The first featured teacher this year is the new Faculty Fellow for the Center for Teaching Excellence.
Dr. Alison Barton , Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Foundations & Special Education, is already well known around campus as an advocate for innovative teaching and learning practices. In addition to teaching undergraduate and graduate classes, you may recognize her from the many training workshops she offers through ATS and HR on various instructional practices such as critical thinking, motivation, guided learning and online discussions.
In her new role as CTE faculty fellow, Dr. Barton will be able to expand the reach of her expertise and offer workshops and personal consultations on issues related to teaching and learning, course design, and assessment. “My objective when providing these evaluations is to positively support those practices which are already in place that lead to student learning and engagement, and then to offer suggestions that might further improve the course.”
"I am fortunate in that much of the subject matter I teach is about learning and the best practices for teaching that follow. As I teach this information, I have realized that I need to be a good model of those practices. I work continuously to learn and model best instructional practices for my own students, both in on-ground and online settings."
Dr. Barton’s research interests converge with her passion for teaching and learning excellence. She is currently engaged in collaborative research with other ETSU faculty on the efficacy of online guided-inquiry and the role of mindset. She is also keenly aware of the importance of engaging the whole learner and will be leading sessions on applying mindfulness techniques in the classroom.

The CTE is indebted to Dr. Barton for her service efforts. She was a core member of the Teaching Work Group from 2015 to 2017 whose many positive recommendations for improving teaching at ETSU led to the creation of the Center. Her teaching, research, and service all stem from a deep commitment to discovering and helping create the ideal conditions for learning and sharing and applying these insights at ETSU. A glimpse at her teaching philosophy reflects this well:
“I believe that teaching is about creating an environment wherein students actively develop their understanding of the information. I believe students learn best when they are given some sense of autonomy and a belief, through instructional support, that they can be successful. And I believe peak learning cannot happen if there is not a positive relationship between the instructor and the student, which is why my latest quest is to cultivate my own compassion as an instructor.” 
Dr. Barton's many awards include The Clemmer College of Education Technology Award (2011-2012), and Teaching Award (2013-2014), and the ETSU Faculty Award for Teaching (2014-2015). She has also been designated an Online Master Teacher at ETSU (2017-2018).