Welcome to the Teaching-Learning Academy

TLA Exploring multiple views of teaching and learning at Western Washington University Since 2001

History & Background 1998 : Carnegie Academy for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning (CASTL) Campus Conversations Program 1999: “Sounds good, but where are the students? 2001: Teaching-Learning Academy launched “Learning Reconsidered” course 2005-Present: “Civil Discourse as Interactive Learning” course & “Applied Practicum in Comm.”

Objectives  Civil discourse including disagreement  Deeper understanding of teacher-learner relationships  Best individual & institutional teaching & learning practices  Enhanced learning environment at WWU  Celebrating contributions to teaching and learning

Why participate?

Structure  Distinctive structure that works to be INCLUSIVE  Relies on the FLATTENED HIERARCHY  Highlights the role of STUDENTS AS CO-INQUIRERS

TLA as a Glorious Spider Web TLA is the web that connects all areas of the campus and the Bellingham community and allow us to see beyond where we are presently to the many possibilities beyond. ~June Fraser Thistle, photo by Masiyh Ford

TLA as a Space Station We are all beautiful pieces of a larger puzzle (e.g. glorious satellites who are capable of coming together to create wonderful larger entities like space stations). At times, we seem to be so at a loss for accurate communication and disconnected that we "run into one another" and bang ourselves up and become like space junk. We have the potential in TLA to build an amazing space station amongst our planets and stars. ~L. Larrabee

Activities  Every-other-week dialogue groups  Forums on teaching & learning  Campus partnerships  An international interest group on Students as Co-inquirers  Presentations & publications

TLA Research Agenda Develop the BIG question for the year. Explore and gather data to address the question. Draft action proposals. Refine action proposals and celebrate the year’s accomplishments.

Dialogue Group Schedule  Every OTHER week in the Learning Commons,WL 270  Four meeting options: Wednesdays 12-1:20 & 2-3:20 Thursdays 12-1:20 & 2-3:20  Expectations for Comm & FIG students, and volunteers  Need to miss your regular group? Attend another.

Dialogue: Divergent Conversation From G. Gerard, “What is Dialogue?” in Rediscover the Transformative Power of Dialogue, Dominick Abel Literary Agency, 1998.

A Dream About Dialogue on Learning A young man had never mastered the basic skill of catching a ball. A man was hired to teach him and I was invited to witness the successful transformation. The teacher threw the ball, yet the young man made no attempt to catch it. Instead he covered his mouth and then congratulated himself on that response. This happened again! The ball was thrown, instead of trying to catch it, he covered his mouth. I found this frustrating to observe; the lessons had been costly and they clearly had not produced results. Then I realized that this was about the distinction between teaching and instructing. When you teach someone, and learning occurs, they embody the knowledge, it becomes part of them. Though the young man had received instruction, there had been no absorption, no learning, and therefore no teaching. ~Cher Carnell

Dialogue Facilitation Facilitate: to make easy Student facilitators – Comm students Use Agreements to ensure air time for all

Agreements Be respectful. Be open. Be direct. Be present. Be ethical.

Results More positive individual attitudes Better informed individual teaching & learning practices Actual institutional change

Attitudinal Shifts I can’t believe how much students care about their own learning. ~ many faculty & staff I can’t believe how much faculty & staff & community members care about my learning. ~many students Sometimes, it’s really hard to get to TLA, but I’m always glad I did because I leave feeling inspired and refreshed. ~ many faculty, students, staff, community

New Practices After participating in TLA, I now go to office hours sometimes just to talk to a teacher. ~ many students After talking in TLA, I ask questions in class and feel less intimidated by my instructors. ~ many students Often, I’ll hear students say something in TLA that helps them learn, and I’ll go right to my class and try it out. ~ many faculty

Institutional Change 2006: What keeps us from genuine dialogue across differences? Online dialogue forum idea (Viking Village) 2009: What do we mean by reflective learning and how might we strengthen reflective learning practices at WWU? Reflective Garden 2010: What if we envisioned the most creative WWU we could imagine. What would it look like? Improving general ed. programs, Learning Commons, Viking Landing

…is coming to our Reflective Garden! The Running Man…

Last Year’s BIG Question How can we cultivate and connect communities where the whole person grows and relationships flourish?

Proposals  Welcoming Center in Libraries Learning Commons  Connecting Communities Event

Proposals  Welcoming Center in Libraries Learning Commons  Connecting Communities Event  Positive Communities Principles & Practices

TLA’s Positive Communities Principles & Practices 1. Encourage reaching out to individuals of the community. 2. Pay close attention to non-verbal communication cues and use those that invite interaction, openness, and risk-taking. 3. Make connections outside of the regular community gathering spaces. 4. Embrace, encourage, and recognize differences. 5. Recognize the individual and the collective. 6. Deliberately plan for fun and play. 7. Create spaces that encourage the strengthening of bonding and connections

TLA Contact Info Website: Facebook: Search for WWU Teaching-Learning Academy Contact info: Program Offices WL 265 A & B, Carmen’s Office WL 462 Dialogue Location: Learning Commons, WL 270

Individual/Collective Change Anyone have an example of how a TLA conversation may have influenced some change in your own context?

Introductions Name? What is one word/phrase to describe a characteristic that is important to who you are that you want to share with us?

Dialogue Group Prompt What is your response to the wordle?

BIG Question What will we decide?