Results of the Faculty & Staff Professional Development Needs-Assessment Survey Jennifer C. Merriam The Center for Teaching and Learning March 13, 2006 Outline • Why a Center for Teaching and Learning? • What is the Center for Teaching and Learning? • Results of The Survey • Next Steps Why a Center for Teaching and Learning? • Student-learning is more central than ever to our view of success as educators • We must prepare diverse students, for a wide-range of opportunities, all in a short time period • Despite our tremendous talents, our dedicated efforts as individuals often fall short of meeting the needs of our students-we need time to reflect, refine & renew • We need a campus-wide, systematic approach to professional development! Why a Center for Teaching and Learning? • The Strategic Plan 2005-2010 supports a more effective approach to professional development • Based on recommendations from – Middle States Accreditation Review – SUNY Mission Review I • SUNY Faculty Development Initiative recommends each campus establish a CTL Mission of the Center for Teaching and Learning To foster excellence in teaching and learning for the SUNY Orange community through programs, services, and resources in order to: – Enrich student learning and success – Enhance effective teaching methods and practices – Promote collegiality and collaboration – Encourage community connections – Develop technological competence and creativity – Support curriculum development The Center for Teaching and Learning To foster excellence in teaching and learning for the SUNY Orange community through programs, services, and resources in order to: – Enrich student learning and success – Enhance effective teaching methods and practices – Promote collegiality and collaboration – Encourage community connections – Develop technological competence and creativity – Support curriculum development The Survey • Background Questions • Asked to rate interest for: – Teaching and Learning Topics – General Topics – Technology Topics – Types of Activities – Time Preferences (n/a, none, some, great, would like to know more) Results-Background Questions Results-Background Questions Top 5 Teaching and Learning Topics • Developing students’ critical thinking skills • Motivating the community college student • Increasing student engagement • Using technology to enhance learning • Teaching strategies for adult learners General Topics • Health & wellness • Managing conflict • Stress management • Time management • Marketing your program Technology Topics • PowerPoint • Operating a digital camera • Excel • Publisher • Operating a scanner Activities • Structured discussions with colleagues • Informal discussions with colleagues • Interactive workshops • Demonstrations • Individual consultation with the CTL Great Interest and Widely Applicable Time Preferences • Tuesdays & Thursdays were preferred • Events will be offered at multiple times Next Steps • Review with CTL Taskforce • Focus-groups • Planning of events Thank you! • Other ideas? – Email me at Jmerriam@sunyorange.edu, – call 341-4178 More data… • The following slides have more information about the results of the survey Ranked Teaching and Learning Topics • Developing students’ critical thinking skills • Motivating the community college student • Increasing student engagement • Using technology to enhance learning • Teaching strategies for adult learners • Developing students’ creativity • Collaborative / cooperative learning • Developing students’ confidence • Using Blackboard for web-enhanced courses • Addressing diverse learning needs • Student Advising • Student learning styles/multiple intelligences • Active learning strategies • Self-assessing teaching skills • Handling unproductive students • Questioning techniques • Creating effective group assignments for students • Mentoring new faculty • Using assessment to enhance learning • Writing across the curriculum (paired courses) • Brain-based learning: research and instructional strategies Ranked Teaching and Learning Topics Ranked General Topics • Health & wellness • Managing conflict • Stress management • Time management • Marketing your program • Leadership skills • How to recruit students • Running an effective meeting • Campus’s environmental responsibility (ex. EPA information for proper disposal) Ranked Technology Topics • PowerPoint • Operating a digital camera • Excel • Publisher • Operating a scanner • Word • Access • Internet Explorer • HTML • Outlook Ranked Activities • Structured discussions with colleagues • Informal discussions with colleagues • Interactive workshops • Demonstrations • Individual consultation with the CTL • Web-based course • Teaching/reading circles/clubs • Learning communities • College-wide forums • Classroom observations with feedback • Retreats (1-3 days) • List-serve discussion groups