Teaching and Learning Center forms online discussion group

(Nov. 2, 2001)--The UTSA Teaching and Learning Center has opened the Online Teaching & Learning Discussion Group, which is available to all UTSA faculty. The purpose of the group is to provide an easily accessible forum to discuss issues of teaching and learning in the 21st century classroom.

A goal is to create a dialogue among interested professionals of the teaching arts and sciences. Faculty from all disciplines can share their experiences, voice their concerns, ask questions, suggest solutions to problems and debate methodologies designed to increase student learning.

Topics of the online forum include group learning, collaborative learning, classroom assessment techniques, classroom management strategies, best practices and technology uses, among other areas of interest. All UTSA faculty are already registered to use the forum, and no special software is required.

The TLC Online Teaching & Learning Discussion Group is hosted on WebCT and is available from any computer with Internet access. Academic Technology recommends that you use the Internet Explorer browser to access the Web site .

Next, click the "Log on to My WebCT" link. Then type your user name (the first letter of your first name followed by your last name, all in lower case without spaces) and your password (the last four digits of your social security number) in the blanks provided. Current WebCT users should log on using their current password.

Once logged on, current users of WebCT will see a new TLC Discussion Group course listed on their course menu screen. New users will see a link titled "TLC Online Teaching & Learning Discussion Group." Now, just click on the link to enter the website and join in the discussion.

David Hansen, a UTSA history lecturer, will serve as the moderator and technical manager of the discussion group. Hansen was among the first group of UTSA faculty to experiment with technology-assisted instruction, both in the classroom and via the Internet. Since 1998, he has successfully used many of WebCT's features, including the online discussion tools, in his freshman level U.S. history classes.

For more information, or if you are unable to access the discussion group, contact David Hansen. The discussion group is co-sponsored by the Office of the Provost and the Department of Academic Technology.

Visit the Teaching and Learning Center Web site. The TLC was created to support UTSA faculty development, build community, provide course support services and sustain quality instruction.

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