Chart of mean reported knowledge of topic

OID and Engineering Collaboratively Develop Pedagogy Workshop Series for Faculty

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OID has been making concerted efforts to engage more proactively with faculty in order to improve teaching at UCLA. One of these efforts was a collaboration with Engineering to develop and run a pedagogy workshop series. During Fall quarter, Kumiko Haas and Michelle Gaston worked with engineering faculty to develop each session. The collaboration with OID provided a foundation in evidence-based pedagogy to support the discipline-specific expertise and experience of engineering faculty.

The result was a ten-week pedagogy workshop series held in Winter, 2018, entitled “Faculty Teaching Faculty about Teaching,” or FT^2. Each workshop listed below was led by one or more engineering faculty members, with OID’s Kumiko Haas, Michelle Gaston, Michelle Lew, and Deborah Kearney also contributing to the presentations.

DATE SPEAKERS TOPICS
January 8, 2018 Scott Brandenberg, Kumiko Haas Diversity, equity and inclusion
How instructors can improve outcomes for engineering students with diverse backgrounds while helping all students be prepared to succeed in a diverse workplace.
January 16, 2018 Jake Schmidt, Michelle Gaston Backwards course design
Establishing learning objectives and using them as a foundation for assessments, lectures, course activities, and assignments.
January 22, 2018 Hal Monbouquette Test design
Designing tests that cover a range of performance levels.
January 29, 2018 Adrienne Lavine Assessment and inclusive grading practices 
Criterion-based grading vs. grading on a strict curve, variations. Research showing how grading practices affect student performance.
February 5, 2018 Laurent Pilon Assessing prerequisite preparation
Identifying what students need to know to succeed in your class. Assessing preparations early to inform both you and the students of preparation gaps. Providing resources to mitigate preparation gaps.
February 12, 2018 Veronica Santos, Rob Candler Active learning techniques 
Active learning techniques including think-pair-share and polling tools such as clickers and the UCLA online polling tool. Research and evidence about how active learning can affect student outcomes.
February 20, 2018 Amit Sahai Socratic method
An approach to student centered learning using a directed question lecture style of guiding student learning.
February 26, 2018 Rob Shaefer, Bill Kaiser, Don Browne Managing active learning through group work and project teams 
How to form teams. How to grade team-based projects to encourage collaboration while not rewarding lack of participation. Clear rubrics that still allow creativity. Separately, a discussion about student motivation.
March 5, 2018 Jenn-Ming Yang, Michelle Lew, Deborah Kearney Technology resources for enhanced education 
Avoiding technology for its own sake. Finding technology that supports and enhances your teaching style and learning objectives. Building awareness of the technology resources available at UCLA.
March 13, 2018 Carey Nachenberg, Sasha Sherstov, Bruce Dunn The art of great teaching/lecturing
Overcoming the hurdles of a lecture environment to truly engage students. Examples of tools and tricks that you can use. Selecting the tools that align with your teaching style.

The 25 engineering faculty participants reported knowledge gains in every topic, as shown below. The effort was very much appreciated by the School of Engineering and Applied Science and the series will be offered again next Fall.

Chart of mean reported knowledge of topic

Anatomy of STEM teaching in North American universities

OID Contributes to Assessment of STEM Teaching Published in “Science”

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OID’s Center for Educational Assessment researchers Casey Shapiro, Michael Soh, and Brit Toven-Lindsey, guided by CEA Director Marc Levis-Fitzgerald, collaborated with CEILS Director Erin Sanders and UCLA faculty on a large, national research study of STEM teaching methods that was published in the journal Science in March 2018.

This seminal study used classroom observations to reliably characterize teaching styles that use traditional lecture vs. various combinations of student-centered teaching practices in STEM courses. Teaching practices were systematically characterized into three types, Didactic, Interactive Lecture, and Student-Centered, and these practices were observed in over 2000 classes taught by over 500 STEM instructors across 25 universities. These classes ranged from lower to upper level and were conducted in learning spaces ranging from smaller rooms, some with flexible seating arrangements, to large lecture halls. It was discovered that teaching practices were not dictated by learning spaces or course level and that simply creating flexible spaces does not automatically lead to student-centered teaching.

Link to full paper

Texas A&M University Logo

UCLA Presents on URM Student Success at Texas A&M

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Marc Levis-Fitzgerald, Director of the Center for Educational Assessment at OID, and Kelly Wahl, Director of Statistical Analysis & Assessment Coordinator in the College of Letters & Science, were invited to present at the Engaging National Leaders in Undergraduate Student Success Conference held at Texas A&M University on February 20, 2018.

