Penn College News

Institute Gives Faculty Head Start on Captivating Next Year's Classes

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Kelly B. Butzler (right), associate professor of chemistry, introduces the keynote speaker to her Summer Teaching Institute audience.Pleasantly surprised to be labeled as the keynoter, Sperling engages her audience about "Fostering Students' Self-Regulated Learning: Strategies for Instruction." Framed by a backdrop of Earth Science Center greenery, Walter J. Shultz Jr., director of the Office of Instructional Technology, leads a breakout session on "Online Tools to Encourage Student Engagement."About 60 people are attending the two-day Summer Teaching Institute, which opened Tuesday at the Schneebeli Earth Science Center near Allenwood. Held at the close of each academic year, the event – which includes about a dozen breakout sessions and a panel discussion – helps faculty hone their classroom/laboratory skills as they look ahead to the resumption of classes in the fall. Among the topics at this year's institute were academic advising, online teaching tools and varied strategies for student interaction.