Welcome to the Teaching-Learning Academy

2010: CELEBRATING 11 YEARS OF STUDENT VOICES AT WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

TLA in Canada House and Beyond… Teaching-LearningAcademy “Students as Co-Inquirers” Interest Group in the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSOTL) A.S. Student Voices Club Courses, e.g. Comm 339, Educ 109, Psych 210 Conferences and forums, e.g. Scholars Week

Overview A Community of Scholars Studying and Enhancing Western’s Learning Culture

Participants Administrators Faculty Staff Students Community Members

Staff Carmen Werder Michael Murphy Megan OtisCameron Schmidt Ashley Gardella

Objectives A deeper understanding of teaching and learning Multiple perspectives to enhance learning Action projects to enhance Western’s learning culture Student voices in learning initiatives Celebrating contributions to teaching and learning

Activities Meet bimonthly in dialogue groups Sponsor all-campus forums on teaching and learning Create campus partnerships Share findings locally, nationally and internationally Lead special interest group on “Students as Co-Inquirers” within the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSOTL)

Process Together develop a BIG question on T&L to study for the year. Use question to survey ourselves. Invite others into the study. Analyze the results. Share findings and translate into action.

Agreements Be respectful. Listen patiently with the primary goal of understanding. Give everyone adequate air time & work to create a safe space for taking risks. Be open. Work to understand differences, not to erase them. Try out new ideas & be open to disagreeing, making new connections, & challenging old views. Be direct. Say clearly what you expect from others. Ask questions when you don’t understand. Avoid presumptions; ask others what they think & why. Be present. Engage actively, but know that silence sometimes is ok. Try to be prompt. Resist technological distractions. Come ready to contribute & listen. Be ethical. Honor rights of others. Be honest in asking for & giving feedback; be fair in evaluating others and their ideas.

Facilitation Facilitate: to make easy Use Agreements to ensure air time for all Student facilitators – Comm 339 (Applied Practicum)

Overall Results Participants report: more positive attitudes toward students/faculty/staff new insights into teaching & learning more informed teaching & learning practices advancement of institutional change initiatives

TLA BIG Question for What do WE mean by a sustainable, reflective learning culture? And how might we use that shared understanding to strengthen connections:  between existing resources and members of the campus community to provide individualized guidance and co- mentoring?  between the lived experiences of teachers and learners outside of the classroom and what is happening in the classroom to provide engaging learning experiences?  across borders within WWU and between WWU and external communities to provide interdisciplinary/community-based learning experiences?

Hallmarks of a Reflective Learning Culture More time and slowed pace Inspiring, natural places Encouragement of new, creative and innovative ways to learn and teach Exploratory activities such as writing, drawing/painting, creative movement Time to work both alone and with groups Increased sense of interconnectedness and understanding of common ground and differences

Winter 2010 Reflective Learning Spaces Book

TLA: Practice and Praxis During Winter 2010 the Anth. 303 Qualitative Methods class examined the dynamics of TLA through observation, interviews, and focus groups. The primary research question: Is the guiding philosophy of TLA of equal voice for all stakeholders in teaching and learning at Western (the praxis) actually realized in TLA sessions (the practice)? Resoundingly, analysis of the data confirmed that TLA practice and the praxis work in tandem. Students, faculty, staff, administrators, and community members freely engage with each other in common purpose to improve teaching and learning.

Spring 2010 Spring into Action… Meeting Dates: April 7/8, April 21/22, May 5/6 and May 19/20 Academy Awards – June 2 nd - 4:30-6pm - VU 565

Today Opening Surveys Reflective Exercise Introductions Small group dialogue Whole group convening

Where Does the Sun Shine on You?