Many opportunities are offered to faculty for development and certification.
Active Learning: Certificated
The Center for Teaching & Learning defines Active Learning as an approach to education that transforms traditional classrooms into interactive spaces designed to facilitate interactive learning strategies, flexible resources such as adaptable seating for both independent study and collaborative group work with integrated environmentally appropriate technology.
Active Learning committee
The Active Learning Committee met to collaborate and discuss the future of active learning at GC&SU. During the meeting, the group discussed teaching and learning in active learning classrooms and analyzed photos of active learning classroom renovations on campus. The group discussed future classroom renovations and reflected on using active learning strategies/opportunities and student success. We engaged in a process to identify potential classrooms to upgrade the technology, equipment, and furniture.
In Fall 2019, CTL began developing a three-course sequence to provide instructors with in-depth training on using active learning classrooms and techniques. The first part of the three-course series, Active Learning 101, was launched in Spring 2023.
Active learning 101 cohort completers
Spring 2023
Aurora Castillo-Scott, World Language & Cultures
Candice Griffeth, Center for Student Success
Lee Kirven, World Language & Cultures
Wathsala Medawala, Chemistry, Physics & Astronomy
Fall 2023
Amy Johnson, Government & Sociology
Bailey Mcalister, English
Clifford Towner, Music
Gina Towner, World Language & Cultures
Mehrnaz Khalajhedayati, Management
Randall Bonser, English
Stephanie Jett, Psychological Science
Digital Bootcamp – Online Teaching Preparation: Certificated
Digital Bootcamp is a 10-hour certificated course series designed to provide a framework of resources and support to facilitate online teaching at Georgia College & State University. The learning framework presented is based on Quality Matters (QM) principles, allowing learners to apply the concepts to an actual course using our current learning management system, GeorgiaVIEW/D2L.
Throughout this course, learners are presented with several assignment artifacts, participate in discussions, and engage in interactive assignments. Upon completing this course series, participants will have built a fully developed online course vetted through the Center for Teaching and Learning. Also, the Digital Bootcamp will offer faculty three (3) certificate options:
- GeorgiaVIEW/D2L Certification (3 hours) – This portion of the course series focuses on using core tools in the LMS
- Quality Matters (QM) Certification– This portion covers best practices for online course design, communication, assessment, and meeting QM standards
- Digital Bootcamp Certification – After faculty have completed all components of the course, including the one (1) hour capstone, they will receive a Digital Bootcamp Certification
To learn more about how to enroll in the Digital Bootcamp course series, please contact the Center for Teaching and Learning at ctl@gcsu.edu or 478-445-1253.
Faculty Learning Communities
Faculty Learning Communities are small groups of faculty and staff who meet several times during the academic year to discuss, and build community around, a particular issue or approach to teaching and student learning at Georgia College. The Faculty Learning Communities meet approximately every three weeks, either virtually or face-to-face. For the purpose of this grants' program, Faculty Learning Communities should consist of 5-8 members from more than one academic discipline, and preferably from more than one department.
Topics
A wide variety of topics and activities would qualify for consideration; the primary factor, of course, is to choose something related to teaching and student learning. Examples of appropriate topics would include but are certainly not limited to: GC Journeys, LEAP initiatives, diversity issues, technology integration, interdisciplinary teaching, service learning, problem-based learning, undergraduate research, reflective learning, role-playing simulations, computer simulations, GC1Y and GC2Y courses, GeorgiaVIEW, the flipped classroom, and integrative learning strategies.
Proposals
Proposals should be 1-2 pages, and consist of the following:
- Name/Title of the Faculty Learning Community
- Names of FLC members with their disciplinary/departmental affiliations
- Description of the project, in language clear to a non-specialist
- Dollar amount requested (max. $500)
- Line-item budget (e.g., speakers, materials, travel)* and justification
- Name of the FLC director who is responsible for submitting the proposal, tracking the budget, and submitting an outcome report. An outcome report will include a description of what was accomplished along with a product that may vary in format. For example, it might be a journal article, a conference presentation, a workshop, or any other scholarly report.
*Note: Budget items should be used to enhance scholarship. Funds do not cover food expenses.
Expected Learning Outcome Report
An outcome report may vary in format. For example, it might be a journal article, a conference presentation, a workshop, or any other scholarly report.
