Fifth Annual USU ETE Conference Slated for August 15
Robert Wagner, vice president of Academic and Instructional Services, presenting at the 2017 Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference.
Based on demand, the 2018 Utah State University Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference will be expanded and offer more breakout sessions; last year there were 28, this year there will be 35. The conference will begin with a keynote speech by Tom Tobin, University of Wisconsin-Madison, in Taggart Student Center Ballroom 201. More than 400 USU faculty are expected to attend. Faculty will leave prepared for the upcoming academic year by tapping into the latest teaching innovations.
The Art and Science of Teaching is this year’s theme, coinciding with the Caine College of the Arts “Year of the Arts” campaign. Many of the breakout sessions will discuss the scientific reasons behind USU’s teaching methods and how to perfect those methods until they become an art form.
“Every year the ETE Conference sets such a high standard of quality,” said Robert Wagner, vice president of Academic and Instructional Services. “And every year our presenters and attendees find a way to top the previous year and build on its success. USU’s statewide community of faculty are continually striving to maintain and improve their teaching abilities. There isn’t a better time or place to do this than this conference on August 15.”
Along with the ETE Conference, all new USU faculty who have been hired to teach in the upcoming academic year are encouraged to attend Foundations of USU Teaching August 13. The sessions are designed to give new faculty a look at USU’s demographics, culture, course evaluations, Canvas, syllabus development and more.
Foundations will take place in the Agricultural Sciences Building (AGRS) room 101. It will consist of general sessions, a free lunch, and hands-on breakout sessions. All new USU faculty will leave the conference with a clear idea of who their students will be and feeling empowered to be successful educators within USU’s community.
To register for the ETE Conference and see a detailed conference schedule, visit empowerteaching.usu.edu/conference. To register for Foundations and see a detailed conference schedule, visit empowerteaching.usu.edu/foundations.
Contact: Travis Thurston, (435) 797-4950
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