Minutes of the Committee On Teaching & Learning
for October 19, 2000

Thursday, October 19, 2000, Carts 279

Present: Fay Akindes, Gerlad Greenfield, Jane Pinnow, Roby Rajan. Excused: Laura Gellott, Penny Lyter, Sharon Eaves.

The meeting started at 12:35 p.m. with approval of minutes from the last meeting.

Jerry Greenfield, director of UW-Parkside's Center for Teaching and Learning, reported on the latest activities and concerns of the Center.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COMMITTEE & CENTER
Jerry's understanding of the function of the Committee on Teaching & Learning is to serve as an advisory board to the Center for Teaching & Learning. The Committee agreed.

"HOME" FOR THE CENTER
Jerry shared proposed floor plans of Wyllie 107A. The advising center is being expanded into this space with one end of the room devoted to the Center for Teaching and Learning. Jerry expressed his concerns that the space was too limiting for the needs of the Center: work space for an assistant, bookshelves for a library of teaching references, a couch and chairs, a meeting space for the committees on teaching & learning and general education, and small presentations. The Committee supports Jerry's aim for a newly assigned space that more suitably accommodates the needs of the Center for Teaching & Learning.

WISCONSIN TEACHING SCHOLARS
OPED is currently seeking a Parkside faculty to participate in the newly created Wisconsin Teaching Scholars Program for
2001-'02. OPED has suggested Laura Gellott, Patrick McGuire, Gary Wood, Jonathan Shailor, and Steve Meyer, and are seeking other recommendations. Criteria for selection is at least 10 years teaching experience in the UW system.

TEACHING FORUMS: After hosting two hour-long brown-bag sessions at noon, the Center has decided that brown-bags are not the best venue for deep discussion. An alternative session are Teaching Forums, 1 1/2-hour long afternoon sessions with refreshments, possibly wine. The Forum will focus on an issue with a presentation followed by Q&A. The first Teaching Forum
of the semester is scheduled for Nov. 15 and will address community-based learning from students' point-of-view. Future topics for consideration include interdisciplinary learning. It was suggested that Forum topics could lead up to the Second Annual Conference on Teaching & Learning in the spring.

SPRING CONFERENCE: It was agreed that a Second Annual Conference on Teaching & Learning should be organized to follow-up last spring's dialogue. Jerry mentioned that it would not be necessary to seek a conference grant and that funds are available to cover necessary expenses.

PROGRAMS FOR NEW FACULTY: Jerry voiced his concern that programs be organized for new faculty addressing such issues as "success in the classroom" where second-year faculty could reflect on things they wish they had known as a first-year faculty, "classroom management" (gaining respect from students), and other practical teaching issues.

NCA SELF-STUDY: In reflecting on the letter written by Larry Duetsch (dated 10/4/00) addressing "Your Charge: Developing Information for our Self-Study," there were questions regarding the institutional mission objectives and measurable outcomes. Fay will ask Larry to clarify these areas before the Committee decides what information it can realistically gather.

The next meeting of the Committee on Teaching & Learning is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 17, noon - Carts 279.

The meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m.