Faculty Development Program

The School of Continuing Studies is committed to assisting our faculty in providing the best possible learning experiences. We strive to identify helpful resources that address the specific needs of our adult students. This site will be updated regularly with new materials and workshops. Please visit this webpage often!

Faculty Development Video

Click on one of the links here to view Introduction to Adult Learning at the School of Continuing Studies. This video includes comments from SCS students and faculty about the special challenges and rewards of adult learning.

SCS Faculty Development Video

Faculty Development Workshops

Each year, the School of Continuing Studies provides workshops dedicated to improving the art of teaching. This year, SCS will offer a year-long array of faculty-development workshops, based upon requests that we have received from faculty members.

Specific room locations for each workshop will be announced. To r.s.v.p for any of the workshops, please email Kina Kelly and include the title and date of workshop that you would like to register for in the subject line of the email. If you would like to participate via WebEx, please let Kina know.

Faculty Development Workshops
2007-2008

• Using Technology in Your Course
  Thursday, October 25
  4:45 - 6:15 pm
  Chicago Loop: 210 South Clark Street, 10th Floor, Room 1

  Map and Parking Information: http://www.scs.northwestern.edu/maps/loop.pdf

  Hosted by NUIT Training Specialist James Altman, SCS Facilities Coordinator Sachin Patel, and an SCS faculty member, this workshop will introduce faculty to a variety of tools available to SCS instructors, focusing primarily on Blackboard and WebEx. Participation in this workshop via WebEx will be available.

  This orientation and workshop will also be given on
  Thursday, Feb 7     5:00 - 6:30 pm
  Evanston: SCS Building, 405 Church Street

• Learning Outcomes and Assessment for Adult Students
  Tuesday, October 30
  6:30 - 8:00 pm
  Evanston: SCS Building, 405 Church St

  Map and Parking Information: http://www.scs.northwestern.edu/maps/evanston.pdf

  Quality instruction requires symmetry between desired learning outcomes and assessment measures. This interactive workshop, presented by Regina Lopata Logan, Ph.D., will address learning outcomes from a practitioner's viewpoint. It will also help instructors to think about a range of assessment techniques beyond quizzes and tests. Participation in this workshop via Web Ex will be available.

  This workshop will also be given on
  Tuesday, May 6, 2008     4:30 - 6:00 pm
  Chicago: Wieboldt Hall, 339 E. Chicago

• Using NU Electronic Resources for Teaching
  Thursday, November 1
  5:30 - 7:00 pm
  Chicago: Wieboldt Hall 339 E. Chicago Avenue

  Map and Parking Information: http://www.scs.northwestern.edu/maps/chicago.pdf

  The Northwestern Library offers instructors a vast array of information useful for teaching. From subject-specific data bases to academic search engines, to downloadable e-journals, to other online resources that can enrich subject matter and provide rich opportunities for research, these NU resources are generally free of charge to all faculty. Schaffner Librarian Qiana Johnson and Asst. Dean Peter Kaye will host this session. Participation in this workshop via Web Ex will be available.

• Balancing Lecture and Discussion to Maximize Learning
  Wednesday, November 14
  6:00-7:30 pm
  Chicago: Wieboldt Hall 339 E. Chicago Avenue

  Map and Parking Information: http://www.scs.northwestern.edu/maps/chicago.pdf

  What is the best way to achieve desired learning outcomes? This workshop, presented by Regina Logan, Ph.D., will help you to make instructional decisions about when to lecture and when to make use of discussion. You will expand your toolkit as a discussion leader and lecturer while learning what current research has to say about how we learn and remember.

  This workshop will also be given on
  Thursday, March 13     4:45 - 6:15 pm
  Evanston: SCS Building, 405 Church Street
  

• Presentation Skills
  Thursday, January 24, 2008
  4:45 - 6:15 pm
  Chicago: Wieboldt Hall, 339 E. Chicago Avenue

  Map and Parking Information: http://www.scs.northwestern.edu/maps/chicago.pdf

  Good presenters always want to improve. This workshop will advance your presentation skills in the classroom and beyond. You'll learn how to control the image you project as an instructor, and tips on public speaking and making use of audio-visual aids in a productive and professional manner. You'll also gain insight into reading cues from your audience so you adjust your presentations as needed.

• New Faculty Orientation
  Tuesday, February 12, 2008
  6:30 - 8:00 pm
  Location to be announced
  

  The orientation will introduce new faculty members to Northwestern University and the School of Continuing Studies, and to other faculty teaching during the spring and summer terms. Participation in orientation via Web Ex will be available.

Online Resources for Teachers

• Northwestern's Searle Center for Teaching Excellence provides a wide range of support, offering consultations, videotaping of classes, workshops and lectures, and a library of books, articles, and online resources to increase success in the classroom. New and continuing instructors will benefit from Searle's online guides to planning classes and improving discussions and lectures. A schedule of currently-available faculty workshops offered by Searle can be viewed here.
  
  
• Another valuable resource is Ken Bain's article, How Can I Plan a Good Course?
  
  
• The Idea Center, Inc., is a non-profit organization that shares proven teaching strategies. Their "Idea Papers" address the most important concerns of both new and continuing instructors. We strongly recommend you browse their library, and especially these crucial titles:
  Teaching Adult Students (PDF Format)
  Writing a Syllabus (PDF Format)
  
  
• Students and instructors will benefit from more dynamic and accessible materials. Here are some excellent suggestions on Teaching With PowerPoint.
  
  
• Adult students especially need to be able to access course materials outside of classroom hours. The Blackboard system will help you get your class online, communicate quickly and efficiently, let you provide online tests, and even keep track of your grades.
  
  
• Mathematics instructors are left out no more! Here is a web site with resources for teaching math: http://archives.math.utk.edu/
  
  
• Plagiarism is not always malicious. Many students plagiarize without even knowing it. Help your students understand what they can and cannot do when writing a paper with tips from this website: http://www.northwestern.edu/uacc/plagiar.html
  
  
• SCS students are governed by SCS policies as well as Northwestern University's Student Handbook (PDF Format). You may find it useful to familiarize yourself with it. Remember: no faculty member should tolerate disruptive or otherwise inappropriate behavior in her/his class. If you have any difficulties, please contact the academic programmer for your area or Asst. Dean Peter Kaye.
  
  
• The Writing Place on the Evanston campus is a peer tutoring center whose consultants can help students at any stage of the writing process, from talking about ideas to developing a plan to preparing a final copy.
  
  The Writing Place
  Room 2304 North Tower, second floor
  University Library
  1970 Campus Drive
  Evanston, IL 60208
  (847) 467-2791

  Tutors are also available to assist SCS faculty as well. If you want some expert advice while developing written assignments or with other writing issues in your class, contact Barbara Shwom at (847) 491-7690 or bshwom@northwestern.edu.

  On the Chicago campus, the Writing Place is located on the second floor of Schaffner Library. A professional tutor, paid by SCS, is available there. Hours are 4:15 to 6:30 P.M., Monday through Thursday. Most appointments are 30-45 minutes long. The appointment phone number is (312) 503-8422.