TEACHING CONSULTATIONS
The CTE-BFFL is available to consult with faculty regarding general as well as specific
teaching strategies and issues. Our staff have experience teaching in higher education
and expertise in a variety of teaching and learning issues and are able to provide
an objective and informed perspective to assist in the ongoing process of creating
learning environments that are engaging for students and enjoyable for professors.
This is truly a consulting service, and the process itself will be directed by the
faculty member rather than by the consultant. The faculty member will be asked to
consider what specifically he or she wants to accomplish through the consultation
and will be encouraged to bring evidence of his or her teaching practice, including
but not limited to:
- Student evaluations
- Course syllabus
- Grading system/philosophy
- Specific issues or problems that have arisen
Classroom visits by one of the CTE-BFFL staff can be arranged. Because self-reflection
is an important ingredient for improvement, the faculty member will be encouraged
to evaluate the class session, and the consultant will evaluate the range of teaching
behaviors demonstrated in the class session. These may include:
- Rapport between professors and students
- Student reaction/attention
- Level of student engagement
- Inclusiveness
- Sense of "classroom presence"
- Teaching methods
- Use of technology/multimedia (too much or too little)
- Opportunities for student contribution
- Awareness of student understanding
- Assessment methods
The consultant will make recommendations in some of these areas and suggest that faculty members reflect on the consultation by writing their own list of ideas and actions for improvement.
Confidentiality statement: All CTE-BFFL consultations are voluntary, confidential, and formative. Any reports, plans, recommendations, or other information generated by a consultation are given only to the faculty member who requested the service. Faculty members are welcome to use that documentation in any way they deem appropriate (e.g. as an addition to their teaching portfolios, as part of their annual reports, etc.).To set up a consultation, contact Cynthia Gettys (cgettys@southern.edu).