CTLR provides individual consultations, departmental workshops, and group workshops on instructional skills and strategies for all faculty.
New faculty at VCC can get support with this brief overview of foundational strategies and resources to create a successful learning experience for your students.
Each year, CTLR offers at least one “Orientation to Teaching at VCC” workshop.
Here are samples from recent workshops:
- VCC Strategic Innovation Plan – understand the values guiding VCC and strategic priorities related to teaching;
- Educational policies like copyright, academic integrity, students with disabilities, and student non-academic conduct related to the classroom;
- Official program content guide and course outlines – check with your department leader. Make sure your course syllabus aligns with the official course outline;
- Online Classroom Agreement
- The Top 10 Moodle Skills You Need To Know
- Introduction to Moodle (self-paced course)
“Backwards design” is a three-step process for course design that starts by identifying what students should be able to know or do (desired learning outcomes) at the end of the course, and then aligning assessments and learning activities to ensure students reach those outcomes. Course design does not start from “content” or “topics”. See links below to use it in planning your own course.
Bloom’s taxonomy is a key educational theory used to define levels of learning goals within the three domains of learning: cognitive, affective and psychomotor. It also guides the design of assessments that will accurately measure achievement of those learning goals, and the learning activities that help students reach those learning goals. Make sure your students are aware of the learning objectives for each lesson.
More resources on Bloom’s taxonomy and writing learning objectives:
- Bloom’s taxonomy learning activities and assessments (University of Waterloo)
- VideoScribe – Writing Learning Objectives
- Writing Good Learning Outcomes (self-paced course from CTLR)
A well-designed syllabus gives students a clear understanding of your expectations, what they can expect of you and a road map for the course. Your course syllabus should align with the official course outline in terms of course description, evaluation plan and topics; and with department standards. Use the syllabus checklist or accessible Word document below to create yours.