Workshops on College Teaching

TADTad:  The Art and Design of Teaching (art and design)

The Art and Design of Teaching (art and design) workshops exist to bring together graduate students and faculty from across the College to discuss the best pedagogical practices behind intelligent, sensitive and creative teaching. This year-long series of workshops provides a forum for formal presentations and discussions, highlighting successful strategies, providing inspiration, as well as creating a forum to share passionate tales of the noble profession of teaching. TADTad is sponsored by the School of Foundation Studies. For more information, contact Sam Norgard, professor of foundation studies, at snorgard@scad.edu.

The Winter 2012 workshop topics are as follows:

January 13: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.:  Research Strategies: Reading, Writing, and Sketching

Research is an important part of art and design making, but how do we help students navigate research?  This panel will discuss strategies and techniques for making research an integral part of a course.

January 27: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.:  Using Social Media to Extend Learning Beyond the Classroom

The definition for social media is evolving.  Panelists will discuss social media:  What is it?  How do we define it?  And, how can we use it to extend learning?

February 10:  10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.:  Constructing an Active Learning Environment

Panelists will describe strategies for creating dynamic classroom environments. How do we manage the classroom to engage the student and energize their thinking?  Panelists will detail the specific methods they have used in past classes that they have found successful.

February 24: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.     Incorporating Writing into Studio Classes

Is writing in the studio about recording or is writing thinking?  This workshop will examine writing as a way of developing observation and critical thinking.  Panelists will discuss successful ways of including writing in class exercises to stimulate and engage students.

The Fall 2011 workshop topics are as follows:

All faculty and graduate students interested in or preparing for teaching internships are encouraged to attend.

Workshops meet in Anderson Hall Room 102 from 10 am to noon.

Oct. 7, 2011 Critique Strategies

Critiques are a critical part of learning. Getting students to embrace the process and understand the goal of a critique is critical to the critique’s success. Panel members will talk about ways to structure critiques to promote involvement and positive results.

Speakers:  Scott Thorp, Foundation Studies Design Coordinator,  Stephen Gardner, Foundation Studies Drawing Coordinator, Nancy Doolan, Foundation Studies Faculty

 Oct. 14, 2011  Creative Teaching / Teaching Creativity This workshop demonstrates practices in motivating and inspiring students as well as teaching the creative process. Discussion will focus on creativity and strategies for teaching students to be a creative partner in their learning.

Oct. 28, 2011  Beyond the Classroom Walls Panelists will discuss “at home” resources to create active learning beyond the classroom setting.  Ideas for successful field trips, inspiration for onsite exploration, and suggestions for connection to in-class work will be reviewed.

Nov. 4,2011  Teaching Collaboration This workshop will highlight successful student collaborations.  Discussion will examine methods for collaboration and developing the collaborative spirit among students.  Panelists will also discuss collaborations between classes and among faculty.

Nov. 11, 2011  Seeing the Big Picture … Creating Linkage between Courses  The university experience at SCAD is diverse; it includes liberal arts, art history and the major program.  The value of all three components is critical to providing an integrated educational experience.  Panel members in this session will examine how these components affect each other.  Discussion will further explore ideas that can help students understand the applicability of knowledge acquired in one course to another,  reinforcing course content and helping the student to see the “bigger picture”.

Professor Nan Rainey was the workshop coordinator through Spring 2011. Thank you, Professor Rainey!

Teaching Art is a year-long series of workshops designed to prepare SCAD graduate students and alumni for success with undergraduate college teaching. SCAD faculty and administrators conduct the workshops and share their teaching methodologies with much variety and depth. The Fall quarter workshops discuss how to design curriculum and projects and conclude with writing a syllabus. Winter quarter workshops explore information delivery and develop group and one-on-one communication and interaction skills. Workshops during the spring quarter provide in depth discussions of grading and critiques. SCAD graduate students preparing for teaching internships or currently registered in a teaching internship are encouraged to attend all workshops. All graduate students and graduate alumni are welcome. To register, please email: nrainey@scad.edu.

The Spring 2011 workshop topics and presenters were as follows:

Workshop 1            Friday, April 15 / Wallin Hall Room 103

10 am to noon                  Creative Thinking and Learning

Psychology professor Mary Lou Davis will discuss the cognitive processes involved in creative thinking and learning. Her discussion will provide a foundation for subsequent workshop discussions on how to evaluate these learning processes.

Workshop 2            Friday, April 22 / Wallin Hall Room 103

10 am to noon Developing Grading Criteria

Chair of photography Jenny Kuhla will examine the essential relationship between establishing learning goals, sequencing learning events, and developing grading processes. She will define a grading rubric, explain its importance in contemporary education and discuss what to consider when developing clear, reasonable and thorough grading rubrics.

