Teaching

Consistent with its land-grant mission, Iowa State University has always made teaching a top priority. Before the current Promotion and Tenure policy was adopted in 1999, faculty applying for tenure made a case on excellence in teaching or research, or both. The adoption of the P&T document raised the standard for teaching from "competent" to "effective." In addition, the new policy is built on a broader and more inclusive definition of teaching as a scholarly and dynamic activity. See section 5.2.2.3.1 in the Faculty Handbook.

In the past few years, support for teaching and recognition for those engaged in the activity has increased. One of the largest of these endeavors, the University Teaching Seminar sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT), emphasizes the importance of the teaching function. This peer-taught seminar is part of new faculty orientation but is also open to faculty in subsequent years of employment. In addition, CELT and the Provost's Office have cooperated in presenting college-level workshops on the tenure process; these have also emphasized the teaching guidelines within the University's new Promotion and Tenure document.

A number of awards at both the college and University level have been established to honor excellent teachers. An example of the former is the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences’ Master Teacher Awards, now in its sixth year. LAS Master Teachers are recognized for their excellence in a specific teaching area, such as teaching in large classes or incorporating multicultural perspectives. University-wide awards are given in such areas as excellence in undergraduate teaching, excellence achieved early in an academic career, and outstanding teaching at the introductory level.

CELT is in its second year of support for Teaching Partners, a program which links tenured faculty with second-year tenure track faculty for classroom visits and other activities related to improving teaching.

Grants are also available to improve the quality of teaching at the University. Since 1996, Wendell F. Miller Faculty Fellowships of up to $25,000 each have been competitively available for faculty interested in making curricular or course improvements. A total of $250,000 is awarded each year. The CELT Advisory Board evaluates the faculty proposals and awards 10-12 Miller Grants each year from approximately 30-40 received proposals.

A significant means of support for developing excellence in teaching has been Project LEA/RN, established in 1994 by Barbara Licklider, associate professor in education, and Howard Shapiro, former professor of engineering. This program brings together groups of interested faculty to participate in an in-depth series of sessions designed to enhance their knowledge of teaching techniques as well as familiarity with peers’ teaching styles and strategies. The sessions also provide up-to-date knowledge about pedagogy. In addition, several Faculty Conferences sponsored by the Faculty Senate and the Office of the Provost have promoted discussion and critical thinking about good teaching.

Clearly, Iowa State is open to innovative teaching practices that enhance student learning. One example is an initiative to improve communication throughout the University called ISUComm. Based on a successful model of teaching communication in the College of Agriculture, this effort has been piloted in several sections of first-year composition. ISUComm principles of communication have been incorporated in upper-level courses in several colleges and departments, as well. This initiative incorporates written, oral, visual, and electronic (WOVE) communication skills into all curricula.

Iowa State continues to emphasize its teaching mission and to ensure effective teaching. Because the university defers to colleges and departments in training and evaluating faculty as teachers, orientation and training are not mandated, and more can be done to encourage and reward faculty for their commitment to effective teaching. Another challenge is the faculty-to-student ratio. Due to a sustained period of state budget cuts, class sizes have grown. Nonetheless, the University remains committed to effective teaching in both large and small classes. Use of learning technologies such as WebCT and hand-held personal response systems or “clickers,” and dissemination and sharing of effective teaching practices are among the tools available to for continuous improvement in the area of effective teaching.

The following sections provide an overview of efforts to enhance learning and teaching at Iowa State. Specific attention is directed to the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT), teaching recognition and awards, the scholarship of teaching, instructional technology, and ISUComm.