New Faculty Orientation :: Center for Teaching and Scholarship Westchester Community College Prof. Melissa Hall

1. New Faculty Orientation
Westchester Community College :: Fall 2014
Professor Melissa Hall
Arts Department

2. Expectations vs Reality
What are your expectations?
Image source: http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2012/01/17/climate-science-in-schools-
the-next-evolution/teacherclassroomgeneric080211/

3. Expectations vs Reality
There is often a gap between
expectations and outcomes
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4. Reality
Community College students
are over-scheduled and
under-prepared
Image source: http://highlighter.com/wp-content/
uploads/2012/04/student-full.jpg

5. Characteristics of Community College
Students
 41 percent attend college full-time
 19 percent of full-time and 42 percent of part-time students
work more than 30 hours a week
 29 percent of full-time and 37 percent of part-time students
care for dependents 11 or more hours a week
Source: http://www.utexas.edu/features/2012/04/26/community_college_student_retention/

6. WCC Visual Arts Majors

7. Reality
Community College students
“don’t do optional”
Kay McClenney, director of the Center for Community College Student
Engagement
Image source:
http://www.utexas.edu/features/2012/04/26/community_college_student_r
etention/

8. Strategies
How do we narrow the gap
between expectations and
outcomes?
Image source: http://www.leadingmenonly.com/great-unmet-expectations

9. Strategies
What strategies can we use
to motivate students to adopt
the habits and behaviors
necessary for success?
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uploads/2013/03/3.Learn-Ways-to-Stay-Motivated.jpg

10. Communication
Make your expectations clear
Image source:
http://coachestrainingblog.com/becomeacoach/category/coaching-tips/

11. Communication
The Course Syllabus is an
excellent tool for setting clear
expectations

12. Communication
Leave no stone unturned!
Establish clear policies
about behaviors that are
important to you
Image source: http://www.theridernews.com/2011/10/13/student-texting-
in-class-sends-mixed-messages/

13. Expectations
Behaviors/dispositions
Knowledge/skills
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Ci3AQ3vTVTo/TVxxu1BvrBI/AAAAAAAAANM/3ryMs6nbMKU/s1600/Studying-imagined.
png

14. Behavior
What kind of behavior do you
expect from students?
Image source:
http://www.burkecentral.k12.nd.us/mdurick/files/2012/08/16x20teac
hersubway.jpg

15. Behavior
•Attend class regularly
•Come to class on time
•Be “present” and engaged
and in class
•Complete all assignments
•Study for exams
•Seek out help (ASC/Writing
Tutorial/Office Hours)
Image source:
http://www.burkecentral.k12.nd.us/mdurick/files/2012/08/16x20teac
hersubway.jpg

16. Attendance
What strategies can we use
to encourage attendance?
Image source:
http://www.ambergristoday.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/page_full/image/Gui
dance_Councelor_Class_Participation.jpg

17. Attendance
Incentives & Rewards
•Low-stakes quizzes
•Bonus points for good
attendance
•Food!
Image source: http://nooomaaas.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/quiz-in-class.jpg

18. Attendance
Low-stakes assignments &
quizzes can also promote
self-confidence

19. Engagement
How can we keep students
motivated and engaged in
class?
Image source: http://www.chacha.com/gallery/4669/which-high-school-classes-are-
unbearable

20. I will
dazzle
them
with my
lectures!
!!
Doris Day in Teachers Pet (1958)
Image source: http://www.dorisday.net/teacher_s_pet.html

21. Engagement
Try to strike a balance
between “information
delivery” and hands-on
learning
Image source: http://tlt-swg.blogspot.com/2012/03/guidelines-teaching-learning-and.
html

22. Engagement
In-class workshops and
hands-on activities promote
community and active
student engagement
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uploads/2011/03/meeting-icon-clean1.jpg

23. Exams
How can we motivate
students to study for exams?
Image source:
http://jameshempel.weebly.com/uploads/1/6/8/7/16878620/6935271_orig.jpg

