AUK’s CTE inaugurates its first workshop
The Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) at AUK held its first workshop for the University’s faculty entitled, Classroom Assessment Techniques: Quick Strategies for Checking the Cognitive and Emotional Pulse of Your Class, conducted by Dr Maha Bali, Associate Professor of Practice at the Center for Teaching and Learning at the American University in Cairo (AUC).
The premise of the workshop centered on classroom assessment techniques (CATs) which are simple techniques that provide feedback on how well students are learning, which faculty members can easily collect and quickly act upon. Different CATs can give the faculty member insight on how well students are absorbing course-related knowledge and skills, students’ attitudes, values and self-awareness, and their feedback and reactions to teaching methods. The workshop discussed the benefits and challenges of using CATs and discussed the merits in light of particular teaching goals.
Commenting on the diversity of CATs, Dr Bali said, “There is always value in hearing about another faculty member’s lived experiences in teaching, and how their students responded to their approach. These practical tips can be so much more useful than anything you read about in a book about teaching.” Meanwhile, CTE Director, Basema Dana emphasized the role of the Center to serve faculty’s purpose in the University, “The heart of CTE is its relationships with faculty. I truly believe that faculty members can define their own notion of excellence. CTE is ‘A Space for Faculty’ that enables them to realize their potential and provide them with the instruments and resources to make it possible.”