Teaching Certificate I Program: The Sheridan Teaching Seminar Lectures
The Sheridan Teaching Seminar is a series of five lectures designed to showcase the elements of a "Reflective Teaching Practice" - how thoughtful teachers think about, plan, implement and continually develop their teaching. The lectures are open to the entire Brown and RISD teaching community.
Lecture 1
"Tales from the Classroom: Developing a Reflective Teaching Practice"
The 2010-11 Sheridan Teaching Seminar lecture series begins with "Tales from the Classroom: Developing a Reflective Teaching Practice" given by Professors Andrew Campbell (Dept of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology), Victoria Smith (Hispanic Studies), and Jan Baker (RISD- Graphic Design). In this lecture, three honored faculty discuss the development of their teaching practice and how they continue to reflect upon it as teachers, scholars and professionals. Andrew Campbell and Victoria Smith are both awardees of the 2010 Harriet W. Sheridan Award for Distinguished Contribution to Teaching and Learning, and Jan Baker is a recipient of the RISD Provost’s Faculty Award for Professional Advancement in Teaching. Registration will start at 5:00 PM in lower Salomon outside the lecture hall.
“Setting the Stage for Learning: Reflective Development of a Course - The Syllabus”
The second lecture of the Sheridan Teaching Seminar, given by Professors Jan Tullis (Geological Sciences) and Laura Snyder (Education), considers the development of a course syllabus- what skills and core knowledge do instructors want their students to attain? The lecture will provide an overview of how to articulate course goals and objectives to achieve successful learning outcomes, and the audience will learn about the elements of effective syllabus construction and clear frameworks and strategies in developing courses.
Lecture 3
“Cognitive Diversity in the Classroom: Teaching to Different Learning Styles”
The third lecture of the Sheridan Teaching Seminar series will address the importance of recognizing cognitive diversity in the classroom. Prof Kathy Takayama (Sheridan Center) will discuss how inclusive teaching engages learners by teaching to different learning styles. Catherine Axe from Disability Support Services will discuss how we can provide support and accommodations for students with learning disabilities.
Lecture 4
“Grading and Evaluation: How Well Are Your Students Learning?”
The fourth lecture of the Sheridan Teaching Seminar Series addresses assessment FOR student learning. In this session, Professors Luther Spoehr and Maureen Sigler from Education will discuss the goals of assessment, the importance of clear standards for grading, and how cognitive taxonomies can scaffold students learning and serve as the basis for developing rubrics for assessment.
Lecture 5
“Teaching as Persuasive Communication”
The 5th and final lecture of the Sheridan Teaching Seminar will be given by Prof Nancy Dunbar on “Teaching as Persuasive Communication.” Teachers are primarily communicators, and reflection on rhetorical practices promotes better engagement and communication with students.