Our priority is to improve retention, persistence and the ultimate graduation of our students through improved educational and professional opportunities by supporting faculty and instructors.

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Teaching Matters

Supporting and enhancing teaching through collaboration.

Teaching Matters is hosted by the WSU Retention Fellows each month. This gathering offers a wonderful opportunity for all faculty, instructors, and students to work together across disciplines to enhance and improve teaching and learning. Teaching Matters is a safe place for learning, exploration, change, and accomplishment at various levels. The primary goal of improving each other's teaching is transparent and we hope that participants will work to create an environment that is supportive, caring, and collegial.

Teaching Resources

Previous Teaching Matters Programs

Let Me Count the Ways... We Love to Retain our Transfer and Online Students - Feb 2023  Zoom Session

Let me count the ways…we love to retain our transfer and online students 

  • Engage with WSU Tech faculty and talk about specific issues related to retaining transfer students
  • Review the Zoom session recording.
Giving and Receiving Effective Feedback - March 2023 Session

Giving and Receiving Effective Feedback

What We Know About our Incoming Freshman - April 2023 Session

What we know about our incoming freshman

Local high school teachers share what they have observed about pandemic effects on the class of 2023.  This will help us prepare to meet these students where they are.

Panelists:

  • Melissa Buteyn, English, Northwest High School
  • Mike Harris, Debate, Southeast High School
  • Shelly Sally, Fine Arts, East High School

The podcast recording is available for review.

Metacognition is the Key! - ARC 2021 Session

Metacognition is the Key!

by Dr. Morah Beck

Contact: Dr. Moriah Beck, Chemistry Department, Moriah.beck@wichita.edu, (316) 978-5476 

Download PowerPoint "Supporting Students' Metacognition"

Metacognition logo, in which the word appears within the shape of a horizontally aligned key.

Context

Use about 30-40 minutes of class period after returning the first exam to motivate students to make changes and improve their learning strategies particularly in STEM courses.  This could be used in any course, but is particularly helpful in introductory STEM courses where problem-solving is critical to success.  

ARC 2021 - Supporting Students’ Metacognition session

 
 

Abstract

All students who are admitted to college have the ability to succeed in even the most difficult STEM courses.  However, most do not have effective learning strategies, and they resort to memorizing information just before tests.  This interactive presentation will introduce cognitive science research-based learning strategies that will help all of your students experience meaningful, transferable learning. The session will focus on ways to teach STEM students simple, yet powerful learning strategies to ensure success.


Learning Goals & Outcomes/Objectives

Goal(s)

  • What students will know, understand, and be able to do; includes content knowledge, attitudes, & skills (i.e. “understand metacognition;” “appreciate the role of study groups;” “think like a scientist/health professional/etc.”
  • Understand metacognition
  • Examine and analyze their current learning strategies
  • Become a more efficient learner
  • Understand the difference between “studying” and “learning”
  • Use the study cycle
  • Understand the difference between “growth” and “fixed” intelligence mindset

Desired Outcome(s)/Objectives(s)

  • Specific student behaviors or performances that will indicate they have successfully accomplished the goal(s)
  • Accurately judge level of learning, monitor mental processing, and be consciously aware of oneself as a problem solver
  • Determine what changes to make in learning strategy
  • Set goal to improve next exam grade
  • Change behaviors to be in line with “learning” versus “studying” mode
  • Develop plan of action and implement within 48 hours