Durham Tech’s Teaching-Learning Center sponsors a variety of workshops and presentations geared toward helping faculty improve instruction and address new and ongoing challenges in the classroom.This site also includes summaries of past presentations, with links to pertinent resources.

New Faculty Orientation
Presented by Gabby McCutchen, TLC/Faculty Development Coordinator
Teaching-Learning Center, Phillips Building, room 325
10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. and 5:00 – 8:30 p.m.

New full-time and part-time faculty are invited to participate in one of two New Faculty Orientation sessions.  Participants learn campus resources available to faculty, new strategies for teaching adult learners, and effective techniques in course planning.  RSVP with your Program Director by Monday, August 10th to participate.

Integrating Communication Activities in Biology Classes
Presented by Steve Leadon, Biology Instructor
Teaching-Learning Center, Phillips Building, room 325
3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

An important aspect of biology course work is to teach students to effectively communicate.  I will discuss some of the activities that I use in my biology classes, including research papers, oral presentations, and discussion boards and describe how these activities are integrated into the course and evaluated.  Participants will learn new strategies in teaching students to communicate effectively in classes other than English.

Lights, Camera, Action!  Did you know that NC LIVE now has free movies?
Presented by Julie Humphrey and Susan Baker, Reference Librarians
Teaching-Learning Center, Phillips Building, room 325
2:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Many award winning documentaries from Frontline, the American Experience, and more can now be seen on your computer via NC LIVE.  Join us for a demonstration to learn about this and more of the exciting features that NC LIVE has to offer – from interactive tutorials to e-books, from career resources to specialized subject databases, there's something for everyone!  Please join us to learn about NCLIVE and other online tools that the library provides for Durham Tech faculty, staff, and students. 

"Greening" Durham Tech: An Introduction to the President's Climate Commitment
Presented by Julie Hoover, Geology Instructor and Chair of the PCC Committee
Teaching-Learning Center, Phillips Building, room 325
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

This TLC will explore our requirements as an American College and University President Climate Commitment college. We will discuss the carbon inventory and what it means to achieve climate neutrality and brainstorm methods of meeting the tasks on our check list.

How Service-Learning can Serve Your Students
Presented by Erin Riney, Developmental English and Reading Instructor
Teaching-Learning Center, Phillips Building, room 325
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Service-learning sounds like a terrific idea—integrating real-world applications of learning with service to the community in a way that truly engages students—but often leaves those who hear about it with many questions. How is service-learning "done"?  What would this look like in my Durham Tech classroom?  And why is it hyphenated?!  In this session, we'll demystify service-learning by discussing its history, theory, merits, and criticisms and by answering the FAQs of this teaching and learning method.  A panel of DT instructors will also discuss experiences with service-learning on our campus and answer your questions.  At the end of this TLC session, you'll have a more comprehensive understanding of service-learning's goals and applications, ideas for how to use it in your classroom, and several helpful resources to assist you in incorporating this dynamic method into your courses. 

What Works for Me: Using Group Work Effectively
Presented by Lyndsay Al-Shibli, Developmental English and Reading Chair and Instructor
Carol Barman, Clinical Trials Instructor
Lea Bingham, English and Communications Chair and Instructor
Teaching-Learning Center, Phillips Building, room 325
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Do you like the idea of group work but are unsure how to implement it and manage it in your classroom?  Come hear panelists from several areas at the college discuss what techniques and strategies have worked well for them when implementing group work as part of the regular curriculum in their classes.  This TLC will be an interactive discussion, so bring your own questions and ideas to help facilitate the conversation.

Communities of Learning Inquiry and Practice: Writing CLIP
Presented by Theresa Fine-Pawsey, English Instructor
Janice Kerber, Accounting Instructor
Janel Mays, English Instructor
Robbi Muckenfuss, Reading Instructor
Tom Murphy, Computer Programming Program Director and Instructor
Teaching-Learning Center, Phillips Building, room 325
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

The Writing CLIP members will present their results, conclusions, and reflections on their research, which investigates the types of writing assignments that are most effective in technical courses and how those assignments affect students' attitudes toward writing.

What can REAP do for you?
Presented by Patrick Hines, REAP Database Manager
Teaching-Learning Center, Phillips Building, room 325
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

Need to know where and how to find important data for planning the future of your department or program? Attend this seminar to find out what resources are available to you and how to make the most of those resources.

Managing Disruptive Classroom Behavior Webinar
Facilitated by Tom Jaynes, Dean, Advising, Counseling, and Student Development
Teaching-Learning Center, Phillips Building, room 325
2:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Angela Provitera McGlynn, Professor Emeritus at Mercer Community College, has 35 years of teaching experience and is a nationally-recognized expert on college classroom civility.  Participants in this webinar will learn how to create a positive tone at the start of the semester, prevent disruptive behavior from occurring in the first place, handle side conversations, manage technology-related disruptive behaviors such as cell phones, and deal with incivilities should they occur.  Don't miss this great opportunity to learn from a colleague.

Using Student-Created Wikipedia Sites to Reach Intended Learning Outcomes
Presented by Lyndsay Al-Shibli, Developmental English and Reading Chair and Instructor
Teaching-Learning Center, Phillips Building, room 325
11:00 a.m. – noon

Lyndsay has developed a group project for her Developmental English and Reading students that requires students to design, develop, and maintain a class Wikipedia site.  Come learn how easy implementing Wiki sites in the classroom can really be.  This TLC will offer a quick tutorial of Wetpaint.

