Teaching and Learning Innovation (TLI)

CTLE

Welcome!

The Division of Teaching and Learning Innovation supports faculty in designing active, engaging, student-centered and equitable learning experiences at Berkshire Community College. The Division provides professional development and consultation, as well as offering a catalog of online resources and reflective activities.

Our mission:

  • To foster risk-taking and creativity in pedagogical and technological choices in learning experiences designed for students
  • To ensure professional development offerings that provide diverse perspectives from scholars and activists
  • To foster a spirit of continual reflection of one's own teaching practices
  • To engage faculty teaching expertise and experience; as well as celebrate their disciplinary scholarship
  • To deepen a culture of community and peer exchange of ideas and practices that center students' learning and experiences
  • To collaborate within the BCC college community in designing professional development offerings
Division of Teaching and Learning Innovation logo

Contact Us

tli@berkshirecc.edu
Hawthorne Building, H-431A

TLI: Programs and Services

The Division of Teaching and Learning Innovation is home to the following programs and services. The Divisions provides coordination, administrative support; as well as facilitates space for professional development and discussions for campus stakeholders involved in the following BCC programs and initiatives.

  • Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation (CTLI)

    The CTLI provides academic technology and instructional design support to all faculty at BCC. Offering 1-1 and group professional development opportunities on how the use of Moodle can support teaching and learning and student success across BCC's modalities, and in how technology can advance instruction and course structure, the CTLI welcomes faculty curiosity and innovation. For more information, reach out to Matt Martin, Coordinator of Instructional Technology and Design and Janet Collins, Moodle Administrator.

  • Writing Across the Curriculum

    The WAC program supports divisions, departments, and individual faculty with the integration of and appreciation for meaningful reading and writing coursework. As an integral aspect of the learning process, writing empowers students to engage with complexity, reflect on significance, discover new avenues of agency, and communicate effectively. For more information, reach out to Liesl Schwabe, Coordinator of Writing Across the Curriculum.

  • Real Talk Program

    The Faculty Academy: Real Talk program works with faculty to design classes that address the learning needs of community college students that engage with all the students from the place they start by hearing from them who they are. This approach allows faculty to build a deeper understanding of the students in their class and to adapt, as much as possible, to their academic needs rather than making assumptions based on expected or typical characteristics. BCC Faculty make a three-year commitment to join the Faculty Academy, where they learn Real Talk strategies and in a cohort model work together each year to more deeply revise and apply Real Talk strategies within their classes. For more information, reach out to Stacy Evans, Real Talk Faculty Project Lead.

  • New Faculty Seminar

    The New Faculty Seminar provides newly hired full-time faculty the opportunity to come together as a cohort in a year-long (spring 2023 semester and fall 2023 semester) program. Meetings will focus on exploring teaching and learning strategies and the application of these ideas within the classroom and course design, connecting faculty campus resources and services and building relationships and making connections among the BCC community. For more information, reach out to Meghan Callaghan, Dean for Teaching and Learning Innovation.

  • Open Education Resources (OER)

    BCC's OER program seeks to better support faculty in their use of no-cost and low-cost ($50 or less) instructional materials with students. In particular, the use of open educational resources, or OER, helps to reduce costs and barriers to access for all students, but is especially beneficial for historically underserved learners. Faculty who utilize OER often find that freely licensed materials open new possibilities for learning activities, allowing students to engage more authentically with the subject matter, and to create, display and distribute their work more freely. To support instructors in their use of OER and other no-cost and low-cost materials, the Division of Teaching and Learning Innovation and the Jonathan Edwards Library created the OER Awards Program. For more information, reach out to Matt Martin and Andrea Robare, Reference Librarian.

  • Learning Communities

    BCC's Learning Communities' mission is to recruit and engage students with a collaborative team of faculty, staff, and administrators related to their academic & career interests. The Learning Community structure creates a safe and participatory environment where students can celebrate a common purpose with equity, civility, and integrity across both Academic and Student Affairs. Our Learning communities invoke a sense of inclusivity and pride as a BCC Falcon! Learning Communities tie two courses together in a structured cross disciplinary collaboration to address the annual theme. For more information, reach out to Meghan Callaghan.

Division of Teaching and Learning Staff

For Faculty

  • CTLI Suggestion and Idea Form

    Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation Wants to Hear from You!

    (optional, but helpful for follow up)

    (optional, but helpful for follow up)

    For example, you might offer topics you want to explore or would like us to expand upon. The more detailed, the better.

    Check all that apply.

     
  • Professional Development Funding Requests

    Berkshire Community College is committed to ongoing faculty professional development. The following process and form applies to professional development funding requests for individual and small groups of faculty. If you have any questions about this process, please contact your Academic Division Dean and/or the Dean of Teaching and Learning Innovation.

    1. A faculty member (or small group) initiates a funding request in writing to their Division Dean (typically by email), and subsequently discusses this request to agree upon a project with their Dean.
    2. The faculty member completes the Professional Development Funding Request Form (note that this form also asks for the submission of an initial travel request form, where applicable, for the purpose of more precise budgeting).
    3. The Division of Teaching and Learning Innovation will work with the faculty member on any necessary logistics, including purchasing materials, reimbursing costs, registration, and developing a plan for sharing professional learning, when applicable.
    4. The faculty member (or small group) completes the professional development project/activity.
    5. The faculty member works with the Division of Teaching and Learning Innovation to facilitate sharing, with specific activities dependent on the project.