TLA urges WWU community to slow down, reflect on progress this quarter

The Teaching-Learning Academy is wrapping up for the quarter; the year-end TLA Academy Awards celebration is 4:30 to 6 p.m. today, June 2, in Viking Union Room 565.

In recognition of the 2009-10 TLA study question ("What do we mean by a sustainable, reflective learning culture?"), the TLA is sponsoring Reflection Week, now through the end of this week, during which it encourages the campus community to pause and reflect on the accomplishments of the year.

"We're all busy (frantic even) trying to end this quarter and academic year well, but the current name for this time (dead week) sends the wrong message about what it should be," said Carmen Werder, director of the Teaching-Learning Academy. "We're trying to promote activities that will slow things down and give everyone a chance to reflect on what we've learned this year and not just hurry it to a finish."

In that vein, the TLA also is working on the creation of a Reflective Garden on campus near Carver Gymnasium and College Hall. The space would provide a sense of seclusion and a space to reflect, Werder said. A donor has committed $10,000 for the garden. The garden is still in the design stage, with plans to begin construction in the fall. An Art Department alumna is doing the overall design, and several Industrial Design students are involved in designing some of the hard landscape features, Werder said.

For more information about the Teaching-Learning Academy, visit http://www.wwu.edu/depts/tla/ or contact Werder at carmen.werder@wwu.edu.