Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence Strategic Goals
The Schreyer Institute will achieve its mission and vision by providing services, programs, resources, and expertise to:
Promote and support faculty, graduate student, and administrator efforts to develop, enhance, and disseminate instructional knowledge and skills.
The intent of this goal is to indicate that the Institute’s primary role is to help instructors and administrators in colleges and campuses implement changes in students’ educational environments. Embedded in this goal is our function as a source and translator of new and current research-based knowledge of effective instructional practices. We are active proponents of teaching methods and practices that are known to have a positive impact on students’ learning. We challenge faculty to adopt and adapt methods that are not only effective, but also consistent with faculty learning expectations for students and suited to the particular course, instructor, and academic context. We provide support to faculty in the adoption/adaption process.
Help faculty to engage all students in the learning process and take responsibility for their own learning.
This goal highlights the Institute’s commitment to inclusive learning and the critical role of learners in the educational process. We encourage faculty to examine whether their instructional practices provide an advantage or disadvantage to particular learners based on characteristics other than ability or commitment to learning, such as cultural background, socio-economic status, or gender. This goal also indicates a commitment to active and interactive teaching and learning, in which students are not simply recipients or observers of instructor wisdom and knowledge. We advocate developing curricula, courses, assignments, and exams that plan for student involvement and that integrate gathering and reviewing feedback on students’ learning and perceptions.
Foster methodical definition, identification, documentation, and assessment of student learning.
This goal communicates the importance of assessment in the learning process. We define assessment broadly to include the assessment and evaluation of students’ work within a course as well as assessment that explores student learning at the level of an academic unit. We encourage evidence-based assessment that includes both qualitative and quantitative evidence. Our assessment efforts involve supporting individual faculty, groups of faculty, unit assessment coordinators and leaders, and administrators. We are committed to development of a culture of assessment, in which assessment practices are embedded and integrated throughout the community.
Increase the value of teaching excellence among all members of the university community.
The Institute plays an important role as a representative of Penn State’s commitment to teaching excellence. We serve as a central resource for information about Penn State’s teaching and learning successes. We provide forums for discussion, exploration, and experimentation with new and innovative teaching strategies. We are responsible for helping distribute the knowledge and experiences of excellent teaching and learning throughout the Penn State community.
Provide information and support to inform decision-making in Undergraduate Education.
The Institute provides information and conducts research to support programs within the Office of Undergraduate Education. We also provide data analysis and research support for executive units and academic committees that are involved in making policy recommendations to improve teaching, learning, assessment, and advising in undergraduate instruction.