MLA Update
Presented by Kerry Cantwell, Perry Cumbie, Theresa Fine-Pawsey, and Tracy Mancini, English Instructors
Teaching-Learning Center, Phillips Building, room 325
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

The seventh edition of the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers includes significant changes in documentation style.  Join a panel of English faculty for an overview of these changes.

Data Collection in a Capstone Course
Presented by Liz Penton, Anthropology and ASUT Capstone Instructor
Teaching-Learning Center, Phillips Building, room 325
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

This session showcases a model for Program Assessment by using a capstone course with data capturing system.  While this course is for University Transfer Program Assessment, its method can be adapted to any curriculum.  Dr. Penton will walk attendees through the overall process of collecting data on program learning outcomes by demonstrating the development of rubrics for HUM 212, one of the ASUT Program Capstone courses.

Keeping Their Dreams
Presented by Beth Shulman, Coordinator, Single Parent Program and Dreamkeepers Emergency Assistance Program
Teaching-Learning Center, Phillips Building, room 325
3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Our college's Dreamkeepers Emergency Assistance Program is in its fifth year.  Come learn about the program and how it works, about the students we've assisted, and what the big picture is for this amazing program.

Middle College at Durham Tech
Presented by Charles Nolan, Principal, Middle College High School
Teaching-Learning Center, Phillips Building, room 325
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

An innovative high school model, the middle college high school is a school for 11th and 12th grade students who wish to challenge themselves by following a hybrid schedule of community college classes, and honors level high school classes. Admission is by application, and students may earn a year or more of university credit, and/or industry certification for free as part of their K-12 education.

Durham Tech Financial Aid Q&A
Presented by Kay Jedlica, Financial Aid Director and
Cameron Murray, Financial Aid Officer
Teaching-Learning Center, Phillips Building, room 325
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Join Kay and Cameron for an information session about the college's financial aid processes. A significant amount of time will be dedicated to answering your questions about financial aid.

College Credit for High School Students
Presented by Michelle Gladman, High School Liaison
Teaching-Learning Center, Phillips Building, room 325
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

Michelle will host a “brown bag” discussion about the Dual Enrollment and Huskins Bill programs. Information will be provided about the focus, process, and regulations of each program. Please bring your lunch and any comments, concerns, or questions you might have about these programs. Additionally, part of the discussion will be dedicated to sharing any experiences you have had specifically related to having high school students in your classes.

Memory and the Learning Environment
Presented by Barry Oakley, Math Instructor
Teaching-Learning Center, Phillips Building, room 325
3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Does memory play a big factor in the learning process?  If so, what are some ways to help students stimulate that memory?  Come to a workshop that shows some of those ways:  music, acting, silly songs, cheers, etc.  Come and have a good time learning mathematics, and see how these memory devices can be used in your classroom.

What Works for Me: Teaching Hybrid and Online Classes
Presented by Carol Barmann, Clinical Trials Research Associate Instructor
Vernon Bridges, Developmental Math Chair and Instructor
Kerry Cantwell, English Instructor
Wilma Herndon, Health Instructor
Tracy Mancini, English and Humanities Instructor
Teaching-Learning Center, Phillips Building, room 325
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Get tips for tracking attendance, using the discussion board effectively, incorporating instruction that addresses a variety of learning styles, and  discussion about the differences between seated instruction and hybrid/online instruction. See examples for developing activities with high student interest, finding ways to encourage students to apply skills, using real-world applications and interactive project ideas.

Communities of Learning Inquiry and Practice: Using a Student Response System in the Classroom
Presented by Helen Ayres, Associate Degree Nursing Program Director
Lois Ballen, Associate Degree Nursing Instructor
Lesley Chaffin, Associate Degree Nursing Instructor
Jason Berry, Associate Degree Nursing Instructor
Teaching-Learning Center, Phillips Building, room 325
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

In this presentation, nursing faculty will share their research-based answers to the following questions and more:  What are the advantages of a student response system or “clicker” for students?  for faculty?  What are the disadvantages?  Can a student response system be easily incorporated into existing course materials?

Ecuador: People, Places, and Things
Presented by Charles Slappy, Sociology Instructor
Teaching-Learning Center, Phillips Building, room 325
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Durham Tech ethnographers will present various aspects of Ecuadorian cultures through photographs and narratives.  This is the culmination of activities from a recent trip to Quito.

Looking Deeper into Entering Student Engagement:  Making Even More Sense of the SENSE Data
Presented by LaSylvia Stewart, Institutional Research and Planning Coordinator
Teaching-Learning Center, Phillips Building, room 325
3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

For the past two years, Durham Tech has administered the Survey of Entering Student Engagement (SENSE) in several developmental and first college-level English, math, and reading classes. SENSE was designed to help community colleges focus on the front door of the college experience - what entering students experience from the moments of their first interactions with the college - to improve persistence and success.  Join LaSylvia Stewart for an in-depth look at our results!

Communicating with SBAR
Presented by Audrey Kern, Respiratory Therapy Instructor, and Richard Miller, Respiratory Therapy Program Director
Teaching-Learning Center, Phillips Building, room 325
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Miscommunication is the most common cause of patient injury and death. SBAR is a formalized method of communicating that is widespread within hospitals and could be adapted to other disciplines.