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ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN DURING 2004-2005

SUBJECT DEPARTMENTS SET CRITERIA FOR ASSESSING THE SCHOLARSHIP OF TEACHING AND LEARNING

On February 26, 2003, President Moore endorsed the Statement on Scholarship passed by the College Senate on December 14, 2002. This policy provides parity among the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoT&L) and other forms of scholarship.

The CASTL advisory committee provided the impetus for this change, but it came to fruition through the efforts and determination of the College Senate and the Academic Council. These groups continued to collaborate on the implementation of this policy during 2004 and 2005. CASTL Advisory Committee members acting as subject department liaisons, met with chairs to discuss the benefits of the scholarship in teaching and learning. CASTL advisory committee members participated in training sessions and provide consultation with departments as they implement their revised policies on scholarship. 

'CORE MEMBER' ACTIVITIES

We continue our collaboration with a cluster of ten institutions across the country that are interested in "Organizing to Foster the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning".

The work of this cluster is described at http://www.cfkeep.org/html/snapshot.php?id=9244212.

Representatives from campuses in this cluster met in Utah in July to coordinate their efforts. Dr. Scott Johnson represented Buffalo State College at this meeting. Institutions met again at the CASTL Colloquium in March. Scott Johnson made a presentation at this meeting to share our experiences of integrating SoT&L into the campus culture.

WORKSHOPS

The Buffalo State Faculty and Staff attended a symposium on April 18th.  The featured speakers were John Habel, Western Carolina University, who presented "The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning and Departmental Goals." Gary Solar spoke on Research as Pedagogy, and Susan Leist spoke on Writing as Pedagogy.  The latest research on improving student learning was discussed by presenters and participants. 


Gloria Eastman presented the results of her SOTL research conducted during her 2004-2005 CASTL Fellowship on Assessment.
INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Two papers, “Organizing a Campus to Support the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning” and “Fellowship Programs the Promote Faculty Change and Student Learning”were presented by Buffalo State Faculty at the first International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (IS-SOTL) meeting at Indiana University in October. 

Buffalo State also participated in the 5th Annual International Conference on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SOTL) at the Goodenough College in London in May 2005. Cheryl Albers presented a paper“Revising Policy to Recognize Diverse Forms of Scholarship," based on the revision of the DOP's promotion and tenure policy at Buffalo State.

CASTL/SOTL FELLOWSHIPS

Three new CASTL Fellows join our advisory committee.
  1. Dr. Ronnie Mahler, Associate Professor, Social Work, the Integrating Inquiry and Action Fellow -- is extended her work exploring innovative teaching strategies using digital technology to teach research methods.
  2. Dr. Maria Pacheco, Associate Professor, Chemistry, the Promoting Persistence in Students with Difficulties Learning Specific Disciplines Fellow-- will develop laboratory activities to maximize learning for students who are at risk of being unsuccessful at classes based on traditional science labs.
  3. Dr. Sarbani Banajee, Assistant Professor, Computer Information Science, the Assessment of Student Learning Fellow-- is investigating grading procedures that provide motivation for individual students involved in group projects.
Fellows undertake research that advances their personal agendas, as well as contributing to the growing knowledge of how classroom activities impact student learning.
PRINT AND ELECTRONIC PUBLICATION

The second publication showcasing examples of SoT&L studies undertaken by Buffalo State College Faculty was distributed.  The electronic version can be viewed at

http://www.buffalostate.edu/pdf/scholarship.pdf.

The campus SoT&L web site now includes examples of discipline based pedagogical studies in most subject areas. This feature of the site is under construction and will expand during the semester.

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