Teaching & Learning

Several times each semester, the CFE hosts dialogues for faculty and staff on a variety of topics related to teaching and learning. Typically led by a CFE staff member along with one or more faculty facilitators, each session includes a brief overview of research related to the topic, examples of application to practice, and a seminar-style roundtable discussion. Dialogues are held at varying times to accommodate different teaching schedules. When possible, these conversations happen on the ground with refreshments and the option to join remotely via Zoom as well. When not possible, we join together via Zoom. In both instances, we record the session for future viewing on faculty’s own time.

Virtual Sparkshops are mini-workshops designed to spark exploration in using “third-party” tech tools to promote active learning and student engagement in the online environment. Each 30-minute session will consist of a 15-minute presentation and demo of one or two tech tools followed by an optional 15 minutes to either try out the tool, ask questions, and/or discuss with colleagues on how to incorporate the tool in your classes. You will walk away with concrete strategies and examples of how to implement these tech tools in your classes that are informed by the science of learning and best practices for effective online pedagogy.

The STAR Scholars program is a structured professional development program focused on improving equitable learning and student persistence through applying research and best teaching practices related to a specific topic. The STAR Scholars form a cohort of up to eight full-time faculty members with representatives from across the colleges; the Spring 2022 topic is “Assignment Reinvention Academy.” Together, the STAR Scholars will focus on exploring innovative, effective assignment design through scholarly and reflective discussion with colleagues, drawing on the literature, support from CFE staff, and the expertise of the group. STAR Scholars also serve as a resource for Simmons on the topic, including designing and delivering professional development programs for their peers. The program includes initial training on the topic, books, ongoing support, opportunities to publish, a stipend, and administrative and financial support for the spring workshops.

This program provides ongoing training for upper-level students who provide in-class peer tutoring and support in STEM classes. The Learning Assistant Pedagogy Seminar aims to support the development of the skills and knowledge LAs need to guide students towards genuine and active learning in their LA-supported courses. Topics covered included listening and questioning, the cognitive science of problem solving, learning to learn with retrieval practice and elaboration, and ways to motivate and support students. Offered in coordination with the Tutoring Center and Professor Michael Berger.

The Center for Faculty Excellence brings in keynote speakers on excellence in teaching annually. Each keynote features a nationally-recognized expert who presents on topics related to innovative pedagogy, cutting-edge research, or best practices in college teaching and learning. The keynote presentation is often paired with other opportunities for the Simmons community to engage with the topic, such as an interactive workshop and/or book discussion.

About the Institute

Each summer, the Center for Faculty Excellence partners with the Office for Postdoctoral Fellows at Harvard Medical School to host a four-day Summer Teaching Institute. Through this partnership, the Institute is open to both faculty from Simmons University as well as Postdoctoral Fellows from Harvard Medical School. The Institute is designed to equip new and aspiring faculty in any discipline to teach courses effectively at the post-secondary level. While the Institute is oriented toward those newer to teaching, all Simmons faculty are welcome to attend.

What You’ll Learn

Broadly, the Institute focuses on four themes: learning theory, teaching methodologies, course design, and application to practice. During the Institute, participants:

• Read and discuss key ideas from learning theory and learning science
• Experience and reflect on a variety of evidence-based teaching methodologies
• Discuss the application of these theories and practices to the discipline
• Engage in metacognition and reflective practice
• Apply the backward course design model to lesson development
• As a team, design and deliver a sample lesson in their discipline based on best practices

What to Expect

The Institute is carefully designed to model effective, evidence-based, engaging teaching practices that are applicable across disciplines. Participants can expect a hands-on, collaborative, and experiential learning environment that includes small and large group discussion, demonstrations of active learning techniques, project-based learning, interactive lecture, and reflection. Simmons faculty facilitators from a variety of disciplines will guide small group discussion and disciplinary breakout sessions throughout the Institute. On the last day of the Institute, participants in disciplinary groups will design and deliver a short lesson, incorporating best practices learned during the Institute. Participants will leave with a “teaching toolkit” binder full of practical ideas, teaching methods, insights, and research.

History and Gratitude

The Institute began as a STEM Teaching Institute for Harvard Medical School’s Postdoctoral Fellows in 2015. In 2016 and 2017, the Institute was supported through a generous grant by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. This grant ensured the continuation and further development of the program and enabled the addition of a Navigating STEM career component and a year-long mentoring program. In 2018, the Institute was expanded and redesigned to prepare faculty to teach in all disciplines and to serve both Simmons faculty and Postdoctoral Fellows.

Thank you to Elizabeth Scott (Biology, Public Health), Judah Axe (Education, Behavior Analysis), and James Gould (HMS) for their leadership, their ongoing partnership with CFE on this project, and their ongoing dedication to the success of this Institute. Thank you as well to the many faculty and staff who have served on planning committees, served as table facilitators, presented techniques, served on a panel, provided administrative support, or played another role in the success of this initiative.

CFE designs and facilitates multi-day Course Design Institutes (CDIs) for PLAN faculty new to the Boston, Leadership, and Learning Community courses. These CDIs are planned in coordination with PLAN leadership and course leads.

• Teaching conferences are an excellent opportunity for Simmons faculty to network, learn from, and engage with peers from other institutions and fields around best practices in teaching. Attendees gain practical, evidence-based ideas from across disciplines that they can then apply to their own teaching. CFE also offers this program to encourage engagement in the scholarship of teaching and learning and allow opportunities for Simmons faculty to present on their own innovative teaching.
• CFE currently funds registration fees for faculty participation in the two annual regional conferences of the New England Faculty Development Conference (NEFDC). These one-day conferences are typically held in November and May/June, are convenient to the Boston area, and include a keynote, concurrent sessions, networking breakfast and lunch, and a poster session with a reception.
• CFE emails a call for applications to all faculty in approximately September and February, and funds registration fees on a rolling basis as funds allow. This opportunity is open to any full-time faculty and any current part-time faculty who have taught at least four courses at Simmons. Please contact us with questions about this program.

CFE helps to plan the annual COF Teaching & Learning Conference, which provides a forum for faculty across the Colleges of the Fenway to come together to discuss issues of importance related to teaching and learning as well as to network, learn from, and engage with COF peers. Simmons faculty also have the opportunity to present on their own innovative teaching. Each conference explores a theme through workshops, teaching demos, roundtable discussions, eposters, and more. Past topics have included teaching in a racialized environment and exploring the impact of the shift to online teaching.

How do the needs of adult learners differ from those of our current Simmons students? How can we adapt our courses and teaching strategies to support adult learners? In this program, we will build a better understanding of the characteristics, strengths, and challenges of adult learners to inform how to design and teach online courses in the CompleteDegree@Simmons program. Through readings and scholarly discussions, we’ll look to the theory and research on adult learning to develop and share ideas for activities and assignments that play to the strengths of adult learners, including building connections to life experiences and engaging in active learning.

The Center for Faculty Excellence creates a variety of customized professional development programs on a wide range of topics. Please contact us if you are interested in collaborating with us or in having us develop or offer a new program or workshop for your department, college, or for all Simmons faculty.