1. WELCOME TO THE TEACHING-LEARNING ACADEMY

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

3. 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.”

4. 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

5. PARTICIPATION Why participate?

6. STRUCTURE  One of a kind structure for staff, students, faculty, administrators, community  Equal playing field – flattened hierarchy

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

8. 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.

9. 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 339 students, for volunteers  Need to miss your regular group? Attend another.

10. DIALOGUE: DIVERGENT CONVERSATION From G. Gerard, “What is Dialogue?” in Rediscover the Transformative Power of Dialogue, Dominick Abel Literary Agency, 1998.

11. DIALOGUE FACILITATION Facilitate: to make easy Student facilitators – Comm 339 Use Agreements to ensure air time for all

12. AGREEMENTS Be respectful. Be open. Be direct. Be present. Be ethical.

13. RESULTS More positive individual attitudes Better informed individual teaching & learning practices Actual institutional change

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. LAST YEAR’S BIG QUESTION How can we engage and connect multiple voices to strengthen WWU as a 21 st - century liberal arts university?

18. 2011-12 PROPOSALS Communication  TLA-sponsored focus groups with various audiences on a liberal arts education  Create a TLA document compiling our findings on the liberal arts at WWU for Special Collections Curriculum *  Increase service-learning/community-based/ practicum experiences, especially in general education program.  Mark some existing upper-level courses for general ed credit to signal that liberal arts extend throughout the undergraduate career. Professional Development *  Promote engaging & reflective practices to faculty teaching general education courses.  Recognize the work of faculty exemplifying the liberal arts especially faculty teaching in the all-important foundational general education courses. *UNDER REVIEW BY CUE

19. TLA CONTACT INFO Website: http://library.wwu.edu/tla http://library.wwu.edu/tla Facebook: Search for WWU Teaching-Learning Academy Contact info:  Carmen.Werder@wwu.edu 650-7329 Carmen.Werder@wwu.edu  Shevell.Thibou@wwu.edu 650-7368 Shevell.Thibou@wwu.edu  TLA@wwu.edu 650-2329 TLA@wwu.edu Program Offices WL 265 A & B, Carmen’s Office WL 462 Dialogue Location: Meeting Space WL 270

20. INDIVIDUAL/COLLECTIVE CHANGE Anyone have an example of how a TLA conversation may have influenced some change in your own context?

21. INTRODUCTIONS Name? What is one word or phrase about you that will help us enter into dialogue with you?

22. TODAY’S DIALOGUE STARTER On a post-it: What is one thing connected to teaching and learning at WWU that you wish TLA would explore this year?

23. 2012-2013 BIG QUESTION What will we decide?

24. DIALOGUE GROUP PROMPT What are at least four things your group would like to see TLA study this year?