Mission

The Center for Teaching and Learning assists faculty by promoting teaching and learning excellence, supporting the integration of learning technologies, and encouraging scholarly teaching. The Center supports the University's mission of teaching, research, and service to the greater Charlotte metropolitan region and beyond.

Vision

We are nationally recognized as a role model for teaching and learning centers.

• We are an integral part of the success of the University.
• We are leaders in the innovative use of scholarly research in teaching and learning.
• We define best practices in professional development that ensure quality course design through the effective integration of technology.
• We are an unwavering advocate of a diverse, open learning environment which fosters active collaboration among all members of the Academy.

Goals and Objectives

1. Help faculty to transform student learning experiences by integrating innovative instructional technologies.
   
   1. Assess teaching and learning needs of the faculty
      • Conduct annual needs assessment survey
      • Collect anecdotal evidence through workshop evaluations, feedback forums, and other means
   2. Provide a variety of opportunities to demonstrate quality integration of teaching and technology and to promote constructive and active learning environments
      • Scheduled faculty workshops
      • One-on-one consultations
      • Departmental workshops/programs
      • Online tutorials
      • Summer Institutes
      • Showcases
      • Brown bag sessions/roundtables
   3. Integrate best practices and standards of instructional design into all programs and services
      • Revise existing training materials as needed
      • Follow a review process for new programs and services
      • Model best practices when developing and teaching workshops
      • Emphasize learner-centered pedagogy and instructional
        methods
   4. Collaborate with faculty to model integration of instruction with technology
      • Demonstrate application of faculty classroom use of technology
      • Host events to showcase faculty innovation
      • Partner with faculty to team-teach workshops
2. Promote best practices of teaching excellence in both traditional, research based pedagogy of teaching and learning as well as the emerging pedagogy of online teaching and learning.
   
   1. Research and evaluate best practices in teaching and learning
      • Collaborate with faculty, staff, and peers to identify emerging technologies and evaluate their instructional applications, costs, and benefits
      • Attend and promote professional conferences
      • Participate in professional development to keep abreast of emerging instructional technologies and research on teaching excellence
   2. Provide and maintain print and online materials in support of best practices
      • Provide information to faculty and instructional staff on innovation in teaching and learning in our publications and communications
      • Share information from professional journals, online resources
      • Feature research findings in regularly scheduled newsletter
      • Explore making our collection of texts (“Professional Development Library”) a special collection of Atkins Library
3. Provide professional development opportunities in teaching, learning, and instructional technologies.
   
   1. Provide on-going regularly scheduled opportunities for faculty development
      • Scheduled and customized workshops
      • Individual consultations
      • Summer Intensive Week
      • Print and online materials
      • Graduate student development
      • Distance Education
   2. Plan new professional development programs for faculty based on long-term evaluation of needs
   3. Enhance the involvement of the Center in Teaching Week activities
   4. Provide an annual Summer Institute for faculty development based on funding availability
   5. Connect faculty with external professional development resources and conferences
      • Sloan-C workshops
      • Webinars
      • Teleconferences
      • Journals
   6. Provide specialized programs for Distance Education as needed.
4. Encourage and support faculty in contributing to the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SOTL)
   
   1. Provide a comprehensive SOTL program for faculty
      • Create venues for sharing teaching research
      • Promote and integrate SOTL into the existing API/CID Grants program
      • Offer travel grants and other awards, as funding allows
      • Explore sponsorship of an award to recognize excellence in teaching research
      • Provide print and online resource materials in support of SOTL
   2. Collaborate with faculty in writing grant proposals
   3. Collaborate with faculty in presenting at professional conferences
5. Sustain an effective Learning Management System (LMS).
   
   
   1. Build consensus among faculty for selection of supported systems
      
      • Facilitate a campus-wide LMS evaluation committee to evaluate and select a sustainable and effective learning management system
      • Collaborate with faculty leaders on the Faculty Executive Committee, Faculty Council, Faculty ITS Advisory Council, Center for Teaching and Learning Advisory Council, and E-Learning Action Team
   2. Secure adequate resources for technical sustainability
   3. Build and maintain alliances with selected vendors and ITS to ensure optimum system reliability and performance
   4. Provide regular training and support for faculty, TAs, and selected groups
6. Provide programs and services to meet client needs.
   
   1. Assess the teaching and learning needs of the campus community.
      • Annual faculty needs assessment survey
      • Focus groups
      • Workshop evaluations
   2. Use findings of needs assessment for planning future programs and evaluating viability of existing offerings
   3. Deliver services in a timely manner with professional courtesy.
   4. Provide ongoing evaluation of existing programs, tools, services, and resources
   5. Streamline methods for clients to reach help via the Center.
      • Move first response to User Support Services within ITS
      • Offer live chat in addition to telephone access
      • Revise web pages for greater access to help
      • Use synchronous application sharing for remote access
      • Develop customized web applications to automate routine processes such as workshop signups, course activations, et cetera.
7. Collaborate with university organizations in teaching and learning initiatives to enhance resources and accomplish mutual goals.
   
   1. Form and maintain a faculty advisory group to support the work of the Center
   2. Collaborate with distributed IT staff within colleges and other units, including an advisory role through the E-Learning Action Team
   3. Form and maintain a SOTL interest group
   4. Participate in university committees and initiatives as they relate to the Center’s mission
   5. Collaborate with colleges and departments to develop specialized programs and resources
   6. Participate in ITS directors’ and managers’ meetings regarding the support of teaching and learning programs and services
   7. Collaborate with UNC System initiatives by participating in the Teaching and Learning with Technology Collaborative (TLTC) and selected consortia
   8. Partner with Continuing and Distance Education to provide support of DE faculty and students