Summer Institute (SI) | Inclusive Teaching

The UConn Summer Institute (UConn-SI) is an immersive, project-based workshop for faculty. UConn-SI follows a Mobile Summer Institutes (MoSIs) model that combines the pedagogical approach of the National Academies with: 1) a peer mentoring and evaluation workshop, 2) a scholarly teaching workshop, 3) a strategic planning workshop, and 4) an administrator’s workshop. Elements of UConn-SI are based on Charles Henderson’s 4 Categories of Change model and highlight the need for surrounding educators with a supportive environment while they implement teaching strategies to improve student learning and success.

UConn-SI employs the strategies presented during the institute. Workshops on the elements of Scientific Teaching - Inclusivity, Backward Design, Active Learning, Student-Centered Learning, Assessment, and Evaluation - are combined with small project-based, working group sessions where participants tackle a self-selected project or project idea using their newly acquired skills and methods. The groups present their work for peer-review near the end of the week. Participants leave with practical knowledge and skills on how to incorporate new instructional strategies into their teaching and learning spaces.

Department head support is imperative for several reasons:

You should not be expected to work for free
Your time is valuable and should be protected
Your work is important and deserves recognition
Your effort toward departmental change should align with the Department’s strategic plan

Teams should schedule a meeting with their department heads to discuss the scope of the project, its value to the department, and departmental resources needed to complete the project (release from departmental service, course release, funding, etc). Any departmental resource commitments should be listed in the letter of support.

The MoSI team, composed of national leaders in education reform, travels to post-secondary institutions and trains a critical mass of educators through active problem solving and discussion. This year’s team includes:

Michelle Withers - Associate Professor of Biology at Binghamton University and a STEM Educator for the university's Center for Teaching and Learning.
Deb Pires - Instructional Consultant and Academic Administrator UCLA Center for Education Innovation in Life Sciences

Below is a sample agenda. This is a general schedule of events in a Mobile Summer Institute. Any changes in the schedule will be communicated in advance.

Day Time	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
9-9:30	Inclusivity	Backward Design II	Scholarly Teaching	Group Work IV	Strategic Planning II: Action Planning
9:30-10:00				Group Work IV
10:00-10:30				Presentations
10:30-11:00		Scientific Teaching in Action	Peer Mentoring/ Evaluation
11:00-11:30
11:30-12:00
12-12:30					Group Reports
12:30-1:00	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch w/administrators
1:00-1:30	Backward Design I	Group Work II	Group Work III	Presentations	Administrator workshop
2:30-3:00	Caucusing		Group Share	Wrap-up/Resource
3:00-3:30	Caucusing			Strategic Planning I: Visioning, Needs Assess. Concensus
3:30-4:00	Group Work I
4:00-4:30	Group Work I
4:30-5:00	Facilitator Debrief	Facilitator Debrief	Facilitator Debrief

Inclusive Teaching – ie3

UConn Summer Institute
on Scientific Teaching

Is there a stipend?

Can I attend as an individual?

When is the deadline to apply?

What is a team?

What are the differences between a team and a group?

Why do I need a letter of support from my department head?

Do participants get some sort of certificate or recognition letter for taking part in the MoSI?

Is there any follow-up after the institute?

Who will facilitate the UConn-SI this year?

What is a typical schedule for a MoSI?

UConn Summer Institute on Scientific Teaching