The First Friday Roundtable series at the University of Delaware will begin for the fall semester with the program “Why don’t they talk?” from 3:30-5:00 p.m., Friday, Sept. 8, in 208 Gore Hall. Register.

The session, facilitated by the Center for Teaching & Assessment of Learning (CTAL), will focus on the classroom factors that influence student participation, and help instructors to create an environment where students are eager to participate. Educational research suggests that students who participate in a community of learners learn as much from each other as the instructor, connect better to course content, and helps students take more ownership for their learning, (Markowitz, N., et.al., Teacher Scholars, 2004-05).

By the end of the roundtable participants can expect to be able to:

• practice several strategies for creating a feeling of community in the classroom;

• define what “participation” means for themselves and their students; and

• communicate their goals and objectives for learning clearly with their students.

Those who plan to attend are asked to register for the upcoming roundtable.

These monthly roundtable discussions provide an opportunity for faculty, instructors, and graduate students to examine teaching, learning and assessment practices and issues.

For information regarding future session topics and dates, visit the Center for Teaching and Assessment of Learning’s website.

The First Friday Roundtables are designed and sponsored through a collaboration of Faculty Commons partners including IT Academic Technology Services, the Institute for Transforming Undergraduate Education, the University of Delaware Library and the Center for Teaching and Assessment of Learning.