This Friday marks the third annual Teaching Scholars Initiative Colloquium.

The event will present three professors with Teacher Scholar Awards and provide an opportunity for faculty members to discuss a range of topics including the use of new technologies in classrooms and teaching methods for new instructors.

Kelly R. Damphousse, associate dean and chair of Teaching Scholars Initiative (TSI) said the program is "a grassroots effort" by faculty members committed to encouraging and emphasizing quality teaching in classrooms.

"The great thing about TSI is that it provides a unique opportunity for faculty from several colleges at OU to come together to discuss something that affects all of them," Damphousse said.

TSI began in 2003 among professors of the College of Arts and Sciences. The program expanded to include several other members of the OU faculty. Attendance in last year's colloquium included 180 instructors and OU graduates.

Marielle H. Hoefnagels is one of last year's winners of the Teaching Scholars Award and a member of this year's steering committee. Hoefnagels will host a session titled "Desperate Teachers: Sexing Up Your Teaching Philosophy." The session discusses how teachers can focus on their teaching philosophy which Hoefnagels said can be hard to articulate but helpful to understand because it can guide a teacher's approach to classes.

This year TSI is trying something new by incorporating students into the colloquium with two new sessions.

One session presented by four students in Arts and Sciences titled "An Undergraduate Perspective of College Teaching," gives instructors the opportunity to understand the pressures of student life and how it connects with the classroom experience.

Another session provides information for graduate students currently teaching or preparing to teach in the university by experienced professors called "Mistakes First-Time Teachers Usually Make."

Hoefnagels said she believes the colloquium is an important way to show instructors who deeply care about teaching that there are other professors who feel the same way.

"Both professors and graduate students can pick up valuable ideas and enjoy the fellowship of their colleagues," Hoefnagels said. "I am really glad to have them on campus."

The TSI Colloquium will begin 1p.m. Friday, January 27 and is free and open to all faculty and graduate students.
hello there & you too