Proposal Deadline
Proposals for Faculty Learning Communities are due by the first of the month. The Faculty Learning Communities are made possible by Center for Teaching and Learning program funds.
GeorgiaVIEW/D2L: Certificated
This certificated professional development opportunity is offered during the Fall and Spring semesters, where you will learn more about using our learning management system (LMS) in this three-hour series in the following areas:
- Content development tools and techniques,
- Course setup strategies,
- Assessment design and grade book setup, and
- Communication and learner engagement.
To learn more about how to enroll in the GeorgiaVIEW/D2L certificated course series, please contact the Center for Teaching and Learning at ctl@gcsu.edu or 478-445-1253.
High Impact Practices (HIPs) Summer Institute: Certificated & Funded
Sponsored through the Office of the Provost and GC Journeys and hosted by the Center for Teaching and Learning, the High Impact Practices (HIPs) Summer Institute offers faculty a certificated and funded summer professional development opportunity to engage in a course on Incorporating Transformative Experiences in the Classroom. This summer course is designed to assist faculty in their journey to add a transformative experience/high-impact practice to one of their courses or to develop a course around an experience in Capstone, First-Year Experiences, International Education, Internships, Leadership, Service Learning, or Mentored Undergraduate Research & Creative Endeavors.
We are delighted that you are considering this institute. Please contact the Center for Teaching and Learning at 478-445-2520 or ctl@gcsu.edu with questions or concerns.
In the meantime, we'd like to share some of our past institute completers along with their department and their selected transformative experience:
Summer 2023
Name | Department | Transformative Experience | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Jamie Downing | Communication | Capstone | ||
Jennifer Flaherty | English | Capstone | ||
Arnab Sengupta | Biological & Environmental Sciences | First-Year Experience | ||
Brad Fowler | Information Systems & Computer Science | First-Year Experience | ||
Andrew Allen | Music | International Education | ||
Rachel Bray | Teacher Education | International Education | ||
Peter Rosado Flores | Chemistry, Physics & Astronomy | Internships | ||
Ward Risvold | Information Systems & Computer Science | Leadership | ||
Alex Blazer | English | Mentored Undergraduate Research & Creative Endeavors | ||
Eryn Viscarra | Government & Sociology & Sociology | Mentored Undergraduate Research & Creative Endeavors | ||
Jessica Wallace | History & Geography | Mentored Undergraduate Research & Creative Endeavors | ||
Johnny Moore | Health & Human Performance | Mentored Undergraduate Research & Creative Endeavors | ||
Kasey Karen | Biological & Environmental Sciences | Mentored Undergraduate Research & Creative Endeavors | ||
Allison Miller | Management, Marketing & Logistics | Service Learning | ||
Carrie Cook | Government & Sociology | Service Learning | ||
Molly Wilkins | Communication | Service Learning |
Summer 2022
Name | Department | Transformative Experience |
---|---|---|
Arnab Sengupta | Biological & Environmental Sciences | Capstone |
Ashok Hegde | Biological & Environmental Sciences | Capstone |
Eric Rindal | Psychology | Capstone |
Amy Sumpter | History & Geography | First-Year Experience |
Helen DuPree | Health & Human Performance | First-Year Experience |
Kasey Karen | Biological & Environmental Sciences | First-Year Experience |
Chika Unigwe | English | International Education |
Eryn Viscarra | Government & Sociology | International Education |
Paulette Cross | Professional Learning & Innovation | International Education |
Jamie Downing | Communication | Internship |
Steven Elliott-Gower | Government & Sociology | Leadership |
Alexandre Scarcioffolo | Economics & Finance | Mentored Undergraduate Research & Creative Endeavors |
Andrew Allen | Music | Mentored Undergraduate Research & Creative Endeavors |
Matthew Milnes | Biological & Environmental Sciences | Mentored Undergraduate Research & Creative Endeavors |
Peter Rosado Flores | Chemistry, Physics & Astronomy | Mentored Undergraduate Research & Creative Endeavors |
Mariana Stoyanova | World Languages & Cultures | Service Learning |
Suzanna Roman-Oliver | Teacher Education | Service Learning |
Summer 2021
Name | Department | Transformative Experience |
---|---|---|
Dominic DeSantis | Biological & Environmental Sciences | Capstone |
Caroline Collier | Information Systems & Computer Science | First-Year Experience |
