Pirate CREWS Faculty Learning Communities

1. Pirate CREWS Faculty Learning Communities Clicker CREW is studying the use of response systems in the classroom. They are investigating the characteristics of ECU faculty who use clickers, the ways faculty use clickers in the classroom, and the impediments or challenges faculty face when implementing these devices. Visit their Think-In poster for more details! (UDL: Provide Multiple Means of Representation and Engagement) TVCL/CHE TVCL is designing an assessment tool to document and measure the student experience at ECU using four core attributes: Think, Value, Communicate and Lead (TVCL). This assessment tool, the TVCL Matrix, is a flexible solution for faculty to clearly state what an ECU student in a course, program or college should reflect in terms of thinking skills, values, effective communication and leadership. (UDL: Provide Multiple Means of Action and Expression) Course Organizer Routine (COR) CREW is exploring the use of an instructional routine for enhancing student engagement and performance. They want to identify the ways instructors use COR to offer different assignment options, are students more engaged with a syllabus that utilizes the COR method, and do students who participate in the COR have higher grades then those who do not. (UDL: Provide Multiple Means of Engagement) Eight is GREAT Time Management CREW evaluated the effectiveness of the “8 is GR8” time management plan and three step study plan with a sample of first semester students in freshman seminar. Sixty-four first year students participated in the Eight is Great program. Their scores (pre and post) on Macan's Time Management Behavior Scale (TMBS) will be compared to a control group of 64 freshmen students who did not participate in the "Eight is Great" training. (UDL: Provide Multiple Means of Action and Expression) CREWS Under Construction • Livescribe CREW is studying the ways this technology has the abilityto provide students and instructors with options for expression and communication as a note taking device and teaching tool in the classroom. Visit their Think-In poster for more details! (UDL: Provide Multiple Means of Action and Expression) • Tegrity CREW is studying the ways this technology can be used to customize the display of information and provide information in auditory and visual formats. (UDL: Provide Multiple Means of Representation) • Lead Tutor CREW is studying the impact of providing a structured tutoring program that embeds the tutor in class and requires the tutor to meet regularly with the instructor to collaborate on the design of a weekly “workshop” for students who need additional assistance with course material (UDL: Provide Multiple Means of Engagement) • Starfish CREW is studying the impact of this early academic alert system on student motivation to seek help as needed and student self-regulation to engage with faculty and advisors (UDL: Provide Multiple Means of Engagement) • College STAR Fellows are implementing an instructional practice that aligns with at least one principle of UDL. Instructional practices focus on providing options for recruiting interest in student learning and examining options for sustaining student effort and persistence. (UDL: Provide Multiple Means of Representation, Action and Expression, and Engagement) • Pirate CREWS faculty learning communities engage more than 90 faculty members from more than 35 program areas who serve well over 2,500 students in exploring instructional practices aligned with the principles of UDL (cast.org) and evaluating the impact of these instructional approaches. • What are CREWS? • In collaboration with the Office for Faculty Excellence (OFE), College STAR provides faculty with a forum to conduct shared research linked to the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and students with learning differences, and mentor/be mentored in the development or use of outstanding instructional practices. Participants in these informal learning communities commit to active engagement and follow-through with a group-defined project with support from OFE and College STAR. • The expectations of CREWS: • Crew members agree to meet weekly to study the impact of an instructional practice that supports UDL • Host one presentation through OFE to share research findings with peers • Attend College STAR Shared Learning Conference to share lessons learned • Submit a manuscript, conference presentation, and/or conference poster about this study • Benefits of being a CREWS member: • Structured research support system including access to a floating graduate assistant, connection with the College STAR evaluator, and assistance from the OFE researcher • A space and structure for standing weekly or bi-weekly meetings • Hospitality at some meetings • Financial support for research supplies directly related to the research plan (when possible and appropriate) • Travel support for the College STAR Shared Learning Conference • Formal letter of participation for supervisor and/or Personnel Action Dossiers Sarah Williams, Ph. D. Dorothy Muller, Ph. D. Diane Majewski, Ed. D.