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Director's Corner
CTLO started in fall of 2012, and we've been delighted to work with over 150 Caltech faculty in our first two years of existence!
Typical collaborations with you have included:
- Designing ways to meet your goals for student learning or classroom climate and interaction, based on the research on teaching in your field.
- Deploying custom student feedback strategies for your course: e.g., mid-quarter surveys, strategies for getting the most out of Course Ombudspeople meetings.
- Observing lectures, labs, or recitations, with optional video recording.
- Specialized training or practice for TAs in your course, so their teaching accomplishes your goals.
- Implementing new technology or tools in your courses or options.
What other questions and ideas do you have about teaching at Caltech? I'd be delighted to hear from you or work with you on upcoming courses and projects. Please reach out any time: cvh@caltech.edu, x6225.
-- Cassandra Horii, CTLO Director
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Meet Program Manager, Dr. Holly Ferguson!
Holly joined CTLO in the fall and brings deep expertise in educational psychology, educational technology, and instructor development. Day-to-day, you might find Holly working with a professor on a new MOOC or the iPad app SKIES, meeting with new and experienced TAs to support their work in recitations and labs, exploring emerging techniques and technologies, and leading workshops for Caltech instructors.
One of the undergraduate initiatives Holly assists with is the Course Ombuds program. Twice every quarter, Ombuds from across the Institute gather at CTLO to discuss the role of the Ombud, how to reach out to fellow students for course feedback, and how to set up meetings and dialogue with professors and TAs about course concerns.
For more information on any of the programs mentioned above, please contact Holly any time!
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Here's the Word on the Street:
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"Having an expert on teaching visit my class, record a video of me teaching, and discuss ways to improve was incredibly valuable. Everyone should take advantage of this service."
- Erik Snowberg, Prof. of Economics & Political Science
"Preparing my first MOOC, Pricing Options with Mathematical Models, took a lot of time. However, it was made as painless as possible by the fantastic help from the staff of the Caltech Center for Teaching, Learning and Outreach. Without [their] great support on the course organization, working with the edX platform, advice on appropriate educational approach, and more, it wouldn’t have been possible to prepare my MOOC successfully."
- Jaksa Cvitanic, Prof. of Mathematical Finance
"[CTLO staff] were a tremendous help in putting together a good 'broader impacts' section for our MRI proposal to the NSF for the new cryo-EM."
- Grant Jensen, Prof. of Biology & HHMI Investigator
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CTLO:
We Are Here For YOU!
We can work with you, your course, or your department on all aspects of teaching and learning, such as:
- strategies, from traditional to those that incorporate new methods or technologies
- grading & assessment practices
- classroom observations/recordings & feedback
- mid-quarter/end-of-quarter student surveys and focus groups
Please contact us at (626) 395-8427 (main number) or (626) 395-6225 (Director, Cassandra Horii) for more information, email ctlo@caltech.edu, or stop by the 3rd Floor of the Center for Student Services (Building #86).
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