Regional Network

Port PKAL Fall Regional Meeting: Empowering Faculty to Improve Student Learning

October 24, 2008

University of Portland
Portland, Oregon

Portland area faculty and administrators committed to strengthening the undergraduate STEM learning environment were invited to attend the Fall '08 Port PKAL Regional Gathering. Teams were comprised of faculty, administrators and persons on campus who are responsible for faculty development programs.

Session topics:

• Collaborative partnerships, Guide to Engaging Learners – Engaged Learning, and the SERC website
• Leveraging resources through a network supporting institutional change
• Faculty leaders engaging learners:
  • How do you get started with modifying your teaching approaches?
  • What works for helping students learn in STEM disciplines and how do you know?
• Next steps for formalizing a regional network.

Event facilitators:

• Marlene Moore, Powers Distinguished Professor of Biology-University of Portland
  PKAL Liaison
  
• Gary Reiness, Professor of Biology- Lewis and Clark College
  Co-chair, Port PKAL
• Walter Shriner, Instructor of Biology-Mount Hood Community College
  Co-chair, Port PKAL

Event sponsor:

• Soderstrom Architects
  
  In addition to sponsorship, Soderstrom Architects provided tours of the construction site for University of Portland's Engineering Building, which is being renovated to meet LEED Plantinum standards

Next steps for participants:

• By November 15: Send to PKAL reflections on the Guide to What Works: Engaging Learners – Engaged Learning?
• By December 1: Send to PKAL brief stories about lessons learned on making a difference, connecting reform to departmental and disciplinary communities and/or strategies to overcome systemic barriers.
• By December 15, 2008: Send to PKAL examples of how your community designs retreats, planning processes, brainstorming, and follow-up sessions.

Resources: