Catch the Next’s Fall 2019 Transformative Teaching Track took place on October 24th-25th at the Hotel Indigo-San Antonio Riverwalk at San Antonio, Texas. The two-day event focused on a diversity of topics and goals such as: revisiting current courses and planning innovative ways to meet learning outcomes, statewide implications on pedagogical practice moving forward, and the crucial role educators’ play in student engagement and retention.
The day began with a welcome and introduction from CTN CEO, Dr. Maria Martha Chavez, where she elaborated on CTN’s work in Texas and the goals of the training session. Allegra, CTN Director of Professional Development, continued with an “Overview of Training Objectives,” where participants previewed the professional development agenda. Sonya Armstrong, Associate Professor of Developmental Education at Texas State University, gave a presentation on “Developmental Education Faculty.” Together, INRW Faculty discussed challenges and opportunities in CoRequisite design and best strategies for working in teams moving forward. Next, faculty from across the disciplines who are new to CoReqing met to discuss HB2223 as well as best practices for paired courses and disciplinary literacies under the direction of Allegra and Lucy Hernandez Michal, a retired Mathematics Professor from El Paso Community College and Dana Center Math Pathways Fellow.
During lunch, guests were treated to a presentation by guest speaker, Cartlon Fong, Assistant Professor at Texas State University. Afterwards, everyone shared feedback on the morning sessions with “Challenges and Opportunities: Debriefing Time” with Sonya, Allegra, and Lucy. Next, Allegra gave her presentation “Regarding the ‘Whole Student’.” In this activity, participants reflected on the crucial role educator’s play in student engagement and retention.
Following a short break, participants revisited their current course and planned innovative ways to support one another and meet learning outcomes in “Finding Places of Convergence in Curriculum,” presented by Allegra and Lucy. Sonya and CTN facilitators followed this with a workshop where these innovative ways were explored and practiced.
The day ended with a daily reflection and survey by Allegra, Erin Doran and Jon Herrin, CTN Co-Directors of Research and Evaluation.
On the second day of this seminar, Keylan G. Morgan, Program Specialist of Developmental Education in The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, opened with “Corequisites: The Statewide Perspective.” Attendees discussed HB 2233, and the implications on pedagogical practice moving forward, followed by a Q&A session. Next, Anna Alaniz, INRW Instructor, and Darrial Reynolds, Government Instructor at South Texas College, presented, “Teaching Practice in Co-Curriculum: Aligned Assignments.” Both presenters discussed how they aligned their INRW/Government curriculum to meet the needs of a diverse student population, including: approaches that worked, sample assignments, and best practices for collaborative work. Afterwards, Allegra, Lucy, Debra, Jon, Anna, and Darrial went over, “Bringing it all Together: Planning Time.” In this workshop, participants came together in teams to look at ways of incorporating best practices from learning communities to align curriculum across courses.
Afterwards, the panel and session were officially adjourned and surveyed for their courses moving forward, completing the 2019 Transformative Teaching Track.
The 2019 Transformative Teaching Track was sponsored by the Meadows Foundation, The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and The University of Texas at Austin, College of Education.