Improving Learning in Large Classes workshop series

The Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment (CTLA) seeks instructors who want to improve assessment practices in their classroom (e.g., the uses of exams and assignments).

The CTLA will offer the Assessment Academy: Improving Learning in Large Classes Workshop Series (ILLC) during the 2024-25 Academic Year, which will enable participants to develop pedagogically sound assessments for their courses. The ILLC is open to all instructors, whether tenure track or not.

Participants will meet five times for 80-minute workshops in the fall. Topics will include effective approaches to assessment, integrating assessments into the learning process, iterative assessments, and learning by doing. A total of 10-12 participants will be selected for the workshop series and instructors who complete the series will receive a $1,000 stipend. Half the stipend ($500) will be provided after the proposal submission in Fall 2024 Semester and the other half ($500) will be provided upon the submission of the portfolio in Spring 2025 Semester.

Structure

The five workshops will focus on effective approaches and hands-on development of assessments, plans, and implementations for participants’ courses. The series will begin with a discussion-based review of effective approaches in the context of the participants’ courses. Instructors will collaboratively plan integrating assessments into the learning process with subsequent sessions focusing on creating the content and integrated assessments that would best serve their students. Participants will discuss their plans and products with other participants. At the end of the workshop series, participants will leave with well-structured and thoughtfully designed course materials that will be employed in their future courses.

Participants will submit a proposal for their planned changes/implementations of their selected course at the end of the fall semester, which will receive a $500 stipend. During the spring semester, participants will receive mentoring and support in crafting and implementing the proposed changes. A portfolio of the course changes/implementations will be submitted by April 1, 2025 as the final deliverable, which will receive a $500 stipend, for a total of a $1000 stipend.

Learning Outcomes

After completing the ILLC program, faculty should have the knowledge, skills and abilities to:

• Analyze effective assessment approaches.
• Critically evaluate assessment practices to their discipline.
• Develop effective and equitable assessments that enhance student learning through integration with the learning process.
• Create course materials and learning strategies tied to assessments.
• Help other instructors in their department adopt effective assessment approaches.

Eligibility 

All full-time faculty are welcome to join the workshop series. Early career faculty are particularly invited to participate. Participants are encouraged to attend all five workshops. Those interested in attending workshops, but not applying to the academy, please reach out to Greg Springer (springeg@ohio.edu) or Wendy Adams (adamsw1@ohio.edu) for workshop details.

Fall 2024 Workshop Series

The five workshop sessions will be held September through November 2024. The workshops will be delivered in person at the Athens campus, with a streaming option for RHE faculty.

Participants who participate in at least four of the five workshops, submit a proposal, and submit a portfolio will receive a Certificate of Completion from the CTLA and a $1,000 stipend. Faculty are welcome to include the certificate in their annual evaluations and promotion/tenure dossiers.

The workshops will be held on the following dates:

• Thursday, Sept. 19, 9:30-10:50 a.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 3, 9:30-10:50 a.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 17, 9:30-10:50 a.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 7, 9:30- 0:50 a.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 21, 9:30-10:50 a.m.

To sign-up for the workshop series, please complete the online application form no later than August 30, 2024.

Please contact Springer (springeg@ohio.edu) or Adams (adamsw1@ohio.edu) with questions.