Exploring Excellence in Teaching Week Feb. 28-March 3 to Feature Talented UA Professors

Exploring Excellence in Teaching Week will be held on campus Monday, Feb. 28-Thursday, March 3 and will feature talented UA faculty members, many of whom have received the UA Alumni Association's Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award. Among the award-winning presenters are Dr. Rona Donahoe and Dr. Gary Taylor. They will share their experience and expertise with others on campus. See the complete schedule on page 2 and the website at www.teaching.ua.edu. For more information on EETW, contact Dr. John Dew, Office of Continuous Quality Improvement and Planning at 348-9831.

The program includes 10 presentations for and by faculty on effective teaching practices, evaluation of learning outcomes, use of electronic student portfolios, and the University's Active and Collaborative Grant program. Presentations will include faculty from a variety of colleges; all sessions will be held in the Ferguson Forum, 360 Ferguson Center.

Donahoe will discuss "Interactive Learning: A Critical Tool for Teaching Science" on Wednesday, March 2, at 3 p.m. An associate professor of geological sciences, she was a 2003 recipient of the Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award. Donahoe will share some of her innovative methods to teach abstract concepts, to reach both science and non-science majors, and to make class time meaningful and relevant to the world around all students.

In teaching non-science majors Donahoe will explain how she uses 'hot' topics in the headlines to generate student interest and reinforce lecture topics. For example, the recent devastating Sumatra earthquake and tsunami are stunning examples of subduction zone earthquakes and the destructive power of the resulting tsunamis, she says. She also cites other recent headlines such as the renewal of volcanic activity at Mount St. Helens in Washington.

Taylor, associate professor of accounting and director of the Garner Center for Current Accounting Issues, will present "Using Group Discussion to Promote Active Learning," at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 2. Taylor plans demonstrate his use of the Case Method in teaching by making his presentation "the way I do it in class."

Taylor won the 2003 OCTA award for teaching an undergraduate course, intermediate accounting. One key premise of teaching and the case method is that all teaching and learning involve a core of universally applicable principles that can be discerned and absorbed through the study and discussion of cases. A case can be used to present open-ended problems and business decision situations. Teams of students must analyze the problem presented by the case, and develop a solution. They present their results to the class, and must be prepared to defend their analysis.

The Exploring Excellence in Teaching Week schedule follows:

Monday, Feb. 28:

2 p.m. — Dr. Amilcar Shabazz, African-American Studies, A&S, 2001 OCTA Recipient, "Language Matters: Teaching New Worlds/New Words/New Ways"
3 p.m. — Dr. Joyce Stallworth, Dr. Liza Wilson, and Dr. Vivian Wright, Education, "Using Electronic Student Portfolios for Student Learning Outcomes"

Tuesday, March 1:

2 p.m. — Dr. Joseph Neggers, math department, A&S, 2002 OCTA Recipient, "Make it Look Easy, but Tell Them it's Hard"
3 p.m. — Dr. Silas Blackstock, chemistry department, A&S, 2001 OCTA Recipient, "Effective Classroom Teaching — Some Techniques That Have Worked for Me ... (and some that have not)"

Wednesday, March 2:

10 a.m. — Dr. Gary Taylor, accounting, C&BA, 2003 OCTA Recipient, "Using Group Discussion to Promote Active Learning"
2 p.m. — Dr. Hank Lazer, associate vice president, Academic Affairs, Dr. Kirk Summers, modern language and classics, A&S, "Tapping into UA's Active and Collaborative Learning Grants"
3 p.m. — Dr. Rona Donahoe, geology department, A&S, 2003 OCTA Recipient, "Interactive Learning: A Critical Tool for Teaching Science"

Thursday, March 3:

10 a.m. — Dr. Melondie Carter, Nursing, 2000 OCTA Recipient, "Motivating Students to Excel"
2 p.m. — Dr. Robert Olin, A&S, "Becoming a Learning Centered College"
3 p.m. — Dr. Joyce Stallworth and Ms. Rebecca Ballard, Education, "Assessing Student Learning Outcomes"
4 p.m. — Closing Reception, all speakers and participants are invited.

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