UL appointed co-chair to Provost’s task force on teaching and learning

I’m pleased to say that I’ve been appointed to co-chair the new Provost’s task force on teaching and learning.  The mandate, which is below, is quite broad and has potential to have a significant impact at our institution.   Watch this space for more information as we move forward with the work of the task force!

TASK FORCE ON TEACHING AND LEARNING 

Context
Recognized as one of Canada’s most innovative and most research intensive universities, McMaster has a long standing record of excellence in teaching and learning.  The “McMaster model”, a student-centred, problem-based, interdisciplinary approach to learning has been adopted by universities around the world.  As one of the top 100 universities in the world McMaster University is graduating students who will become the  leaders of tomorrow. 

However, we cannot afford to rest on our past success, hoping that the McMaster name alone will  propel us into the future.  McMaster is not unique among Canadian universities in the challenges it faces  including competition:  for students, for faculty and for the financial resources needed to excel.

It is therefore timely that we re-examine the effectiveness of teaching and learning practices across the university as a whole.  We must take stock of our current strengths and weaknesses, identify the ‘ideal’ teaching and learning environment we would like to develop at McMaster, and devise strategies and directions to help us achieve that ideal.    

Our current environment offers many opportunities for such self-examination and growth – we have many new leaders to help direct and implement change including a new Provost, new Deans of Engineering and Graduate Studies, a new VP research, new Teaching Professors and new directions for our library system.   We also face many challenges at McMaster including the enhancement of effective teaching and learning practices during a period of growing student enrollments and severe budget constraints.  

The Provost’s Task Force on Teaching and Learning (TOTAL) will explore and develop  new strategies and approaches to teaching and learning that will enable McMaster to  “move beyond it’s current position among the more innovative universities in Canada …(and).. take its place on the world stage as one of the most important centers for the creation of new knowledge” (capital campaign video)

Terms of Reference

The Task Force on Teaching and Learning has  been charged by the Provost with the following four goals:

1)      Documentation of the Current State:  Where are we now?

a.      Gather data and analyze current factors that have an impact on effective teaching and learning at McMaster

b.      Identify current and emerging best practices and strategies that support student and instructor success

 

2)      Identification of the Ideal Future State:  Where should we be?

           a.      Analyze emerging issues and explore desired future state

3)      Design Strategies: How do we get there?

a.      Recommend ways in which we can enhance the quality of teaching and learning at the undergraduate and graduate levels,

b.      Develop a culture of scholarship in teaching and learning

c.       Develop a culture of innovation

            4)      Implement, Evaluate and Disseminate  

Themes

Throughout this process the task force will organize along the following cross-cutting themes:

Theme 1:   The Student Focused Organization (defined learning outcomes, policies on teaching excellence, technology, advising/writing/tutors, disability services, honors, internships, international)

 

Theme 2:  Effective Teaching Organization (rewards, recognition, support for teaching, integration of research/teaching, etc)

 

Theme 3:  The Supportive Organization (administrative structure, budget reflects teaching/learning priorities, data collection/access, policies/procedures that support teaching/learning, governance, etc)

 

Theme 4:  The Future Focused Organization (planning for the future, assessment/evaluation, IT planning, physical campus, development)

 

Theme 5:  The Engaged Organization (partnerships, Hamilton/Burlington community, etc)

 

Timeline

Our timeline includes both short-term  and long-term goals and deliverables.

Throughout the process the task force will communicate with the campus through interviews, surveys and focus groups.  A task force website will provide up-to-the-minute information regarding the process.  The task force will also communicate updates through the Daily News.

November 2007 – Provost commissions task force

November – December 2007 – Task force members meet to plan process

Phase I:  Current State:  Part one, structural/organizational

January – February 2008 – Identify data needs

March – April 2008 - Gather data (including SWOT analysis) including

-          Structure/organization

-          Physical (classrooms, IT)

Phase II:  Current State:  Part two, strategies/best practices (at McMaster)

March - May 2008 – gather data on best practices and strategies at McMaster

-          Student issues (content, skills, abilities, )

-          Faculty issues (development, recognition, innovation)

May – June 2008 – Summarize data and draft first interim report for Provost

 

Phase III:  Future State

June - August 2008 – Committee conducts audit of best practices

June – August 2008 - Site visits, on campus consultants/speakers

August - September 2008 – Summarize data and draft second interim report for Provost

September 2008 – First town hall – release findings of current and future state

 

Phase IV:  Strategies and best practices

September -  December 2008 – draft recommendations for strategies to address gaps/needs/new initiatives

January – February 2009 – Summarize data and draft third interim report for Provost

 

            Phase V:  Implementation, evaluation and dissemination

Implementation, evaluation and dissemination will occur at different stages throughout the review.  The task force will make some recommendations quickly to address immediate needs.  Other recommendations will require longer term planning and implementation.

Membership

The Task Force on Teaching and Learning consists of faculty representatives from each of the faculties, the libraries, Centre for Student Development, Center for Leadership in Learning,; graduate students, and undergraduate students.

1.       Co-chairs: 

a.       Dr. Carolyn Eyles, Faculty of Science

b.      Jeffrey Trzeciak, University Librarian

 

2.      One full-time faculty member from each of the six faculties at McMaster including a minimum of one of the new teaching professor positions:

a.       Social Sciences:  Sue Vajoczki  

b.      Humanities:  Alexandre Sevigny

c.       Health Sciences:  Geoff Norman

d.      Engineering: Yaser Haddara

e.       Business:  Milena Head

f.       Science:  Doug Boreham

 

3.      One full-time librarian

a.       Karen Nicholson

 

4.      One staff member from CLL and CSD

a.       CLL:  Erika Kustra

b.      CSD:  Peter Walsh

 

5.      Two students representing undergraduate and graduates:

a.       Arati Sharma, VP MSU

b.      Ryan Kealy, Graduate student