Werder, Thibou present invited workshop at Douglas College

Carmen Werder, director of the Teaching-Learning Academy at Western Washington University, conducted with four TLA staff/student participants an invited one-day presentation-workshop for faculty at Douglas College in New Westminster, Canada, on May 11. Werder and program coordinator Shevell Thibou, a graduate of Western's Continuing College Education master's program, presented the history and structure of TLA, followed by a simulated TLA dialogue with Douglas participants. TLA student participants Tyler Baxter and Kara Yanagida then provided updates on WWU’s involvement and their leadership roles with the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. Megan Otis, who earned her master's degree from Western in anthropology and is now at Seattle University in the college of education, then presented her thesis findings on how the TLA engages and empowers students. Werder and Otis (co-editors of Engaging Student Voices in the Study of Teaching and Learning) capped off the afternoon by leading a reading circle on the book highlighting their experience collaborating together as faculty and student.

Douglas College invited the WWU team because they are interested in encouraging more co-inquiry on teaching and learning with students. WWU has been recognized as a leader both nationally and internationally in leading these co-inquiry efforts with students. 

The TLA dialogue groups will resume fall quarter 2012. Students, faculty, staff, administrators and community members are invited to attend biweekly sessions beginning the second week of the term. WWU students can earn communication practicum credit for participating. For more information, visit http://library.wwu.edu/tla or email tla@wwu.edu.