Overview
The Redesign for Teaching Excellence program, offered by the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE), is designed as a collaborative process between faculty and CTE instructional designers that emphasizes continuous improvement in course design. The program's goal is to inspire faculty to enhance their teaching practices and improve student learning outcomes. Instructional designers work closely with participants to improve their courses utilizing the backward design framework. The areas of collaboration include learning outcomes, alignment, course materials, assessment strategies, technology integration, active learning, and accessibility.
During the program, participants will develop a revised syllabus, assignments, assessments, and course schedule. Faculty who meet the program's requirements will be awarded the Redesign for Teaching Excellence certificate and receive a letter of commendation from the CTE director. The program is open to all faculty who serve as an instructor of record on the Columbia and Palmetto College campuses and the Schools of Medicine. Admission to the program is on a rolling basis.
Program Details
Faculty members will engage in one-on-one consultations with an assigned instructional designer. These personalized sessions will serve as a platform for faculty to discuss their specific needs, goals, and challenges related to course redesign. The instructional designer will provide ongoing guidance and support, tailoring their advice and suggestions to address the faculty member's unique requirements.
In addition to the personalized support, the faculty member will have access to additional resources. These resources will include research-based best practices, relevant literature, and supplementary materials that can aid in the enhancement of their teaching practices. The instructional designer will gather and select resources that align with the faculty member's areas of focus, aiming to directly contribute to the overall enhancement of their course design.
By offering regular one-on-one support and access to additional resources, the program ensures that faculty receive personalized attention and gain valuable insights and strategies to enhance their teaching practices. Through this collaborative and individualized approach, the Redesign for Teaching Excellence program aims to inspire faculty to achieve teaching excellence and improve student learning outcomes.
General Program Outline
The program's tasks will be scheduled in collaboration between the faculty member and the instructional designer. Below is a sample four-week program outline for reference.
Week 1
- Initial meeting between the faculty member and the instructional designer to establish goals, expectations, and personalized areas of focus.
- Discussion of the backward design framework and its application to the faculty member's specific course.
- Review of the faculty member's current course materials, syllabus, and assessments.
- Identification of areas for improvement and alignment with learning outcomes.
Week 2
- In-depth discussion and collaboration on revising the course materials, including syllabus, assignments, and assessments.
- Exploration of effective assessment strategies and feedback approaches tailored to the faculty member's course.
- Assistance in incorporating technology tools and resources to enhance teaching and learning experiences.
- Guidance on incorporating active learning techniques specific to the faculty member's subject area.
Week 3
- Review and refinement of the revised course materials based on feedback and discussions from Week 2.
- Further exploration and guidance on technology integration and accessibility considerations.
- Individualized support to address any questions or challenges faced by the faculty member.
- Assistance in aligning course materials with learning outcomes and ensuring coherence in the overall course design.
Week 4
- Completion of the revised syllabus, assignments, assessments, and course outline.
- Review of the course materials for accessibility, inclusivity, and overall quality improvement.
- Individual consultations for final feedback, suggestions, and any remaining revisions.
- Submission of the finalized course materials for review and approval.
If you are interested in participating in the Redesign for Teaching Excellence Program, please submit the interest form below. For inquiries, contact Aisha Haynes at haynesa@mailbox.sc.edu.