When the PROF Center started in Fall of 2008, Ms. Lisa Flores, Interim Director of the PROF Center, identified faculty perceived teaching/learning needs through a survey to focus PROF Center programs. Seventy-nine (79) faculty members responded to the survey and of the twenty-one survey items, those most frequently identified as primary concerns were: (1) Develop students’ critical thinking skills (96.7%); (2) Design and implement effective discussion activities to facilitate student learning (87.3%); (3) Develop and implement activities to promote active learning (87.2%); and (4) Use strategies to assist under-prepared students (79.7%). The needs identified by the faculty were congruent with the BEAMS project focus for student engagement in teaching and learning to promote student learning, persistence, and success.
In Fall of 2009, a Director of the PROF Center was hired, the survey amended to include demographics of respondents, and repeated. The 2009 survey was responded to by 74 faculty (of which 79% had not participated in the 2008 survey). Of those responding 77% identified critical thinking skill development and active learning teaching strategies as important for the PROF Center to address. Under prepared student teaching strategies and classroom technology implementation were thought important by 74% of respondents. Working with large class sizes, classroom assessment, and learner centered instruction were identified as important by 65-73% of faculty. New 2009 survey items identified as important were adjunct faculty and new faculty teaching/learning development. Major similarities were found between 2008 and 2009 responses.
Multiple workshops were held and most were video-taped or media files presented to the PROF Center by the presenters. Those files are available on this website by semester and year.
In August of 2009 Lisa Flores sponsored a New Faculty Orientation at which Dr.Yezdi Bhada, Georgia State University, presented effective teaching and course preparation sessions. Dr. Bahda developed the Master Teacher Program and offers it to persons interested. The three day workshop that Dr. Bhada offers (see website) was attended by Dr. Amy Poland: Associate Professor, College of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Poland uses many of the techniques in her classroom, find that they work very well for her students and recommended that Dr. Bhada present. Dr. Bhada was invited back in October of 2009 to present a full day workshop to all faculty.
The Annual Report (2008-2009) for the PROF Center is found here.
In Spring of 2010, there again was faculty interest in specific teaching/learning applications. Reviewing Dr. Bhada's presentation, it was identified that The Master Teacher Framework created by Dr. Bhada would be the basis of the planned March, 2010, workshop. Dr. Poland spoke with Dr. Bhada who gave his permission to use his framework and files. To plan for the March workshop Dr. Diana Linn: Assistant Professor from the College of Education, was asked to join the presentation group. Dr. Linn provided expertise in using engagement strategies for teaching.
In Fall of 2010, TAMIU Provost, Dr. Pablo Arenas, requested the PROF Center hold a workshop for the incoming faculty. Adjuncts that are part of the TAMIU family were included, addressing needs identified in the 2009 faculty survey. The format of the March 2010 workshop, with greater emphasis on specific TAMIU student population needs, was held on August 19th/27th, and August 21st. The workshop was seven hours in length and covered specific information related to students of Hispanic origin, classroom strategies for engaging students, syllabus changes required by The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and construction of student learning outcomes.
Media and document files are made available to all faculty on the LINKS from the Faculty Development menu. The media and documents will be updated.
The Annual Report for the 2009-2010 year will be posted when complete.