Marc and Kelly presented on programs and initiatives at UCLA that support underrepresented, minority (URM) students and described the use of data to determine the impact of these programs. UCLA is among the top universities in the country for success among URM students, and UCLA presenters were honored for the opportunity to share their work with other institutions. This letter to UCLA’s EVC Scott Waugh from the Assistant Provost of Texas A&M, Timothy Scott, expresses his appreciation for UCLA’s participation and impressive work in this area.

As Marc notes, “OID provides assessment support to faculty across campus, and we lean towards embedded assessment, rather than top-down assessment. This approach invites faculty into the process and allows us to work collaboratively to understand findings.”

Office of Instructional Development Booth at Bruin Day

OID’s Evaluation of Instruction Program Showcases Resources for Admitted Students at Bruin Day

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Office of Instructional Development Booth at Bruin Day Students at Bruin Day Mugs given out at Bruin Day

The Evaluation of Instruction Program is proud to annually represent OID at both the freshman and Transfer Bruin Days. These all-day events help admitted students and their families decide if UCLA is the right choice for them.

Welcomed visitors at the EIP booth learn key takeaways about the course evaluation process by playing a fun quiz game, and can win an OID mug. This face-to-face interaction is excellent for communicating our values of student feedback and improvement of teaching at UCLA.

Haines A44

Haines A44 – First General Assignment Active Learning Classroom

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Haines A44

OID Educational Technology Systems, in cooperation with Facilities Management, has created the first general assignment Active Learning Classroom at UCLA – Haines A44.

The room is available for use in Fall 2018, and will be offered for scheduling first to those faculty who will make use of the special features of the space.

With a capacity of 40, and moveable tables and chairs, the room can be configured for collaborative work as well as more traditional modes. There is one projector and screen in the front of the room, and four interactive whiteboards, with the ability to share data in multiple ways. Power can be supplied to the student stations, and a solid wifi network supplies connectivity.

OID has been hosting open house sessions in the room. The remaining two are Wednesday February 14th and Thursday February 15th, 8:15 – 9:15 AM. Faculty and instructors who attend the open houses will be given the first opportunity to schedule classes in Fall 2018. Arrangements can be made with the Registrar to move classes currently scheduled in other rooms to Haines A44. Two additional spaces in Boelter Hall will be renovated this summer and converted to Active Learning Classrooms. They will be available for scheduling on a limited bases in Fall 2018, and more widely usable in Winter 2019.

If you are unable to attend the open houses or have questions or need further information, please contact Rob Rodgers via email (rrodgers@oid.ucla.edu) or at x44872.

Haines 39 after renovation

General Assignment Classrooms – 2017 Renovations

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Haines 39 before renovation Haines 39 during renovation Haines 39 after renovation Haines A44 before renovation Haines A44 during renovation Haines A44 after renovation Haines A20 before renovation Haines A20 after renovation Haines A28 before renovation Haines A28 after renovation Haines A18 before renovation Haines A18 during renovation Haines A18 after renovation

Summer 2017 brought new challenges to renovating classrooms: restoring one of the oldest auditoriums on campus and creating a new Active Learning Classroom.

Haines 39 Auditorium was completely redesigned in order to allow more space and audio visual technology. Once the Design and Project Management Office was given approvals, the renovation began the weekend of commencement, starting with the removal of the projection booth in the back. With the projection booth out, this allows an additional two rows for seating, which will be installed through the Winter 2017-2018 break.

Classroom Technology Design and Maintenance installed three high-powered laser projectors within the same footprint of the projection booth. Instructors can now have three separate projections at one time. With the all new multimedia lectern and touch screen controls, faculty can use their own laptop, access data from the classroom computer, and use the document camera at the same time. The lighting in the room was upgraded, complementing the new paint and refinishing of the classic wood framing along the perimeter. Control of the shades at the multimedia lectern can illuminate the room at a single touch, making clear and sunny days accessible. Seating and Flooring will soon be upgraded providing additional seating and completing the new look for Haines 39.

A44 is now the first Active Learning Classroom on the UCLA Campus. The style of the classroom promotes a new form of engagement among students and faculty. An instructor may ask students to sit in groups of four or six and maybe grab a seat to engage in a more personal discussion. They could also move tables to interactive boards at each end, giving students the chance to present their ideas to their peers before engaging with the instructor. New and unique forms of learning have been shown to provide a greater impact among learners.

