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VITAL – the Villanova Institute for Teaching and Learning – is continuing to offer lunch discussions during the
Spring 2012 semester. Each month’s topic is offered on two different days so that you have a choice that accommodates your teaching schedule. As always, there will be no structured presentations or
"experts." Instead, you’ll have a chance to exchange ideas with colleagues from across the campus.
Bring your lunch, your experiences, your ideas, and your problems. VITAL will provide the venue, dessert, and beverages. Come any time between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and stay as long as you wish. If you have any questions, please contact VITAL at Ext. 9-5627 or email
elaine.halford@villanova.edu.
Schedule for Spring 2012
CONNELLY CENTER MEETING ROOMS (see below)
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
| Tuesday,
JAN. 24 – Rosemont Room
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or
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Wednesday, JAN. 25 – Rosemont Room
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| FOSTERING INTERDISCIPLINARY COURSE DEVELOPMENT —
In the past, most of us could spend our academic careers comfortably
offering courses within our own discipline. Recent changes in the
economic, political, social, technological, and intellectual spheres,
however, suggest that both we and our students will benefit from courses
that integrate a variety of disciplines. Villanova faculty members have
already engaged in a number of interdisciplinary efforts, both within
and across departments and colleges. Join us to discuss the benefits and
the challenges of academic cross fertilization and to see if we can come
up with additional ways to facilitate this at Villanova. |
| Wednesday,
FEB. 15 – Rosemont Room
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or
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Thursday,
FEB. 16 – Bryn Mawr Room |
| THE ROLE OF VILLANOVA'S MISSION IN OUR TEACHING — Villanova's mission statement has many implications for both faculty and students. In what ways does the mission affect our attitudes as teachers and/or inform the content of our courses? How does the mission manifest itself in the varying disciplines across the University? Come share your ideas about the relationship of the mission to our role as teachers. (The Villanova mission statement can be viewed in its entirety at
http://www.villanova.edu/mission/universitymission.htm.) |
| Tuesday, MAR. 27 - Rosemont Room
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or
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Wednesday,
MAR. 28 – Rosemont Room
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| HANDLING SENSITIVE MOMENTS IN THE CLASSROOM – What do we do when a student makes a subtle or not-so-subtle comment that is racist, homophobic, sexist, or offensive to students of particular social, religious, or ethnic backgrounds? Understandably, many faculty are uncomfortable in this situation and are unsure of what, if anything, to say. Yet
not reacting to the student’s remark may convey to the other students our tacit agreement with it. If you have struggled with responding to a situation like this or have developed an effective approach to doing so, please join us. |
| Wednesday, APR. 18 –
Rosemont Room
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or
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Thursday,
APR. 19 – Bryn Mawr Room
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| SENIOR SLUMP: A MYTH – No, not senior students.
Senior faculty! It is not unusual to hear or read comments suggesting that many senior faculty members lose their motivation and become the proverbial
"dead wood," droning on from yellowed notes. A look around Villanova reveals evidence that refutes this myth. If you are a tenured faculty member, especially one who has been at VU for a long time, please come and share your strategies for maintaining your enthusiasm and motivation for teaching, even when our students are ever younger and sometimes seem to come from a different planet. |
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