Our last two events of our Year of Communication are happening in April. Please join us for these exciting workshops!

Classroom Strategies for Working with English Language Learners
Mon, April 13th, 12-1 PM

Rachel Toncelli (Director of English Language Learning) will lead a workshop to help instructors in any discipline develop effective strategies that maximize learning opportunities for non-native English speakers in their undergraduate classrooms. Participants will consider the different cultural approaches to writing practices students in your courses may have, and how these can impact your teaching. Participants will discuss classroom practices, as well as strategies for responding to writing assignments.

Informal Science Communication Workshop
Mon, April 20th, 12-1 PM

This workshop explores ways to create informal conversations that cross disciplinary boundaries and engage voices within and beyond Brown. The Sheridan Center's Kathryn Trenshaw and Jessica Brodsky will start the workshop by describing their experience with two informal communication projects at Brown: Science Friday, an informal meeting for STEM faculty to discuss teaching and learning, and Science Underground, a science cafe for scientists to share and discuss their research with the Providence community. Participants will share their own informal conversation experiences and brainstorm ways of engaging in low-stakes communication activities with different audiences.

Visit The Sheridan Center's Laboratory for Educational Innovation Website

The Sheridan Center's Laboratory for Educational Innovation fosters innovative approaches to enhancing teaching and learning at Brown through digital technologies and new media. Visit the Laboratory's new website to learn more about our work and to read about some of our recent projects.

 

Congratulations to the recipients of the Harriet W. Sheridan Award for Distinguished Contribution to Teaching and Learning!

The Sheridan Center is pleased to announce the 2014 winners of the Harriet W. Sheridan Award for Distinguished Contribution to Teaching and Learning, Dr. Luba Dumenco (Depts of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School) & Stéphanie Ravillon (Dept of French Studies).  For more information on their outstanding accomplishments, please visit our website.

Save the Date - University Awards Ceremony
Mon, May 4th, 5-6:30 PM
Reception 4-5 PM
Pembroke Hall 305

Members of the Brown community are invited to honor the recipients of the University awards for Teaching at the Awards Ceremony.  Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of faculty and graduate students at this university-wide reception and ceremony.

Call for Applications: Certificate V: Principles and Practice in Reflective Mentorship

Applications are solicited from graduate students who will have advanced to Ph.D. candidacy prior to the start of the 2015-2016 academic year. All applicants must complete the online application form and submit additional materials (in a single .pdf file) via email to Sheridan_Center@brown.edu by May 12, 2015 at 11:59pm.
Just as the activities involved in the two practice-based component tracks will differ, applications to these tracks will require different elements. Descriptions of the two tracks and specific criteria for selection are described in this document.

Academic Job Search: International Career Pathways
Wed, April 15th, 12-1PM

Join us for an interactive Skype panel featuring former Brown graduate students who have successfully landed international careers (Germany and Canada). Hear about strategies, experiences, and lessons learned.

Teaching Enjoyably:  Liberating Yourself from Unnecessary Constraints
Fri, April 24th, 11am - 12PM
Hillel Meeting Room, 80 Brown Street

Amy Cheng Vollmer has been teaching biology in a small liberal arts college setting for 30 years.  She has three major points/pieces of advice to share – that are not discipline specific. Putting the focus on the audience, not being a slave to the syllabus and giving up control can be liberating and will allow you to play to your strengths.

Assessment for Learning

Effective assessment design enhances student learning in many ways. Ideally, assessments should be aligned with course goals and objectives.

When developing assessments that promote learning, consider these suggestions:

1. Provide spaced assessed tasks to enable students to allocate sufficient time to study over a suitable time period and avoid ‘cramming’.

2. Design the assessment so that students tackle the task appropriately: i.e. they engage in the process of learning rather than simply producing a final product.

3. Give students the opportunity to practice the skills they need for each assessment.

The full list of suggestions for effective assessment design is available on the Sheridan Center website.