The AAPT conferences are special events
- chances to talk with, and learn from, people who are dedicated to teaching
well. Because I value the interactions that I have had at the conferences,
appreciate the friendships that have developed from them, and often
missed this stimulation in the non-conference years, I took the AAPT “model”
, with modifications, back to my home institution. Since the
last AAPT conference, Troy Myers (English), Elizabeth Hoffman (English),
and I have worked with our Faculty Development Center on campus to create
the Professional Enhancement Network - PEN - project. The PEN project
is a flexible program which includes both pairs of partners (in mentoring
and peer coaching relationships), and larger group workshops which focus
on instructional development. These partnerships and workshop meetings
provide settings in which faculty can discuss instructional difficulties
and share strategies that will improve student learning.
In this workshop we will discuss
the value of teaching partnerships. I will share with the participants
the goals of our project, a bit of its history so far, and practical information
about starting such communities on other campuses. In addition there
were will be information and exercises to foster constructive professional
communication and program ideas for workshop meetings.
Here is my most radical suggestion.
It is now possible to set up teaching partnerships via email. At
the end of this workshop there will be a discussion about whether the AAPT
should set up a network of teaching relationships between interested AAPT
members.