Getting to Know CTE--

Hello wonderful faculty and welcome back! After the year we’ve had, the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) feels we should reintroduce ourselves. Our mission and vision is to create a culture of faculty collaboration and teaching innovation that enhances student learning and empowers employees. In other words, we are here for you as you do the important work of supporting and educating our students.

At CTE, we are a team of faculty, administration, and staff who are dedicated to the craft of teaching. We have created a space that supports innovation and excellence in teaching--physically, virtually, and metaphorically (yep, you can tell we are teachers at heart because we love a good metaphor). We are here to collaborate, partner, and provide support when you need it. In our upcoming issues of CTE Connections, we will continue to highlight different aspects of CTE, so you can get to know us, and we can get to know you.

Our Work--CTE and You!

Faculty Quality Assurance System (FQAS)--Doing What We Can to Make the Process Easier for You

Throughout last year, the CTE team worked with other members of the FQAS Steering Committee to make adjustments and improvements to MATC’s previous requirements. It is our hope that these are the first steps in shifting FQAS and TAP into a supported pathway of meaningful professional development, rather than stagnant items to check off our “To Do” list. FQAS is a requirement, by law, of all Wisconsin Technical College System institutions and fulfills accreditation requirements of the Higher Learning Commission. We were able to work within these constraints to benefit faculty and our meaningful professional development approach; our work resulted in a decrease of 120 required hours in each cycle to 60 hours for post-probationary part-time and full-time faculty.

If you are in need a refresher on FQAS, please review the following:
Probationary FQAS Overview Video
Post-Probationary FQAS Overview Video
These videos can also be found under the FQAS tab in Sum Total. If you have any questions regarding your probationary or post-probationary status, please contact the Center for Teaching Excellence at cte@matc.edu

Teaching Action Plans

Over months of review utilizing Collaborative Decision Making and consultation with Local 212 leadership, the application of FQAS at MATC was streamlined to align the Teaching Action Plan (TAP) with other FQAS requirements.

As you know, all faculty, (Full Time and Part Time, probationary and post-probationary)  are required to participate in a Peer Coaching process through the Teaching Action Plan (TAP). At MATC we do it by setting up at least one S.M.A.R.T. goal, identifying a peer coach, and working with them throughout the year. The goal should be aligned to at least one of the Standards of Teaching Excellence.

Here’s what’s new about the TAP submission process:
1st semester (Fall 2021):
Make a copy of the NEW Teaching Action Plan (TAP) form, update it throughout the semester, and connect with a peer coach. 

  • Probationary faculty should work with their assigned Faculty Development Coach on creating a TAP for submission during the last year of their probation
  • Post-probationary faculty should work with their self-selected Peer Coach on setting up a goal and completing the TAP (annually for FT and once per 4-year cycle for PT)

No action in Sum Total is needed until second semester!
2nd semester (Spring 2022): 
Update your Teaching Action Plan throughout the semester, connect with your Peer Coach, and submit your completed TAP into SumTotal under your FQAS cycle.

Do you need to submit activities toward your FQAS hours? 

There’s a new look for the FQAS page in Sum Total that was designed to help you navigate the submission process. Submission of activity hours and the TAP will be located in the same place in Sum Total--under the FQAS button. Once there, follow the prompts for submission; if you get stuck, please contact CTE (cte@matc.edu) for help. CTE’s Faculty Development Coordinators will review your submission and connect with you. To help you keep track of your progress, you can submit your hours throughout the year rather than waiting until the end of the cycle. You will be able to view updated FQAS hours in Sum Total throughout your current cycle.

HyFlex Workshop Fall Schedule is Available

Are you scheduled, or considering teaching in the new HyFlex modality in the Spring term? The new HyFlex Workshop schedule is open with many workshop times available throughout the Fall term. Each workshop is limited to 10 seats, so don’t wait and sign-up soon!
For more information about the new HyFlex modality, and to sign-up for a HyFlex Workshop (FQAS hours apply), visit  the HyFlex Modality section of the CTE website.

21st Century Level 3 Cohort Workshop

Have you attained the 21st Century Levels 1 & 2 and want to take your courses to the next level? The 21st Century Level 3 Cohort Workshop can help! In two interactive sessions, faculty will examine and discuss advanced-level best practices, which can be implemented into all modalities of courses (face-to-face, online, etc.).

For more information about the 21st Century Levels, the Level 3 Cohort Workshop, and to sign-up for a workshop (FQAS hours apply), visit the 21st Century Classroom Resources section of the CTE Website. If you are unsure of your level, check with your Faculty Development Coach or email cte@matc.edu

Upcoming Professional Development (ZERD) Courses

The Center for Teaching Excellence oversees the development and implementation of faculty professional development opportunities. Our goal is to provide pedagogically-focused training  that concentrates on teaching strategies. Courses and workshops are student-centered, research-based, and designed in response to classroom and institutional needs. The list of Fall 2021 Professional Development (ZERD) Courses can be found here. All ZERD courses are free to MATC instructors!

Scholarship Opportunities for Professional Development

The Center for Teaching Excellence has limited funds for MATC full and part-time faculty to attend professional development events (conferences/ workshops/ webinars) related to student success and learning based on MATC Strategic Goals and Values (up to $200) or discipline-related conferences as a presenter (up to $500). To be awarded these funds please make a copy of the College-Sponsored Professional Development Agreement and email it to cte@matc.edu
Below are some upcoming opportunities that you may be interested in obtaining a scholarship to attend:

 

Keeping you posted--other MATC initiatives:

You have a lot to manage under the best of circumstances, and CTE recognizes that the current semester will require additional support as we continue to navigate the challenges of the pandemic together. Our goal with CTE Connections is to keep you informed, not only about CTE’s work, but to help you navigate other college-wide initiatives that directly impact faculty.

