Spring Quarter TLA Begins April 11

April 5, 2018

What does diversity mean to Western? Do safe spaces really exist? What does it mean to be educated? Join students, faculty, staff, and community members as they consider questions like these during spring quarter’s Teaching-Learning Academy (TLA) dialogue sessions. 

The TLA meets from 12-1:20 p.m. in Haggard Hall Room 222 every other Wednesday and Thursday beginning April 11 and 12.  This quarter, the TLA will explore a new dialogue format by asking a different question each week.

TLA participants include students, faculty, staff, and community members, and everyone is welcome to participate. The TLA’s primary objective is to create a community of scholars who work together to enhance teaching and learning by providing:

  • a cross-disciplinary space for dialogue which explores how teaching and learning can be enhanced throughout the University and beyond.
  • a forum for fostering collaboration and bridging the gaps between students, staff, faculty, and community members.
  • a space that values diverse perspectives and works towards creating active communities.  
  • professional development resources and workshops that support both scholarly teaching and the scholarship of teaching and learning.

Participants consistently report that the TLA dialogue sessions provide a great way to connect with others outside of their disciplines and departments, and to learn more about Western’s teaching and learning culture. Many say it also gives them a chance to take a breath and just listen to what others, especially students, really think. The goals of each dialogue session are to share well-rounded views related to teaching and learning while encouraging the use of  listening to understand and appreciate differences , and promoting open-mindedness and mutual respect for diverse perspectives.  

For more information, see http://library.wwu.edu/tla.  To sign up for the TLA listserv, email TLA@wwu.edu. (Students: there is also an opportunity to participate in the TLA for LIBR 340 “Speaking and Listening” practicum credit. For more information, contact Shevell.Thibou@wwu.edu.)