At SRU, effective teaching creates opportunities for students to collaborate with others, apply knowledge in meaningful contexts, investigate important questions, and reflect on their learning. These opportunities are strengthened when courses are designed to be accessible, inclusive, and universally designed to support the diverse ways students engage with content and demonstrate learning.
The Center for Teaching and Learning organizes professional development around four areas that support these goals. These areas include many of the High-Impact Practices identified by Kuh (2008) as contributing to student engagement, persistence, and learning.
1. Collaborative and Community-Based Learning
Purpose: Students deepen their understanding when they learn with and from others. Courses that incorporate structured collaboration and dialogue help students build communication skills, consider diverse perspectives, and develop a stronger sense of belonging. Designing collaborative experiences that allow for multiple ways of participation helps ensure all students can engage meaningfully.
Examples include:
- Collaborative assignments and group projects
- Learning communities
- Structured class discussions
- Peer instruction
- Diversity and global learning experiences
- Community-engaged or service-learning projects
CTL programming in this area supports faculty in designing collaborative learning experiences that are inclusive, structured, and accessible to all learners.
2. Experiential and Applied Learning
Purpose: Students learn most effectively when they apply course concepts to authentic problems and real-world contexts. Experiential learning opportunities allow students to practice disciplinary thinking while connecting academic work to professional practice or community engagement. Providing flexible pathways for students to engage in applied work and demonstrate their learning supports broader participation.
Examples include:
- Internships and field experiences
- Applied course projects
- Service-learning partnerships
- Community-based research
- Capstone projects
CTL programming in this area supports faculty in designing applied learning experiences that are authentic, adaptable, and aligned with universally designed approaches to learning.
Inquiry and Knowledge Creation
Purpose: Courses that emphasize inquiry encourage students to ask questions, investigate problems, analyze evidence, and communicate their findings. These experiences help students develop critical thinking and disciplinary expertise. Structuring inquiry with clear expectations, accessible materials, and multiple ways for students to express their understanding supports deeper engagement.
Examples include:
- Undergraduate research experiences
- Writing-intensive courses that engage students in disciplinary thinking and inquiry
- Inquiry-based learning activities
- Research-based assignments
- Problem-based learning
CTL programming in this area supports faculty as they design inquiry-driven assignments that are structured, transparent, and supported by universally designed course materials.
Integrative and Reflective Learning
Purpose: Students gain deeper understanding when they have opportunities to connect ideas across courses and reflect on their learning. Integrative experiences help students synthesize knowledge and recognize how their learning applies beyond the classroom. Providing varied opportunities for reflection and expression allows students to engage in meaningful ways.
Examples include:
- ePortfolios
- Capstone experiences
- Reflective writing assignments
- Integrative projects that connect multiple areas of study
CTL programming in this area supports faculty in designing reflective and integrative activities that allow students multiple avenues to demonstrate learning and growth.
How Faculty Can Engage
Faculty can participate in CTL programming in several ways:
- Workshops and seminars focused on teaching strategies and course design
- Faculty Learning Communities that explore specific teaching practices
- Academic Innovations Grants that support new instructional approaches
CTL programming also supports faculty in designing courses and materials that are clear, accessible, and aligned with universally designed principles for face-to-face and digital learning environments.
Goal
The goal of this framework is to support teaching practices that create meaningful learning experiences for SRU students while fostering a culture of sustained faculty engagement, instructional innovation, and shared teaching practice across the university.