DRAFT

WESTERN REGION TEACHING SYMPOSIUM

Educational Excellence: Rooted in Research

SEPTEMBER 21-22, 2007

FRIDAY: SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

PRE-SESSION FOR WESTERN REGION ACADEMIC PROGRAM STAFF MEMBERS

8:00 am     Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00 am     Opening Session—Filling the University and College Pipelines: Recruiting Students

10:00 am   Break

10:15 am   Expanding Options for All Students

11:30 am   Lunch

1:00 pm    Keeping them Down on the Farm: Retention

2:30 pm    Break

2:45 pm    Wrap-up “Beg, Borrow & Steal”

OPENING SESSION FOR THE WESTERN REGION TEACHING SYMPOSIUM

5:00 pm    Registration, Reception, and Refreshments

7:00 pm    Helping Good Teachers Become Better

This presentation will concentrate on five things that will: (a) enhance teaching performance, (b) improve the academic performance of students, and (c) make you one of the most popular teachers on campus.

                  Dr. Paul Vaughn

                  Associate Dean for Academic Programs

                  College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources

                  The University of Missouri

WESTERN REGION TEACHING SYMPOSIUM

SATURDAY: SEPTEMBER 22, 2007

7:00 am     Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:00 am     Teaching with Flair

Believe it or not, there is science as well as art involved in the teaching-learning process.  From foundational research on the brain to pragmatic approaches to teaching effectiveness and student learning, this presentation will set the stage for the day's workshops to connect the participants with the science and art of teaching.

                  Dr. Susie Whittington

                  Associate Professor

Human and Community Resource Development

                  The Ohio State University

9:00 am     Just Do It:  Applications for Effective Teaching and Learning

Do you want to make your instruction more successful in terms of student achievement?  This session will address principles of effective teaching and learning and the application of those principles, resulting in higher levels of student achievement.

                  Dr. Vern Luft

                  Associate Dean

College of Education

                  The University of Nevada, Reno

9:45 am     Break

10:00 am   Brain Based Research: Messages for Teaching

The science on how the brain develops and works has exploded in the past few years.  This session will look at that research and offer implications for the teaching/learning process.

Dr. Cindy Akers

                  Associate Professor

                  Agricultural Communications and Education

                  Texas Tech University

                  Dr. Lynn Martindale

                  Lecturer/Supervisor

                  School of Education               

                  The University of California, Davis

10:45 am         Preferences in the Classroom: The Contribution of Learning Styles and Multiple Intelligences to Student Learning

Research shows that our classrooms are filled with students who learn in different ways which impacts the teaching and learning process. This session will summarize the significant findings in research of learning styles and multiple intelligences and provide the opportunity to discuss the implications of these findings on university classrooms. 

                  Dr. Wendy Warner

                  Assistant Professor

                  Ag Education and Communication

                  Cal-Poly, San Luis Obispo

                  Mr. Quint Molina

                  Instructor

                  Agricultural Education

                  The University of Arizona

11:30 am   Break for Lunch

1:00 pm     Creative Learning

Students learn in all kinds of ways.  This session will help the participants to consider creative learning strategies in their teaching.

                  Dr. Greg Thompson

                  Professor and Interim Head

                  Agricultural Education and General Agriculture                    

                  Oregon State University

                  Dr. Ed Franklin

                  Assistant Professor

                  Agricultural Education

                  The University of Arizona 

1:45 pm     Raising Questions

In this interactive workshop, the integration of Critical Thinking into educational goals is explored.  Participants have the opportunity to create teaching plans that promote open-minded thinking, recognition of assumptions, and practicality of consequences.

                  Dr. Chris Townsend

                  Professor and Head

                  Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications

                  Texas A&M University

                  Dr. Brian Warnick

                  Assistant Professor

                  Agricultural Systems Technology and Education

                  Utah State University

2:30 pm     Break

2:45 pm     Problem Solving

Being able to solve problems is one of the major life skills that students need to develop.  This session will look at how to utilize problem solving in the teaching/learning process.

                  Dr. Carl Igo

                  Assistant Professor

                  Agricultural Education/Agricultural Operations Technology

                  Montana State University

                  Dr. Jack Elliot

                  Professor and Head

                  Agricultural Education

                  The University of Arizona 

3:45 pm     Effective Peer Reviews of Teaching

Most Universities use peer reviews as part of the evidence for demonstrating excellence in teaching.  This session will take a look at that process and offer specific suggestions on how to make that process more effective.

                  Panel of Presenters for the day

4:30 pm     Wrap-up

6:00 pm     Banquet

Dinner and Entertainment

The Desert Sons