"Teaching scholarship" should not be confused with teaching. Central to teaching as scholarship is the continuous involvement of the faculty in not only the study of a discipline's content but also pedagogy and curriculum relevant to the discipline. This active cycle of inquiry, engagement, and reflection turns teaching into scholarship. The New College at California State University, Fresno is a center for faculty scholarship leading to innovations in teaching and assessment practices that improve learning for students.
Campus-wide, concern has been expressed about student "disengagement"-from their classes and from the university community. Faculty members are particularly encouraged, therefore, to explore changes in instruction which foster more active student involvement in the learning process and support the development of communities of learners within their classes.
The New College for Instructional Innovation will support faculty development of courses featuring innovations in pedagogical approaches and/or new approaches to assessing student learning, by providing 3 WTU of assigned time during the 2003-2004 academic year or a $2,500 summer stipend. Interdisciplinary proposals are encouraged.
These awards will be used to develop new, innovative courses or modify existing courses to be offered during Spring of 2004 or the 2004-2005 academic year. Pedagogical innovation is a natural next step for faculty who have participated in Partnerships for Instructional Innovation, and these faculty members are encouraged to consider which of their discoveries can be parlayed into innovations.
Available resources to assist faculty in proposal and course development include the services of the Center for Enhancement of Teaching and Learning and of CETL Associate, Fraka Harmsen, who will assist faculty in developing and carrying out their assessment plans. Opportunities will be provided for award recipients to meet together to discuss their projects.
Faculty receiving awards will be required to share the results
of their work with the campus community by submitting a final
report for online publication and presenting the results of their
work at the annual Conference on Excellence in Teaching and Learning.
An additional venue for publication is the California State University
online journal, "Exchanges," at http://www.exchangesjournal.org/.
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