Papers Highlight University's Teaching Response to Pandemic

Two presentations at the recent Lilly Conference on Enhancing Online, Onsite and Hybrid Teaching and Learning highlighted aspects of the U of A's teaching response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The online conference, held Nov. 30 to Dec. 5, featured higher education speakers from across the nation.

The first presentation, "Building a Culture of Faculty Development: One University's Pandemic Response," described the work of TIPS, a collaboration between the Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center, IT Services, and Global Campus, and the TFSC in supporting teaching excellence as the campus rapidly transitioned to remote instruction in spring 2020. Co-presenters were Kathryn Zawisza, IT Services; Shelly Walters, Global Campus; and Lori Holyfield, Julie Trivitt, and Don Johnson, all of the TFSC.

The second presentation, "Remote Teaching: Lessons Learned During a Pandemic Semester," described the findings and recommendations of surveys conducted to determine what worked and what didn't work for faculty as they transitioned to remote instruction during spring 2020. These surveys were conducted as part of the U of A Remote Teaching Task Force's work this past summer. Co-presenters were Don Johnson, TFSC; Kathryn Zawisza, IT Services; Molly Rapert, Walton College; Lauren Simon, Walton College; and Steven Beaupre, Fulbright College. 

According to TFSC co-director, Don Johnson, "These presentations gave us the opportunity to share with colleagues across the nation the truly outstanding work UA faculty did in teaching and caring for students during an unprecedented global health emergency."