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One of the most satisfying aspects of being the Director of the Institute is the ability to continue to be in the classroom and influence students. After 32 years of teaching undergraduate Engineering, I have had withdrawal symptoms, but they are somewhat relieved by the EDCI 326 class that I organize and teach.
EDCI 326 is a graduate course, offered through the Neag School of Education, entitled "Teaching and Learning Fundamentals." We meet each week for up to two hours and each session is lead by myself or one of the several practitioner colleagues from across the campus. Details of the course are to be found at http://www.sp.uconn.edu/~wwwitl/Programs/EDCI326F00.html .
Over the last two years, we have found that teaching assistants have found this to be a valuable resource to help them in their instructional role at the University and in preparation for a teaching position after graduation.
One of the sessions I offer is Teaching Portfolios. This popular session helps prepare the graduates for job applications but, more importantly, gets them thinking about their activities as a teacher. Evidence shows that serious consideration of one’s instructional behavior alone leads to improvement.
This is only one of the many ways in which the Institute is able to help and influence the instructional activities at the University of Connecticut. If help is needed – ask. I am always open to problem solving and with the help of our "seamless instructional support" attitude, we can get things done. Check out
http://www.itlservices.uconn.edu/ .
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