Workshop 3            Friday, April 29 / Wallin Hall Room 103

10 am to noon                  Grading Practices

Film and television professor Michael Chaney, graphic design professor Joseph DiGioia, interactive design and game development professor Aram Cookson and metals and jewelry professor Lanelle Keys will explain their grading techniques and discuss a broad range of issues related to grading that include late penalties, extra credit, effort, participation, re-do’s etc.

Workshop 4            Friday, May 6 / Wallin Hall Room 103

10 am to noon                  Critique Strategies

Painting professor Denise Carson, foundation studies professor Gayle Fichtinger, and interior design professor Christina Gonano will discuss techniques for conducting critiques. They will also offer strategies to increase student participation in the critique process and explain their methods for assessing critique participation.

Workshop 5            Friday, May 13 / Wallin Hall Room 103

10 am to noon                  Competition in the Classroom

A panel of faculty will discuss the benefits and problems of competitive forces in the classroom and provide strategies for channeling competitive energy into motivation that inspires higher achievement for all.

Workshop 6            Friday, May 20 / Wallin Hall Room 103

10 am to noon Maintaining Academic Integrity

Dean of Undergraduate Studies Elizabeth Gaskin and Dean of Foundation Studies Maureen Garvin will discuss the importance of maintaining academic integrity in grading. They will also discuss common violations of academic integrity, provide suggestions on how to detect dishonest work and explain how allegations are processed.

The Winter 2011 workshop topics and presenters were as follows:

Sponsored by the School of Foundation Studies, the Office of Graduate Studies, and the Office of Career Services of the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Workshop 1            Friday, January 28 / Wallin Hall Room 103 Council Meeting

9 to 11 am                  Building a Positive Class Dynamic

Psychology professor Mary Lou Davies will define group dynamic and discuss its importance in teaching and learning effectiveness. She will also provide strategies on how to create a successful group dynamic in the class. Please note the earlier time of this workshop.

Workshop 2            Friday, February 4 / Wallin Hall Room 103

10 am to noon                  Learning Styles and Multi Modal Teaching

Individuals perceive and process information in very different ways. Coordinator of student accommodations, counseling, and support services Lita Clary will define different learning styles and discuss various methods of content delivery and classroom interaction designed to fulfill the needs of all learners.

Workshop 3            Friday, February 11 / Wallin Hall Room 103

10 am to noon                   Active Learning

Active learning refers to models of instruction that focus the responsibility of learning upon learners. Teaching professor Christy Ortiz will define active learning, discuss the benefits of this approach and provide information on how to develop active learning methods in teaching.

Workshop 4            Friday, February 18 / Wallin Hall Room 103

10 am to noon                   Developing Lecture Skills

Liberal arts professor Rebecca Weldon will discuss the performance aspect of classroom lecturing and share strategies and techniques that promote excellent lecturing skills.

Workshop 5            Friday, February 25 / Wallin Hall Room 103

10 am to noon                  Teaching with Technology

Sequential art professor Julie Collins will discuss teaching with computers and other forms of technology in the classroom. Her discussion will include how to use technology to maximize learning and how to prepare for the unique challenges technology presents.

Workshop 6            Friday, March 4 / Wallin Hall Room 103

Classroom Management and Resolving Behavior Problems

Good classroom management ensures that students remain focused on learning and avoid distracting behavior. Foundation studies professor Heather Szatmary, advertising professor Cherey Lott and director of student conduct, Cris Dykeman will discuss strategies for establishing effective classroom management and successful techniques for redirecting inappropriate behavior.

College Art Association            February 9-12 / Annual Conference, New York City, New York

This organization maintains a comprehensive listing of college teaching positions available in the United States and throughout the world. Their annual conference consists of seminars on art and teaching as well as interviews for teaching positions and professional development workshops. Membership dues are required to view the online list of available teaching positions, however SCAD students may do so for free by visiting the Office of Career Services. For further information, visit www.collegeart.org or contact careers@scad.edu

The Fall 2010 workshop topics and presenters were as follows:

