Our Center's theme for 2014 - 15 is Communication.  Join us at events throughout the year to discuss the art and practice of communication, and the transformative nature of effective communication.

Sheridan Certificate V Mentorship participants selected.
The 2014-15 cohort for the Certificate V Mentorship Program have been selected. Read about their projects here.

Click here for more News From the Center.

This workshop series features practical strategies for new instructors and is open to faculty, postdoctoral fellows & graduate students. Click on a topic below to register for the event.

• Classroom Communication – Tue, Sept 16, 12-1pm 
• Getting Timely Feedback on Your Teaching – Wed, Oct 8, 12-1pm
• Grading Strategies -  Mon, Nov 10, 12-1pm
• Designing Grading Rubrics – Thu, Nov 13, 12-1pm
• Supporting Student Study Habits – Thu, Dec 4, 12-1pm
• Interactive Classrooms - Tue, Dec 9, 12-1pm

The Academic Job Search Series includes sessions on finding academic positions, creating CVs, cover letters, teaching philosophy statements & teaching portfolios, developing your online presence, interviews and negotiating an offer.  See the flyer for all event dates and register for selected events below.

• Teaching Philosophy Statements  Wed, Sept 17, 4-5pm
• Teaching Portfolios  Tue, Sept 30, 4-5pm
• Cultivating an Online Presence Thu, Oct 9, 12-1pm

Tips for the First Day of Class

Introduce yourself and set course goals & expectations:  You can never make a second first impression.  The first week of class will set the tone of the classroom environment.

• Introduce the course and the expectations of the students (refer to the Course Syllabus).
• Consider how you will handle shopping period: At Brown students have 2 weeks to finalize their registrations.  The student population may change during those first two weeks and some students may miss the first day of class.  Learn how Brown faculty have handled shopping period.
• Have a plan and practice ahead of time; teaching is a presentation.

Get to know your students:  Understanding your students’ expectations, backgrounds and interests can help you engage your students and motivate them to learn.  Example activities include:

• Ask students to introduce themselves to the class and provide some information relevant to the course topic (in the classroom or online).
• Create and distribute a student questionnaire for students to provide you with basic information about themselves, their background in the subject area and any particular concerns they may have about this course.
• Give students an opportunity to get to know each other.  Ask a question that they can discuss in small groups of 2-3.
• Learn students' names to encourage them to interact with you.  At Brown, Banner has an online picture roster that you can print and take to class.
• Encourage students to see you during office hours.

Learn more about how to make the most of the first day(s) of class.