Workshop

Module 03 Discussion 01

At ATU-Ozark, the Office of Academic Affairs has been working on establishing a PLC that we are calling the Tech Learning Community (TLC). This community has a purpose to foster collaborative lesson planning and resource sharing, peer observation and feedback, professional development with workshops and seminars, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and encouraging refelctive practice. By leveraging the expertise and experiences of colleagues, instructors can design more engaging and effective lessons tailored to meet the diverse needs of students, resulting in improved learning experiences and outcomes. Similarly, actively seeking feedback and implementing evidence-based instructional practices, instructors can enhance their teaching effectiveness, leading to enhanced student engagement and understanding. Through providing opportunities for continuous learning and growth, these activities empower instructors to enhance their instructional skills, resulting in improved student learning outcomes. This collaborative environment promotes creativity, innovation, and a broader understanding of the real-world applications of technical knowledge, benefiting students who can develop a more comprehensive and interdisciplinary understanding of their field. Finally, the TLC seeks to establish a community that integrates reflection into teaching that will aid instructors with making data-informed decisions, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing evidence-based instructional strategies -- leading to more effective and targeted instruction for students.

We use time during our semester professional development to implement TLCs but are working toward adding TLCs throughout the semester. Some of the workshops we have had so far have covered topics such as: essential study skills, classroom managment, how to build and use rubrics, and online learning.