Publications Research funding adequate for semesterly 3-unit buyout Not too sure!!!

Tonya’s ExCEEd Experience: 

Tonya’s ExCEEd Experience ExCEEd Graduate 2002 ExCEEd Assistant Mentor 2003 Seminars on ExCEED model College of ECT Center for Excellence in Teaching, CSU Chico Essential Teaching Seminars - Mentor

Slide10: 

Lessons From ExCEEd Organize your content. Provide clear expectations. Keep students engaged. Get to know your students. Teaching is about student learning, not dissemination of information.

Slide11: 

Lessons From ExCEEd Develop lesson objectives and share them. Active learning greatly increases retention. It’s easy to keep students engaged. “Learning is not a spectator sport.” Chickering and Gamson, 1987

Slide12: 

Lessons From ExCEEd Methods work for both graduate and undergraduate courses. Consciously teach to a variety of learning styles. Be friendly, but don’t be “best friends” with your students. Enjoy what you are doing!

What Tonya Did After ExCEED: 

What Tonya Did After ExCEED Immediately converted lesson plans to board notes. Minor modifications to course content. Included lesson objectives. Added questions and activities throughout semester. Developed daily lesson handouts

What Tonya Did After ExCEED: 

What Tonya Did After ExCEED Mug Shots!

What Tonya Did After Fall 2002: 

What Tonya Did After Fall 2002 Repeat exercise for Spring 03 semester. Tried music Added several group activities. Included written homework questions requiring explanation of conceptual ideas. Incorporated some inductive examples.

What’s Next for Tonya?: 

What’s Next for Tonya? Convert senior elective to board notes and develop board notes for a new class. Review lesson topics & write objectives. Create board notes. Incorporate physical models and computer simulations. Develop more team activities. Incorporate CAT’s

Student Performance (Tonya): 

Final Exam Averages after Implementing ExCEED Model Student Performance (Tonya)

What Tom Did After ExCEED: 

What Tom Did After ExCEED Checked out my classrooms Asked the Dean to add whiteboards Converted overheads to board notes Eliminated extraneous material Learning Objectives on board before class Asked students lots of questions

What Tom Did After ExCEED: 

What Tom Did After ExCEED Moved around the classroom Name cards for the first week of class In class exercises Conscious of how long I was talking Used learning objectives as review for exam

What Tom Did After Fall 2001: 

What Tom Did After Fall 2001 Implemented with additional courses Music (Fall 2002) Classroom demonstrations Shared notes/exercises with colleagues Peer ratings

What’s Next for Tom?: 

What’s Next for Tom? Better use of color on boards CATs More classroom demonstrations First time teaching Fluids in the Fall 2003 Integrate laboratory with lecture (Fluids)

Tom’s Course Ratings: 

Tom’s Course Ratings New Course ExCEEd One Course

Slide23: 

What ExCEEd ideas do you plan to implement this Fall? What obstacles do you foresee? How will you overcome them? Group Activity

Obstacles to Implementation: 

Obstacles to Implementation Time I can’t completely redesign my courses. I have duties besides teaching. Fear of leaving “comfort zone” Poor classroom design Fixed ceiling projector and screen take out middle one-half of front wall. Seating arrangement is not conducive to group work. Limited number of black(white) boards Dirty boards Students

Implementation Solutions: 

Implementation Solutions Time Don’t try to implement all ExCEEd ideas immediately. Choose ideas with biggest expected impact, but limit prep time. Fear of leaving “comfort zone” Is mediocrity comfortable? Can’t engineers experiment?

Implementation Solutions: 

Implementation Solutions Poor classrooms Project overhead onto wall to avoid covering blackboard. Walk around classroom as much as possible. Bring your own chalk. Identify colors that work for your boards. Identify colors that work for your students.

Implementation Solutions: 

Implementation Solutions Poor classrooms. Check your classroom when assignments are made so you can plan ahead. Find someone who can switch your classroom after assignments are made. Put administrative info and objectives on overheads and/or post on web. Be persistent in getting a good classroom

Implementation Solutions: 

Implementation Solutions Students Establish mode of operation right from start. Get to know the students (student data sheets). Show the students you care. Assume the students want to learn.

Our Advice: 

Our Advice Don’t be afraid to try the ExCEEd methods. Try a few things at a time. Dare to be innovative. Cater to variety of learning styles. Be “transparent”; reveal your intent. Seek feedback. HUGE SUPPORT NETWORK