Nancy Beasley | English | First-Year Experience |
Steven Elliott-Gower | Government & Sociology | First-Year Experience |
Kevin Hunt | Health & Human Performance | International Education |
Lee Kirven | World Languages & Cultures | International Education |
Paulette Cross | Teacher Education | International Education |
Trae Welborn | History & Geography | International Education |
Catherine Fowler | Nursing | Leadership |
Chika Unigwe | English | Leadership |
Jolene Cole | Library | Leadership |
Lauren Pilcher | English | Leadership |
Tsu-Ming Chiang | Psychology | Leadership |
Gita Phelps | Information Systems & Computer Science | Mentored Undergraduate Research & Creative Endeavors |
Mary Rickard | Management, Marketing, & Logistics | Mentored Undergraduate Research & Creative Endeavors |
Mehrnaz Hedayati | Management, Marketing, & Logistics | Mentored Undergraduate Research & Creative Endeavors |
Min Kim | Government & Sociology | Mentored Undergraduate Research & Creative Endeavors |
Lorianne Hamilton | Information Systems & Computer Science | Service Learning |
Stephanie Jett | Psychology | Service Learning |
Whitney Heppner | Psychology | Service Learning |
Summer 2020
Name | Department | Transformative Experience |
---|---|---|
Glynnis Haley | Nursing | Capstone |
Jennifer Flaherty | English | Capstone |
Kel-Ann Eyler | Accounting | Capstone |
Renee Fontenot | Management, Marketing & Logistics | Capstone |
Talecia Warren | Nursing | Capstone |
Angela Criscoe | Communications | International Education |
Joy Godin | Management, Marketing & Logistics | International Education |
Juan Alcarria | World Languages & Cultures | International Education |
Kristin English | Communications | International Education |
Mariana Stoyanova | World Languages & Cultures | International Education |
Catherine Fowler | Nursing | Leadership |
Hasitha Mahabaduge | Chemistry, Physics & Astronomy | Leadership |
Jennifer Goldsberry | Nursing | Leadership |
Nicole DeClouette | Teacher Education | Leadership |
Rodica Cazacu | Mathematics | Leadership |
Steve Elliott-Gower | Government & Sociology | Leadership |
Susan Steele | Nursing | Mentored Undergraduate Research & Creative Endeavors |
Wathsala Medawala | Chemistry, Physics & Astronomy | Mentored Undergraduate Research & Creative Endeavors |
Benjamin Whittle | Communications | Service Learning |
Kelley Ditzel | Government & Sociology | Service Learning |
Stefanie Sevcik | English | Service Learning |
Virginia Teran | World Languages & Cultures | Service Learning |
Quality Matters: Certificated
The Center for Teaching and Learning offers certificated professional development opportunities through Quality Matters (QM) designed to help educators deliver the promise of quality online learning opportunities at every level of learning. Nationally recognized, QM is the global organization leading quality assurance in online and innovative digital teaching and learning environments.
To help you reach your professional development goals, the Center for Teaching & Learning (CTL) offers three (3) certificated courses: Applying the QM Rubric (APPQMR), Designing Your Online Course (DYOC), and Improving Your Online Course (IYOC) as follows:
CTL Certificated Offerings
Course | Focus | Outcomes | Prerequisite |
Designing Your Online Course (DYOC) | Participants use the Essential Specific Review Standards in the QM Rubric as a guide to design their own online course.
| Participants exit the workshop with a course development plan they can use to develop their own online course.
| The workshop is not a prerequisite for QM certification courses that lead to QM roles.
|
Improving Your Online Course (IYOC) | Participants use the Essential Specific Review Standards in the QM Rubric as a guide to improve their own online course.
| Participants exit the workshop with a course improvement plan they can use to improve their own online course.
| The workshop is not a prerequisite for QM certification courses that lead to QM roles. |
Applying the QM Rubric (APPQMR) | Participants use select Specific Review Standards in the QM Rubric to review a sample course created by an instructor. | Participants exit the workshop with a basic understanding of QM, the QM Rubric, and the QM course review process. | The workshop is a prerequisite for QM certification courses that lead to other QM roles. |
To explore QM resources and offerings, visit https://www.qmprogram.org/myqm/. There, you will create a GCSU account by using your GCSU email and selecting “No, I am new here.” To register for any of the professional development opportunities mentioned, contact CTL at ctl@gcsu.edu or 478-445-2520.