Comparing the room to the past shows how dramatic the renovation was. Installing interactive white boards, accessible and movable seating, new lighting, and overall new audio visual system has provided the opportunity for the UCLA campus to engage in something new. Features of this space will be shown soon to interested faculty and staff. To have a tour of the area and insight into the equipment, please contact AVS.

Top to Bottom upgrades! A20 and A28

Haines’ collection of 10 smaller rooms were updated from floor to ceiling. New flooring in smaller seminar rooms and carpet in rooms with movable desks. Older writing surfaces with chalk were updated to whiteboards. Lastly, new lighting and lighting controls were installed to enhance the projection display with the ability to switch onto students and faculty when necessary. Each smaller seminar room has new movable tables and chairs. Larger classrooms have Steelcase nodes with rolling casters. Every small room has a unique color to ensure that they are kept in place and easier to find. Audio visual upgrades included new interactive projectors that display right onto the whiteboard. This takes away the need to pull down the projector screen in the smaller classrooms. New interactive boards can be used just like a traditional whiteboard but with more features. For example, saving slides that students worked on, or displaying media with new HDMI connection. A description of features and tutorials will come soon!

A2 and A18 received a dramatic renovation from floor to ceiling. Highlighting a more comfortable seating arrangement, getting rid of old chalkboards, new lighting/lighting controls and double projection. Faculty and instructors can now have two unique projections at one time. Touch screen controls on the media cabinet allow users to make these unique selections. In both rooms, the left projector will always have sound, while the right will have a traditional projection. For example with the new blu-ray player and touch screen controlled classroom computer, the left screen can show a film, while the right can be used to research more information. Because of the size of each room, it felt necessary to have this type of audio visual setup.

A25 received the same updates with attention to brand new auditorium style seating. Seating in A25 in particular was in need of an upgrade which expanded the capacity to 73. It received a new touch screen controlled classroom computer with blu-ray player.

For any assistance with any of the classroom renovations, please contact Audio Visual Services. Faculty and staff can receive assistance in class by picking up the phone and being transferred to our technicians (x66597), or inquiring here for any further information.

2017 Faculty Teaching Award Winners

UCLA’s outstanding teachers honored at special night

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The 34th Annual Andrea L. Rich Night to Honor Teaching took place on October 11, 2017 at the Chancellor’s Residence. This annual celebration is co-sponsored by the UCLA Academic Senate Committee on Teaching and the Office of Instructional Development to honor and celebrate the accomplishments and dedication of the Faculty, Lecturers and Teaching Assistants who have received this year’s awards for teaching. Read more about the recipients of this year’s Distinguished Teaching Award at the UCLA Newsroom article.

General Assignment Classrooms – Summer 2016 Renovations

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Newly renovated outdoor study spaces at UCLA

Educational Technology Systems renovated 12 General Assignment classrooms with the assistance of Facilities Management and Design and Project Management Office. Eight smaller classrooms in Geology, Slichter, and Young; Four larger auditoriums located in the Court of Sciences and Moore Hall.

Each classroom received new flooring, seating, paint, lighting, and technology. New seating improved the capacity of each classroom. All lighting upgrades used newer LED setups, getting rid of the need for bulb replacements. Technology upgrades in each classroom provided touch screen classroom computers, Blu-ray players, and Document Cameras. Classroom Technology, Design and Maintenance successfully managed the installation of all technology upgrades.

The Court of Sciences three auditoriums (CS24, CS50, CS76) were renovated in a larger scale. It was important to make the auditoriums comfortable for students and faculty. Each auditorium now has triple projection, meaning instructors can have three unique projections at one time. An instructor can project the contents of the document camera, the classroom computer, and their own laptop at the same time.

Moore Hall, Room 100 was an exceptional challenge for renovations. The historical significance in the room made it difficult for upgrades; not wanting to damage the character of the room was a high priority. In the end, it also received all of the upgrades mentioned, giving it an entirely new look.

Other smaller classrooms have also been updated!

  • Geology 3656, 4645, 4660, 6704
  • Young 1044, 2200, 4216
  • Slichter 2834

Outside Study Spaces

ETS also helped initiate new outside study spaces between Humanities and Powell Library for Fall 2016. Each table and bench includes an electrical outlet with the ability to charge laptops or cell phones. WiFi coverage is also enhanced in the same area. Students have come to enjoy the outside seating and have asked for more areas around campus to be renovated. Many students posted favorably on Instagram, on the @UCLA page.

Daily Bruin article on renovations