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New Faculty Transition Program

New Faculty Transition Program is conducted by the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning (FCTL), and has the full support of the University's Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, College Deans, Department Heads and Chairs, and Program Directors. This support includes a strong advocacy for the full participation of all new faculty members. This strong recommendation for participation is based on a belief that all professionals new to an academic community in general and a teaching institution in particular can greatly benefit from engaging in an exploration of teaching and learning in a caring and supportive environment. The Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning in general and the New Faculty Transition Program in particular offer just such an environment.

The New Faculty Transition Program will engage you and your new faculty colleagues in meetings twice each month throughout the Fall and Spring semesters. The topics covered in many of the sessions are focused on the most important aspect of Ferris State University's mission – namely, student learning. Each session will be divided into three parts:

• Part I: Social time
• Part II: An informal discussion of any transition or teaching issues that you may have
• Part III: A presentation followed by discussion of a teaching and learning topic.

2012-2013 NFTP schedule

September 6, 2012, 11 AM - 12:45 PM - FLITE 438

Classroom Management - Verbal Judo
Facilitator:  Jennifer Johnson

The book Verbal Judo presents ideas for non-confrontational interactions during stressful situations. Designed for criminal justice uses, its techniques are highly adaptable to the classroom.

September 20, 2012, 11 AM - 12:45 PM - FLITE 135

Designing Rubrics
Facilitator:  Cliff Franklund

Rubrics help in both developing and assessing student progress. This session will assist you in designing effective rubrics.

October 4, 2012 - 11 AM - 12:45 PM - FLT 438

Learning-Centered Teaching
Facilitator: Roxanne Cullen

This session focuses on ways to revise teacher-centered instructional methods and materials to learner-centered methods and materials.

October 18, 2012, 11 AM - 12:45 PM - FLITE 135

Using Writing as a Tool for Teaching and Learning
Facilitators: Lynn Chrenka and Debra Courtright-Nash

This session focuses on best practices for using writing in the teaching and learning process. In particular you will gain ideas regarding effective design of writing assignments, successful peer review strategies, and creating and using rubrics.

November 8, 2012, 11 AM - 12:45 PM - FLITE 438

SGIDs (Small Group Instructional Diagnosis)
Facilitator:  Todd Stanislav

This session provides an opportunity to reflect on the SGID process and its applications to future teaching.

November 29, 2012, 11 AM - 12:45 PM - FLITE 438

Navigating the Tenure Process
Facilitators:  TBA

Recently tenured faculty will join us to provide insights and share experiences regarding the tenure process at Ferris State University.

January 24, 2013, 11 AM - 12:45 PM - FLITE 438

Socratic Questioning: Knowing What to Ask and How to Ask It
Facilitator:  Betty Stolarek

The way professors ask questions can either engage or intimidate students. Socratic Questioning provides a way to help students delve deeply into class material, promoting greater understanding and retention. The Intellectual Standards will also be introduced as a tool to help teachers design and assess the value of questions.

February 7, 2013, 11 AM - 12:45 PM - FLITE 240 (Reading Room)

Biological and Psychological Aspects of Learning
Facilitator:  Meral Topcu, Beth Zimmer

February 21, 2013, 11 AM - 12:45 PM - FLITE 240 (Reading Room)

Integrating FLITE Resources and Personnel into Teaching and Learning
Facilitators: Mari Kermit-Canfield, Kristy Motz 

Resistance is futile! Research at the library is changing, and partnerships can help your classes thrive. Come gain knowledge of the services and resources that FLITE has to offer, including a preview discussion of our new library discovery service, PILOT (our online information literacy tutorial), library instruction, course reserves, e-books, citation management, requests for new materials, interlibrary loan and more with librarians Mari Kermit-Canfield and Kristy Motz.

March 7, 2013, 11 AM - 12:45 PM - FLITE 240 (Reading Room)

Processing and Using IDEA Form and SAI Student Feedback
Facilitators:  Brian Craig, Andy Karafa 

In this session, we’ll explore how to make sense of the feedback you receive on IDEA or SAI forms, and how to use that feedback to make adjustments in your teaching practice. You will identify at least two specific strategies for interpreting and reflecting on the feedback you receive, and integrating it into your teaching. You will also gain knowledge of how the end-of-semester evaluation process occurs at Ferris.

March 21, 2013, 11 AM - 12:45 PM - FLITE 240 

Using High Impact Practices
Facilators: Dan Adsmond, Fred Heck, Stephanie Thomson 

The Association of American Colleges and Universities describes ten “High Impact Educational Practices” (HIPs) that promote meaningful learning. These practices are relevant for all students, and often prove especially powerful in helping under-prepared students succeed in college. This session will provide an overview of these ten practices and why they are effective. You will hear examples of how Ferris faculty members use three practices, service-learning, capstone projects, and collaborative learning, and identify opportunities for using HIPs in your own teaching.

April 11, 2013, 11 AM - 12:45 PM - FLITE 438 

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SOTL)
Facilitator: Todd Stanislav 

A question lies at the heart of the scholarship of teaching and learning.  Really? A question? How could this be?  Join us for this session to explore the scholarship of teaching and learning from the single perspective of a question. Come with a question in mind -- a question about your teaching or your students’ learning. A question you really care about; one that holds your attention. We'll explore ways to seek insights and answers to your question.

End-of-Year Dinner (Date and Location TDB)

The list of topics is subject to change based on particular needs or interests of the new faculty members. Please let us know if there is a topic or issue that you think we should consider in one of our sessions.