Yuja is MATC’s New Video Platform:

Yuja has now replaced Knowmia as MATC’s video platform. You can create or add videos, edit them, add captions, and use other features for your videos. 
To learn how to use Yuja, you can sign-up and attend live training sessions or review a previously recorded session on the Yuja Training Schedule.

To access Yuja, follow instructions on Getting Started with Yuja, which will guide you through setting-up Yuja, and using it.If you need help, Yuja has 24-hour support through the Yuja Help Center. Knowmia videos have been transferred to Yuja. If you do not see a video previously located in Knowmia, please contact Online Learning at onlinelearning@matc.edu.

Career Essential Update:

In Spring 2021 a group of faculty was asked by the Assessment Department to look at the current state of Career Essentials rubrics and indicators. This team conducted a survey about the present implementation of Career Essentials, and looked at what works, what doesn't work, and what needs to be changed. 53 MATC programs participated! The results of the survey and team's discussion led to a proposal for changes in our Career Essentials requirements and process. 
In the recent Online News You Can Use newsletter from our Online Learning Department it was announced that, "Per the feedback from faculty and the faculty-driven Student Learning Assessment Task Force, MATC’s Career Essentials rubrics have been updated to reflect a 100% grading scale with a “Not Demonstrated” level. This change is intended to improve the consistency of scoring student performance with the rubric. To use a new rubric in your Career Essential Assessments, see these instructions. Only the rubrics have been updated; the overall Career Essentials Assessment setup process and procedure have not changed.”
In addition, the Student Learning Assessment task force proposed to change the number of required Career Essentials, as well as the process of collecting artifacts. This Fall the task force would like to meet with as many MATC faculty as possible to present the proposed changes and to gather faculty's feedback before finalizing them and reviewing/revising rubrics and indicators in the Spring 2022. The anticipated date for launching Career Essentials changes is Fall 2022 (the next academic year). Stay tuned for the invitations to attend these discussions later this semester.

Stormer Connect Faculty Mentoring will begin this Fall at MATC:

Because faculty play a key role in student engagement, retention and satisfaction, a new program called Stormer Connect Faculty Mentoring will be available to students this fall.  With this in mind, faculty will have an opportunity to serve as a mentor should they be approached by a student. This is an exciting opportunity for students to take initiative, to select a faculty mentor and engage in meaningful conversations with a mentor. 

All full-time faculty are designated as mentors and part-time faculty can choose to mentor as well.  Faculty can designate their availability using the feature in EAB Navigate.  Next steps, faculty will complete the Stormer Connect Faculty Mentoring Sum Total Training.  For more information please visit the Stormer Connect Faculty Mentoring webpage.

MATC Curriculum Department has updated a Lead Faculty Advisory Committee Training video:

The Curriculum Department would like to invite you to be a part of a Live viewing session to understand the procedures and processes, roles and responsibilities of conducting Advisory Committee Meetings.The Advisory Coordinator will be available to answer questions after the video is viewed. Sessions will be held weekly throughout September at various times. We look forward to seeing you! To sign up, please use this link.
Upcoming Fall 2021 Lead Faculty Advisory Training dates:
Thur September 9, 2021 11:00am, Mon September 13, 2021 8:30am, Wed September 15, 2021 1:00pm, Tue September 21, 2021 11:00am, Thur September 23, 2021 4:00pm, Friday October 1, 2021 9:00am
For more information, please visit the MATC Curriculum Department’s website or email wilksf@matc.edu

Second Latino Economic Unsummit--MATC Discounted Rate with Code

The MATC Hispanic Serving Initiative Committee cordially invites you to attend the Second Latino Economic Unsummit on Friday, September 24 in Milwaukee. This groundbreaking event will focus on economic recovery after the pandemic. Use code MATC2021 and your MATC email address during registration for a discounted rate.

Bilingual Part-Time HSI Faculty Lead (Cross-Functional Team)

The Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Task Force is looking for Bilingual Faculty to lead the HSI initiative in each Pathway as a Cross-Functional Team focusing on key bilingual functions including the design and development of bilingual courses/programs, training, curriculum, tutoring services, and follow up with advisors, retention coaches, and student specialists. Further details can be found in the job description. Below is the hiring timeline and submission guidelines:

  • Length of the posting: 1 week (Sept 8th-Sept. 15th
  • Start application reviews on Sept. 16th.
  • Interviews between Sept 19th-24th
  • Hiring expected dates: Sept. 27th
  • Submit to: Dr. Wilma L. Bonaparte (bonaparw@matc.edu)

Self-Service Attendance How-To Document

If you need help, inputting attendance into Self-Service, please see Entering Present/Absent Attendance Hours in Self-Service for Faculty.

Research and Best Practices

Part of CTE’s mission is to keep you informed about current best practices and pedagogical approaches. Each week we will provide information that is meant to be engaging, thought-provoking, and applicable to various classroom environments. We hope you will “geek out” with us about our profession--enjoy the rabbit hole!

This article shares recommendations for how to design and teach in hybrid environments—including some helpful dos and don’ts and a sample assessment approach.
This article includes strategies for how educators can effectively lead challenging classroom conversations, plus specific examples of what to say to students at particular moments in class.
This video considers current research regarding learning styles and creates a new perspective regarding a common myth. 

Milwaukee Area Technical College
The Center for Teaching Excellence

cte@matc.edu

CTE Website

 

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