Programming
Our Programming
The Center for Teaching and Learning offers a variety of programming to help support our faculty. Whether you want to learn more about Canvas or explore a new pedagogical technique, we’ve got you covered! Learn more about each of our programming formats below, or click on the links to learn about the individual topics we cover in each. If we have questions about your request, someone from our team will reach out. Please feel free to contact CTL@wou.edu to follow up on a request or ask any questions you may have. Note that you must sign up for programming at least two hours in advance.
Upcoming Events
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Workshops
The Center for Teaching and Learning Canvas workshops focus on the nuts-and-bolts of working with different Canvas features.
Effective teaching practice frames our approach to how these tools are used and modeled but the primary outcome for these sessions is to improve your comfort using different components of Canvas on a technical level. We hope that by increasing your comfort with Canvas, you will be able to use its features in support of your pedagogical strategies.
Each session covers a specific set of features or functions in canvas, providing how-to demonstrations and guiding you to additional resources.
Visit our Workshops page to learn more about the current Workshops we have available for you to join this term!
Teaching Deep Dives
Deep Dives are interactive sessions that explore a specific teaching strategy or learning technology feature. Each Deep Dive session consists of:
- An introductory overview of the session’s topic.
- An opportunity to experiment with the concept, either by trying out new technology or through guided design activities.
Eight to ten Deep Dive sessions are scheduled each term, each focused on a different topic or strategy. The Center for Teaching and Learning adds new topics over time but also repeats popular offerings regularly so don’t worry if you can’t make a session. You will likely see it scheduled again in the future.
Visit our Deep Dives page to learn more about the current Deep Dives we have available for you to join this term!
Educational Escape Rooms
An educational escape room (EER) is a type of game-based learning where players interact with disciplinary content and/or skills to solve different kinds of puzzle tasks. The tasks are typically linear (meaning one leads to another) and have a specific learning goal that players meet within a time limit (usually 45 minutes to one hour). Tasks and clues are often hidden in boxes with numeric, alphabetic, or pictorial locks on them. In EERs, players are immersed in a simulated situation that they must somehow resolve. An EER is simply another innovative medium for teaching and learning and the goal is supporting students in meeting the learning objectives through a game-based design.
Since EERs are educational tools, we prioritize accessibility and ensure that learning and fun go hand in hand. For example, if you feel that a time limit is overwhelming, and it is not part of the educational objectives of the game, we will not use one!
Visit our Educational Escape Room page to learn more about the current EERs available for you to experience this term!
Sustainability Funds Project Overview
The Sustainability Funds Project aims to integrate sustainable practices into our educational framework, forming a collaboration between Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) and Academic Affairs leadership to create the conditions to ensure that Western Oregon University is delivering high quality and inclusive courses.
Catalyst
Catalyst is a collaborative faculty development program that explores pedagogy and provides design support to jump start new course design and instructional projects.
Catalyst is usually offered during Summer, but can be offered at other times of the year when there is sufficient demand or interest. Each iteration of the program is a session that lasts approximately 4 weeks, with two weeks focused on content and community activities followed by two weeks of dedicated project support.
Each time Catalyst is offered, the session will have a specific pedagogical focus that informs the content, activities, and design project for that session. The focus for each Catalyst session will be indicated in its title and explained in its description. Regardless of the focus, the primary goals of Catalyst are to brings faculty members together to:
- Explore the intersection of technology and pedagogy together through content-driven modules and online interaction.
- Make progress on individual design projects with support from the CTL and the Catalyst community.
Build a community around WOU’s passion for teaching and learning.
If you have any questions about an upcoming Catalyst session, feel free to reach out to CTL@wou.edu to learn more!
Visit our Catalyst page to learn more about the current Catalyst programs available for you to collaborate in this term!
