Terry Mouchayleh, Ph.D. Tarrant County College District Supporting a Culture of Research Among Two-Year College Faculty: the Mastery of Teaching Institute Terry Mouchayleh, Ph.D. Tarrant County College District

Faculty Development Workshops Technology Training Conference Travel Teaching Retreats Mentoring

But What If . . . . ?

The Myths Community college faculty cannot or will not do substantive research. If these faculty could do that kind of research, they would be at a university where such activities are required and financially rewarded. Community college faculty could do research but would not do it unless they were paid to do so.

Myth Busting Five faculty from across the district meet to design the TCC Mastery of Teaching Institute (MTI).

Resulting Proposal The MTI is an opportunity for faculty to spend a year to research, analyze, and implement results of a new pedagogical technique or student success strategy.* Faculty from across the district apply to participate. Seven to ten faculty participants are in each yearly cohort. Faculty participants research topics of their own choice. With the support of a TLA facilitator and a rep from the Institutional Research department, participants in this institute meet monthly for a year with their cohort.

Resulting Proposal Cont’d They receive no compensation for their work, other than the promise of financial support for necessary software, journal subscriptions, and research-related travel. At the end of the year, each participant writes up a report on the results, to be shared with the entire institution. The reports are internally published in the Mastery of Teaching Institute Journal of Research in Higher Education.

Cohort #1 Eleven participants Two dropped out Total of $5000 was spent on software, travel, an editor, other materials

Cohort #1 Topics Using Active Learning and Critical Thinking to Increase Retention in Biology Effective Evaluation of Online Instructors Through the Use of an Operational Rubric Study of Inappropriate Use of Technology in the Classroom The Influence of Kinesiology Activity Classes on Academic Achievement Using an Assessment Model in Computer Sciences Courses to Increase Student Success and Retention

Cohort #1 Topics Cont’d Examining the Impact of Course Scheduling on Student Success and Retention Rates in Financial Accounting and Macroeconomics Courses Learning Cultural Competency through Team-Teaching Measuring Engagement Strategies to Determine What Works Best To Activate Success and Retention Pretesting Anatomy and Physiology Students as an Indicator of Student Success

Cohort #2 Ten participants Two dropped out No funds spent so far

Cohort #2 Topics Art Courses as Therapy for Victims of Trauma/Stress Effectiveness of Publishers' Online Resources Purchased by Students Compared to Open Educational Resources free to the Student Mindfulness and its Effects on Learning and Productivity Using Math Manipulatives with Adult Learners

Cohort #2 Topics Cont’d The Socratic Questioning technique and its Effects on Critical Thinking Skills and Learning The Effects of Student Contracts on Student Engagement The Creation of a Biography-Based History Primers and their effect on Student Engagement

Lessons Learned Don’t assume that faculty are policy and process experts. Encourage faculty to meet with their administration to discuss research ideas. Expect all levels of research and writing skills. Provide strong structure and hard deadlines. Coordinate with Institutional Research. Hire an editor for the reports. Plan for participants present at Academic events and to the Board of Trustees.

Best Surprise MTI Fellows: Tier II

Questions?