Picture of Jasmine Yap

Welcome Dr. Jasmine Yap, New OTL Director of Inclusive Teaching Practices!


The OTL is excited to welcome Dr. Jasmine Yap to our team as the new Director of Inclusive Teaching Practices!


Jasmine earned her BA in Psychology from Loyola University Maryland, her MS and Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from Tufts University, and her MA in Teaching in Diverse Contexts from University of Colorado Denver. She was an adjunct instructor in the Psychology Department here at DU in 2013, and she taught high school science for several years in the Denver Metro area before returning to higher education as the Lead Inclusive Pedagogy Instructional Specialist at Community College of Aurora (CCA) in 2020. At CCA - a Hispanic-Serving Institution and Minority-Serving Institution - she led teams of faculty in the redesign of gateway courses, created an equity-focused instructor development program, and coached faculty and adjunct instructors in the implementation of culturally responsive teaching and data-driven decision making. Her research area is focused on the empowerment of faculty in creating welcoming classroom communities for their students, particularly those historically marginalized from education, through the use of culturally affirming and reflexive pedagogy.

4D Design Series for Faculty


We are excited to share that the 4D Team has partnered with OTL and the VPFA Office to launch a new series of offerings for faculty in the 2024 Winter and Spring Terms that provide opportunities to design for greater flourishing for self as well as for students. In each of the two-part series (“Designing for Purpose,” “Designing for Well-being," and “Designing for Belonging”), participants will gain actionable strategies and tools for setting the stage for flourishing to emerge in their personal and professional lives. 


Learn more about the 4D series. Please register for one or more of the design series via the registration Qualtrics form.

Teacher Scholar Lecture and Reception with Professor Steve Iona


Join us for the next Teacher-Scholar Lecture and Reception featuring Steve Iona, Teaching Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, February 7th from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Community Commons Faculty Lounge. Dr. Iona has worked at DU for two decades, becoming a full Teaching Professor in 2017. He teaches the general physics class for pre-med, biology and chemistry majors. Currently, he is working on several programs that help students better understand the career options when they graduate. 

 

Outside of DU, he is a founding instructor with the Colorado Learning Assistant Program at the University of Colorado Boulder. This program works to support undergraduate science and mathematics majors becoming more experienced at facilitating learning for science and math majors in settings such as large undergraduate courses.


Teacher Scholar Lecture and Reception with Steve Iona

Wednesday, February 7, 5:00 - 6:30 p.m.

Faculty Lounge (Community Commons 2800)

Faculty Advisor and Mentor Winter Training with the Office of Student Success


Advising and mentoring: we all do it . . . but where does it “count” in our workload? How can we talk about these important roles and the impact they have on student success in a way that is honored in the annual review? Just in time for that process, this workshop will give you the opportunity to consider how you communicate the value of your advising and mentoring and the impact your work has on the university.


Register using the link below, and please contact Dr. Michele Tyson, Director of Faculty Advising, at [email protected] with any questions.


Faculty Advisor and Mentor Winter Training

Friday, February 16, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Anderson Academic Commons 342

Call for Faculty Volunteers: Assessment and Accreditation Committee


The Office of Teaching and Learning invites dedicated faculty members to join the newly formed Assessment and Accreditation Committee. This committee will play a vital role in advancing the University's strategic initiative of helping students and faculty thrive through reflection on the teaching and learning process, ultimately contributing to our mission of being a great private university dedicated to the public good.

 

Committee Purpose


The Assessment and Accreditation Committee serves two primary purposes: fostering continuous improvement through ongoing assessment practices and reflection; and maintaining the university’s ongoing positive accreditation standing with the Higher Learning Commission. Members will collaborate on critical tasks such as preparing for the accreditation review, optimizing assessment reporting methods, and fostering cross-disciplinary dialogue about assessment matters.

 

Requirements and Benefits


Committee membership requires monthly meetings during the academic year and approximately one hour of additional weekly work to prepare, collaborate, and contribute directly to the committee's goals. In return, you will gain valuable insights into assessment and accreditation practices, develop leadership skills, and forge meaningful collaborations with colleagues across disciplines. Serving on this committee signifies your commitment to the University's dedication to continuous improvement and excellence. To thrive in this role, you should possess a strong dedication to student and faculty growth, excellent communication and collaboration skills, and the ability to work effectively in a team. Relevant experience with assessment practices in your discipline is advantageous, although not a requirement.

 

To Apply


To express your interest in serving on the Assessment and Accreditation Committee, please send an email that includes a brief description of your reasons for wanting to serve on the committee to Dr. Stephen Riley, Director of Academic Assessment, at [email protected].


Applications are accepted until February 16, 2024.

Share Your Expertise in Upcoming OTL Blog Posts!


Calling all creative graders! The Office of Teaching and Learning is working on a series of blog posts about alternative ways of assessing student learning. We are interested to hear about your experiences with alternative assessment practices such as grading contracts, peer review, self-assessment, group tests, un-grading or other approaches. Share your innovative approaches and insights; let us know how they're fostering deeper learning and academic growth in your students. If you're exploring new assessment landscapes, please reach out to Dr. Stephen Riley, Director of Academic Assessment, at [email protected] to be a part of this conversation.

Upcoming Events


The Office of Teaching and Learning is hosting several events throughout this term. Visit the OTL Events Calendar to discover other upcoming events!


COIL Information Session

Friday, January 26, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Online


Teaching with AI Workshop: Using AI for Course Discussions

Tuesday, January 30, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

OTL Conference Room (AAC 345)


Teacher Scholar Lecture and Reception with Steve Iona

Wednesday, February 7, 5:00 - 6:30 p.m.

Faculty Lounge (Community Commons 2800)


Teaching with AI Workshop: Enhancing Course Content with AI

Wednesday, February 14, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

OTL Conference Room (AAC 345)


Heart of Higher Education Conversations

Wednesday, February 21, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Hyflex - Join us online via Zoom or in the OTL Conference Room (AAC 345)