Workshop 1 Friday, October 1 / Wallin Hall Room 106
10 a.m. to noon    Applying for College Teaching Positions
Sue Hinkin, dean of career placement, and foundation studies professors Marcia Neblett and John Harkins will discuss how to find and apply for college teaching positions. Current position listings from the College Art Association and the Chronicle of Higher Education will provide a basis for considering what to submit in a teaching application, how to prepare application materials and how to perform well during interviews.
Workshop 2 Friday, October 8 / Wallin Hall Room 106
10 a.m. to noon    Course Planning
Lita Clary, coordinator of student accommodations, counseling and support services, and foundation studies professor Gayle Fichtinger will discuss how to begin planning a course. The discussion will include information on identifying teaching and learning resources, establishing course goals and learning objectives, planning learning activities, content delivery and grading processes.
Workshop 3    Friday, October 15 / Wallin Hall Room 106
10 a.m. to noon    Writing a Syllabus and Teaching Philosophy Statement
The syllabus and statement of your teaching philosophy are integral parts of your teaching portfolio and are required for most college teaching positions. Director of innovative teaching and learning Linda Cirocco will discuss how to write a clear, thorough and well-organized syllabus and teaching statement. Participants are encouraged to draft these documents outside the workshop and contact Nan Rainey (nrainey@scad.edu) to request an individual consultation with a faculty who will read these documents and offer suggestions on further refining them.
Workshop 4    Friday, October 22 / Wallin Hall Room 106
10 a.m. to noon    Project Planning
Faculty will show examples of projects and discuss how to create an integrated series of in-class and out-of-class learning experiences that stimulate high levels of student interest, effort, and growth. Foundation studies professors Sharon McNeil and Karen Davies will discuss course planning for Drawing I and Two-Dimensional Design.
Workshop 5 Friday, October 29 / Wallin Hall Room 106
10 a.m. to noon    Learning Needs of First Year Students
Most teaching positions require some foundation level teaching. Understanding the unique learning needs of first year students is an important asset for new faculty. Chair of foundation studies Periklis Pagratis, drawing coordinator Stephen Gardner, design coordinator Scott Thorp, and professor Pernell Johnson will discuss first year challenges and share strategies for assisting students through the college acclimation process.
Workshop 6 Individual Consultations with Faculty (Date, Time, and Location Vary)
Faculty Review Your Syllabi and Teaching Philosophy Statements
As follow-up to Workshop 3, students who have written a syllabus and/or teaching statement are encouraged to contact Nan Rainey (nrainey@scad.edu) to request a private consultation with a faculty. The student and faculty will meet at a convenient time and location. The faculty will read the syllabus and teaching statement and provide suggestions on further refining them. Consultation requests may begin at any time. The deadline for scheduling a fall quarter consultation is Friday, November 5th.

The Spring 2010 workshop speakers included:
Dean of Undergraduate Studies Elizabeth Gaskin     Dean of Foundation Studies Maureen Garvin
Chair of Photography Jenny Kuhla     Foundation Studies Design Coordinator Scott Thorp
Foundation Studies Drawing Coordinator Stephen Gardner     Animation Professor Jacques Khouri
Film and Television Professor Michael Chaney     Foundation Studies Professor Gayle Fichtinger
Graphic Design Professor Joseph DiGioia     Interior Design Professor Khoi Vo
Psychology Professor Mary Lou Davis      Painting Professor Sandra Reed

Workshop 1    Friday, April 9 / Wallin Hall Room 102
9 to 11 am    Creative Thinking and Learning
Psychology professor Mary Lou Davis will discuss the cognitive processes involved in creative thinking and learning. Her discussion will provide a foundation for subsequent workshop discussions on how to assess these learning processes.

Workshop 2    Friday, April 16 / Wallin Hall Room 102
10 am to noon    Developing Grading Criteria
Chair of photography Jenny Kuhla will examine the essential relationship between establishing learning goals, sequencing learning events, and developing grading processes. She will define a grading rubric, explain its importance in contemporary education and discuss what to consider when developing clear, reasonable and thorough grading rubrics.

Workshop 3    Friday, April 23 / Wallin Hall Room 102
10 am to noon    Grading Practices
Film and television professor Michael Chaney and graphic design professor Joseph DiGioia will explain their grading techniques and discuss a broad range of issues related to grading that include late penalties, extra credit, effort, participation, re-do’s etc.

Workshop 4    Friday, April 30 / Wallin Hall Room 102
10 am to noon    Critique Strategies
Interior design professor Khoi Vo, foundation studies professor Gayle Fichtinger, and painting professor Sandra Reed will discuss techniques for conducting critiques. They will also offer strategies to increase student participation in the critique process and explain their methods for assessing critique participation.

Workshop 5    Friday, May 7 / Wallin Hall Room 102
10 am to noon    Competition in the Classroom
Animation professor Jacques Khouri, foundation studies design coordinator Scott Thorp and drawing coordinator Stephen Gardner, and will discuss the benefits and problems of competitive forces in the classroom and provide strategies for channeling competitive energy into motivation that inspires higher achievement for all.

Workshop 6    Friday, May 14 / Wallin Hall Room 102
10 am to noon    Maintaining Academic Integrity
Dean of Undergraduate Studies Elizabeth Gaskin and Dean of Foundation Studies Maureen Garvin will discuss the importance of maintaining academic integrity in grading. They will also discuss common violations of academic integrity, provide suggestions on how to detect dishonest work and explain how allegations are processed.