By Dr. Linda Anstendig
Co-Director Pforzheimer Center

First Annual Summer Faculty Institute was held in Pleasantville May 29-31, sponsored by both Pforzheimer and CIT, now under the umbrella organization CTLT. Over 140 faculty attended the three day event, with a different theme for each day: learning and community, technology, and, assessment. This successful institute included a key note address by nationally renowned online learning scholars, Rena Paloff and Keith Pratt, as well as over 25 workshops led by Pace experts, including: how to address diverse learning styles by Andrea Winters, how to use Blackboard for discussion by Todd Heyden, and an overview on best practices in assessment by Barbara Pennipede. On the last day, the 4th annual Teaching Portfolio Workshop got underway. More than twenty participants began meeting with 5 faculty mentors to prepare their teaching dossiers. This year for the first time, the tp workshop was spread out over three weeks with an online component. Stay tuned for more information regarding this year's 2nd Annual Faculty Institute!

Keynote Speaker Address - Dr. Marilyn Jaffe-Ruiz
http://realserv.pace.edu:8080/ramgen/distanceed/cit/mjr.rm
(please note - RealOne Player is required to view this file - free download at www.real.com)

 

  
Guest Speakers Rena Paloff and Keith Pratt share their knowledge with the Pace Community.

Jim Stenerson moderates one of many worshops offered.
  
The conference ended with a great outdoor BBQ next to the pond.
  
Day Two showcased a vendor exhibit with many outside companies participating.

 

 

The Conference on Reflective Teaching Practices was held at the WP Grad Center on September 27th from 9am-4pm, sponsored by the CTLT and the Pforzheimer Center for Faculty Development. The keynote speaker, Barbara Wright, who served as director of the American Association for Higher Education's Assessment Forum, was a Professor of German, and is now coordinating assessment efforts at Eastern Connecticut State University. She addressed critical issues relating to the challenges of assessing core courses and the need to focus on course learning outcomes, general education, and critical thinking. Breakout sessions were led by Pace experts on such topics as "Designing Course Objectives and Outcomes", "Developing Portfolios and E-Portfolios", and "Assessing On-line Learning". At the end of the day faculty from each of the schools served on a panel moderated by Barbara Wright. They discussed current assessment methods and challenges within their schools and future directions for assessment at Pace.