August

New name, same excellence in teaching

The Center for Faculty Excellence is now the Center for Teaching, Learning and Design.

By Cory Phare

August 7, 2018

There’s a new name for the place to talk about good teaching on the Metropolitan State University of Denver campus.

Combining on-demand, proactive and consulting services for faculty members, the Center for Teaching, Learning and Design takes the place of the Center for Faculty Excellence to promote “instructional methods that increase equity, engagement and success for both students and faculty at all levels of experience, in all course formats,” according to the center’s vision statement.

The move integrates the Instructional Design Team, which became a part of the center last academic year, ensuring that discussions around excellence can extend to all forms of teaching. Faculty members benefit from support that includes ELITE certification, course development and the signature Teaching and Learning With Technology Symposium taking place Oct. 5 ; Faculty Learning Communities and various workshops are offered throughout the year, too.

The CTLD is also focused on the structural components of pedagogy across all delivery channels, said Jeff Loats, Ph.D., director of the center.

“Whether online or face-to-face, we ask what makes a good class,” he said. “That consists of elements like discussion, formative assessments, active learning and effective use of technology. Good courses share a lot of design and implementation elements, regardless of content.”

Loats also pointed out that the previous teams aren’t gone; rather, they’re working together to continue building a responsive resource for MSU Denver’s faculty with their new identity.

“From our green-screen studio to the new online-course fee, there’s excitement around a lot of purpose-driven things we’re doing,” Loats said. “Ultimately, we want to work with faculty members to improve the student experience and retention.

“And if you want to talk about good teaching of any kind, this is the place to go.”