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The IDC coordinates a variety of events featuring topics relating to faculty members in any stage of their career. We welcome every faculty member to participate in events of interest to them. Faculty may volunteer to present on topics of interest to their colleagues, and suggestions are always welcome.
Book Discussion Groups
Each semester the IDC sponsors at least two book discussion groups. Faculty meet every two weeks to discuss the book. Each attendee is provided with a copy of the book to utilize for the semester. Following are the books that will be used this semester:
Teaching Naked - Ed Powers, Facilitator, Mondays at 2:00 PM
(Sept. 16, Sept. 30, Oct. 14, & Oct. 28)
Issues & Trends in Online Teaching - Dustin Summey, Facilitator, Wednesdays at 2:00 PM
(Sept. 18, Oct. 2, Oct. 16, & Oct. 30)
How Learning Works - Deb Kuster, Facilitator, Thursdays at 3:00 PM
(Sept. 19, Oct. 3, Oct. 17, & Oct. 31)
Pre-Semester Events
Coming Soon!
Focus on Learning: Eat, Engage, Energize
The IDC presents Eat, Engage, Energize. This is a new format of instructional development facilitated by various faculty on the UCA campus. These events will all be hosted in the Presidential Dining Room. Attendees will be provided with a Christian Cafeteria lunch ticket. Attendees can access the Presidential Dining Room through the entry under the black awning at the southwest corner of Christian Cafeteria on the day of event.
The Students We Teach - Student Panel
Monday, September 16, 2013 at 12:00 noon - Presidential Dining Room
Do Mobile Devices Have a Place in Class? -Michael Mills
Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at 12:15 PM - Presidential Dining Room
Referring Students for Help - Kevin Rowell, Crystal Hill, & Reesa Ramsahai
Wednesday, October 9, 2013 at 12:00 noon - Presidential Dining Room
How We Use Service-Learning - Faculty Panel
Thursday, October 31, 2013 at 12:15 PM - Presidential Dining Room
Being Reflective - Stephanie Vanderslice
Friday, November 15, 2013 at 12:00 PM - Presidential Dining Room
Focus on Learning: Blended Learning Discussion Series
Changes coming soon!
Instructional Workshops
Instructional workshops and consultations are designed to assist faculty in the endeavor to improve instruction, improve classroom management and construct teaching portfolios. These workshops are valuable for course design and preparation of the teaching portion of their promotion and/or tenure documentation. There are two main instructional workshops offered by the IDC: Teaching Portfolio and Teaching Observation Program.
The Teaching Portfolio workshop offers an opportunity to learn how to construct a portfolio to document one's teaching. Writing and discussion exercises provide a starting point for the portfolio development process. This three hour session will help faculty prepare the teaching portion of their promotion and/or tenure application.
Deb Kuster, IDC Coordinator, will facilitate Teaching Portfolio workshop sessions for faculty this semester:
Teaching Portfolio - Dates coming soon!
Deb Kuster will also facilitate orientation training sessions on the Teaching Observation Program (TOP) for faculty this semester. Participants will form pairs to conduct mutual classroom observations for instructional improvement purposes.
Teaching Observation Program (TOP) - Dates coming soon!
Teaching & Learning with Technology
The IDC hosts various workshops throughout the year for faculty members seeking to improve their skills in instructional technologies. These include a variety of topics ranging from online and hybrid course design to building effective presentations.
Blackboard Learn 9.1 Introduction - See the Blackboard Training Events Page
Online Teaching and Course Design
Dustin Summey, instructional design specialist in the IDC, offers a variety of resources and services intended to support faculty who are involved in online teaching. He is available to provide individual consultations and customized training for faculty groups in addition to the workshops, seminars, and other scheduled events listed here.
Online Course Design Workshop - Dates coming soon!
Fulfills the 3-hour face-to-face workshop requirement in the Recognition Program
Online Course Design Workshop - Dates coming soon!
Fulfills the 3-hour face-to-face workshop requirement in the Recognition Program
Asynchronous Online Seminar on Online Teaching (June 10-28)
This fully-online seminar is designed to give faculty the experience of taking an online course from the perspective of both the student and the instructor. It is delivered asynchronously over a 3-week period of time using Blackboard. A model course is used to demonstrate the essential components of an effective online learning experience.
Instructional Development Center Recognition of Achievement
The IDC has developed a plan to allow faculty to follow one or more of three tracks to achieve a recognition of achievement in the following areas:
- Distinctive Growth in On-Ground Teaching
- Focused Study of Blended/Hybrid Teaching
- Certificate in Online Teaching
The objectives of the IDC through this program are to encourage ongoing instructional improvement, to recognize faculty for engaging in rigorous faculty development activities, and to establish a campus-wide mark of professional achievement related to teaching.
Faculty members wishing to participate should simply complete the necessary activities for the track in which she or he wishes to be recognized. For a full list of activities, please review the Recognition for Achievement document (click here).
New Faculty Orientation
The IDC coordinates a two-day pre-semester orientation each August for new full-time faculty to help them become familiar with the campus and meet their colleagues. For more information on this year's New Faculty Orientation, contact the IDC.
Past Events
For a full list of past events, see the following documents: