The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) is Montgomery College’s faculty professional development organization. The mission of the Center for Teaching and Learning is to support the art of teaching by encouraging faculty creativity, innovation, and continual improvement in instruction to enhance student learning. The CTL realizes this mission by providing a variety of professional development opportunities and supporting a number of college initiatives. The CTL, a college-wide organization with staff and associates supporting all three campuses with facilities in Germantown and Rockville.
The CTL Provides the Following Support for Faculty
CTL Professional Development Program for New Faculty
The CTL offers a Professional Development Program for full-time faculty
in their first three years at the college. Endorsed by the college-wide
deans three years ago, the PDP for New Faculty is meant to give them opportunities
to learn about new findings on effective teaching and best practices,
while engaging in discussions with colleagues on issues of common interests.
The Program consists of multiple series covering topics such as Planning Effective
Instruction, Teaching in a Multicultural Classroom and Instructional
Variety.
During their first three years at MC, faculty members enroll in one series per semester. Each of the series, attended by a cohort of new faculty, meets for three two-hour sessions on Friday afternoons. CTL publishes in advance the precise dates of the PDP for New Faculty meeting times.
Orientation for Full-and Part-time Faculty
The CTL, along with Human Resources, conducts orientation for new full-time
faculty each semester. CTL’s contribution, during the three-day
orientation, includes academic resources available to faculty members
to assist with their teaching, developing their syllabi, meeting the
class for the first time, and professional development opportunities
available through the CTL. Other sessions cover working with students
with disabilities, information literacy and library services, and record
and grade recording.
Part-time faculty are invited to a“Teaching and Learning Success Forum" at to the beginning of each semester which includes syllabus design, lesson organization, preparing for the first class, and instructional resources available.
CTL Full-Time Faculty Fellowship Program
Each year, the CTL offers a theme-related Fellowship Program for innovative
changes in teaching for full-time faculty. Fellows attend seminars
throughout the fellowship and work closely with the CTL to apply the necessary
skills to realize these changes. Fellows present their projects to the
MC community. Some earlier themes for the fellowships have included Active
Learning, Technology-Enhanced Instruction, and Service Learning.
CTL Part-Time Faculty Fellowship Program
The CTL awards paid Fellowships for a limited number of part-time faculty
each spring. Part-time faculty members, recommended by their chairs and deans,
participate in a program related to teaching effectiveness. The program
includes an online course called "Fundamentals of Good Teaching
Practice" and four Saturday sessions to engage in the process
of microteaching for feedback and to discuss teaching issues.
Workshops
Full- and part-time faculty are encouraged to take advantage of the many
workshops the CTL offers each semester. A sample of past workshop titles
below. To view a list of current workshop offerings, go
to www.montgomerycollege.edu/ctl/workshops.htm
Improving Classroom Effectiveness
• Evaluating Papers and Projects
• Active Learning Techniques
• Cultural Diversity Issues in the Classroom
• Teaching First-Year College StudentsTechnology Applications for the Classroom
• Effectively Using PowerPoint as an Instructional Tool
• Tips for Effective Student Participation in an Online Course
• Using the Instructional Tools in My MC
• Planning and Organizing Your Course Web Site
Super Saturday
Super Saturday is a professional development conference offered once
a year for all full and part-time MC faculty. At this event, faculty
have the opportunity to attend multiple workshops on topics about teaching
and learning from a selection of numerous titles.
One-on-One Assistance
CTL Instructional Designers or Faculty Associates are available to assist
faculty wanting to try new approaches or tackle challenges in their
classrooms. Instructional Designers offer individualized assistance,
referrals to other helpful resources, and serve as a “sounding
board” for faculty ideas. CTL representatives can also give feedback
to faculty members in conjunction with classroom observation.
The Instructional Assistants in the CTL at the Rockville and Germantown campuses are available to assist faculty individually with computer application issues. Among other things, the Instructional Assistant assists faculty learn how to use a scanner, upload documents to a Web site, fine tune PowerPoint presentations, develop email distribution lists, and prepare visuals for conference presentations.
Roundtables and Discussion Groups
Roundtables and Discussion Groups are offered throughout the year at the
three campuses to discuss ongoing issues on topics suggested by faculty
members. Informal groups have included Spanish Roundtables (co-sponsored
by the Center for Professional and Organizational Development, HR), Strategies
for Helping Students be Successful, Working with ESL Students to be Successful
as They Move from Developmental Courses to Content Courses (co-sponsored
by AELP Department, Rockville), Teaching in the Nursing Program, Teaching
Students from Multicultural Backgrounds, and Teaching Online.
Guest Speakers
Guest speakers give short workshops or roundtables on a variety of topics.
Recent guest speakers have spoken on topics such as promoting student
success, challenges in retaining a diverse student population, technology-enhanced
learning, service learning, and giving feedback to students in writing
assignments. An upcoming speaker during Professional Week in January
will give a workshop on tying assessment to Student Learning Outcomes
and will focus on constructing rubrics.
Newsletter
The CTL publishes Focus on Faculty, a newsletter for faculty that highlights Professional Development Activities. One is an informational
one, called the CTL Newsletter that highlights past and future CTL activities.
The other newsletter, Focus on Faculty, highlights faculty professional
development activities and is published twice a semester.
CTL Lending Library
The CTL maintains a Faculty Professional Development Resource Center at
each CTL office.
How Does the
CTL Do Its Work?
Staff within the CTL and CTL Faculty Associates give workshops, serve
as resources for faculty, work with faculty individually with and in groups, and edit newsletters.
Generally, approximately twenty faculty members serve as CTL Faculty Associates
each year.
The Center for Teaching and Learning
Montgomery College
008 HU - Rockville Campus
240-567-5157
last updated 06/25/07