Statement from the Director
The University of Southern California (USC) Center for Excellence in Teaching (CET) serves to provide a forum for faculty and student discussions on topics of teaching and learning at a research university such as USC. Teaching and learning practices at many universities have undergone a recent shift toward learner-centered practices and related assessment to better evaluate the learning of students. USC has embraced this change through its recent mission statement and CET has, in response, expanded its university-wide programs consistent with this vision.
Examples include the following:
University-Wide Programs and Faculty Forums
Since its inception, CET has offered workshops and other university-wide events. Recent and upcoming forums focus on learning and teaching. Recent past offerings include a range of university-wide events including:
- “What Learning Disabilities Can Teach Us about Learning and Instruction”
- “Blogging for Teaching and Learning”
- “Distance Learning: Engaging all Students”
All of these offerings, among many, are videotaped and accessible on the CET website. We have also continued to conduct university-wide teaching assistant (TA) training twice a year.
Graduate Student Preparation for an Academic Career
We are very proud of our Future Professoriate Program (GRSC 850ab), a highly selective, year-long, inter-disciplinary program that prepares advanced doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows for a career in academia. Through a series of CET programs, the students are exposed to a variety of relevant topics, including:
- Developing a CV
- Writing a teaching philosophy
- Articulating a research statement
- Preparing for academic interviews
- Negotiating an academic job offer
Additionally, the program focuses on skills and theories of learning to enhance students’ teaching abilities. The students are engaged and, in many ways own the program. Hence, it is also very much “learner-centered”.
Teaching Assistant Fellows Program
Initiated in 2006, this initiative was an immediate success. CET sought current outstanding TAs from across USC to aid graduate teaching assistants in their ability to teach and meet expectations in their role as a TA. TA fellows are working on a range of media for TA training and correspondence, including wikis and blogs, with online instructional videos. It is wonderful to see this become very much student driven.
Undergraduate Fellows
Initiated in 2006, this new program is likely to become our proudest. Also highly selective, CET sought undergraduates with leadership potential and willingness to advise CET on its mission, with particular reference to the quality of undergraduate teaching and learning and student/faculty interactions. It is the first undergraduate-inspired and peer-led organization of its kind at USC. In the spirit of USC’s mission, this project quickly became “learner centered” and the outcomes continue to exceed all expectations.
Sincerely,
J. Lawford Anderson
Director of CET
Professor of Earth Sciences