24. Exams
Pre-testing is a great way to
alert students to exam
expectations (and ensures
fewer surprises for YOU!)
Image source: http://iknow-research.net/read/2012/05/pretest.png

25. Exams
I recommend frequent and
explicit grade reports
Image source: http://www.better-ed.org/blog/you-got-what-your-report-card

26. Exams
Students don’t “do the math”
They often believe they are
doing great, even when they
aren’t
Image source: http://www.bgstudios.com/angry.html#

27. Exams
Create structures to promote
good study habits

28. Exams
Consider scheduling study
workshops/meet-ups
Image source: http://www.chcp.edu/sites/default/files/content/images/student-group-
study.jpg

29. Assignments
How do we
motivate/encourage students
to complete assignments
(preferably on time)?
Image source:
http://jasminesmith.cmswiki.wikispaces.net/file/view/assignment.png/205491540/as
signment.png

30. Assignments
Create a realistic policy for
late assignments and re-submissions

31. Assignments
Otherwise, you may find
yourself buried under a
mountain of late assignments
at the end of the semester
Image source: http://teachingtomtom.com/2013/09/06/tools-for-paperless-grading/

32. Assignments
For high-stakes assignments,
consider an in-class
workshop to introduce the
assignment
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uploads/2012/03/brainstorm1.jpg

33. Assignments
This will alert the “sleepers”
that there is an assignment to
be completed (unless they
miss the class)
Image source: http://www.bgstudios.com/angry.html#

34. Time Management
Make time-management part
of your plan
When setting due dates,
factor in the time students
need to complete the work
Image source: http://maintenance.io/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Time-
Management.jpg

35. Rubrics
Create a rubric, and share it
with students in advance
Image source: http://www.ststesting.com/torrance/rubrics_cropped.jpg

36. Rubrics
If you’re not familiar with
rubrics, you will be soon!
Image source: http://online.pasadena.edu/faculty/files/2012/02/Creating-Rubrics-
Graphic.png

37. Academic Support
How do we encourage
students to make use of
Academic support services?

38. Academic Support
Consider making it a
requirement, or award bonus
points
Image source: http://tacticstime.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Bonus-
Points2.png

39. Knowledge/Skills
What knowledge/skills do you
expect your students to
possess?
Image source: http://hbculifestyle.com/why-a-college-degree-is-necessary-
for-work-in-a-global-economy/

40. Knowledge/Skills
•Read attentively/critically
•Use basic research skills
•Write thoughtful, well-developed
essays and
papers
•Use quotations properly and
effectively
•Cite sources
Image source: http://hbculifestyle.com/why-a-college-degree-is-necessary-
for-work-in-a-global-economy/

41. Readiness Gap
Source: http://www.highereducation.org/reports/college_readiness/gap.shtml

42. Academic Skills
How do we cultivate the skills
needed to succeed?
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uploads/2014/03/Proofing-photo.jpg

43. Tutorials
Consider the use of in-class
workshops or tutorials

44. Samples
Provide samples they can
look at, or even score, using
your rubric

45. Tutorials
If research is required,
consider a research tutorial,
or require students to
complete the Library’s
Research Path

46. Lib Guides
Work with a librarian to set
up a Lib Guide on the
Library’s website
Image source: http://researchguides.sunywcc.edu/c.php?g=20459

47. Collaborate with WCC Librarians
Invite a librarian to your
classroom, or embed a
librarian in your Blackboard
shell
Image source: http://www.sunywcc.edu/student-services/library/ask-a-librarian/
information-literacy-instruction/

48. Tutorials
Use your Blackboard shell to
provide links to useful
resources online
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2212282

49. Talk to Colleagues
Talk to your colleagues about
teaching – often!
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AskForHelp_Logo_2.png

50. Talk to Colleagues
Never be afraid to ask for
help!
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