The University of Findlay - Conference Description

Teaching, Learning and Technology Centers/Centers For Teaching Excellence (hereafter referred to as TLTCs/CTEs) often serve an amorphous purpose. Some cite as their goal to help faculty use technology more productively in the classroom while others serve as a center to strengthen faculty scholarship and teaching or as a center for faculty and students to collaborate on digital projects. Still others aim to strengthen university and community relations via technology outreach and grants.

For our second biennial conference, the theme attempts to provide a "snapshot" of the overlapping boundaries of faculty support centers on campuses. While some campuses have a separate Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) and a Teaching, Learning, and Technology Center (TLTC), others have a hybrid model that supports not only teaching and learning with technology efforts by faculty and students, but also faculty scholarship, grant writing, and tenure and promotion dossier assistance.

The conference presentations will visit the following questions:

1). How has your TLTC/CTE changed over the past few years?
A presentation might explore questions such as "What is the current mission of your center?" How has this mission changed? How has this change affected staffing needs, location, services offered, web presence, etc.? Does your Center offer all types of faculty support in the areas of teaching, scholarship, grant writing, technology use, etc., or just one or two key areas?

2). What are one or two of your signature programs?
A presentation might explore questions such as which programs offered by your Center are most successful? Why? Whom do these programs serve (faculty, staff, students, administrators, the community)? What suggestions can you offer to other Centers looking for new programs? What makes your program(s) unique? Are you working with open source solutions, digital rights management, and/or technological forecasting?

3). What types of "Web 2.0" technologies does your Center support in programs or workshops?
A presentation might explore questions such as what new technologies are faculty, staff, and students now using that require Center support (these might include chat tools such as Elluminate, podcasting, video and audio editing, blogs and wikis, etc.). How are these technologies purchased (i.e. through the institution or grant funding)?

4). What types of learning communities does your Center support?
A presentation might explore the types and range of learning communities offered, faculty/staff served by these communities, and the Center’s overall role in arranging meetings, supplying meeting space, and/or overseeing these communities. How are groups formed (by direction of the Center, faculty/staff requests, etc.)?