Vision

The Center for Teaching and Learning envisions a university culture that values and encourages excellence in teaching and learning.

Mission

The primary purpose of the Center for Teaching & Learning is to support teaching and learning at all levels and in all contexts at Truman State University. To fulfill this mission, the Center:

• cultivates passion for continuous learning and intellectual curiosity;

• creates a forum for useful feedback to and reflective practice in the teaching / learning enterprise;

• nurtures the development of disciplinary and interdisciplinary conversations and connections;

• assists faculty and instructional staff to assess needs and opportunities for teaching and learning with information technology; and to incorporate instructional technology into their repertoires;

• collaborates with the Teaching, Learning, Technology Roundtable to foster a cultural environment conducive to the use of technology by all levels of user proficiency;

• interacts with Truman’s IT department to communicate academic computing perspectives and needs;

• supports the implementation, and administration of Truman’s course management system [Blackboard];

• provides a technology center to meet or enhance coursework needs in the areas of audio, video, and graphic works for both faculty and students;

• offers education and consultation in effective and innovative use of the course management system [Blackboard];

• interacts with Truman’s IT department to track usage and technical information pertaining to the course management system;

• assists faculty and instructional staff who wish to explore the methodology of distance education;

• assists faculty and staff to identify and pursue external funding opportunities from grants and foundations;

• provides orientation and mentoring for new faculty and consults for all faculty;

• supports collegiality and collaboration among teachers and learners;

• encourages instructional innovation as well as best practices in teaching, advising and learning;

• helps teachers and learners address current challenges;

• strives to foster an environment that honors learning and the learner;

• supports the university community in maintaining ethical standards for conducting research (IRB); and

• much more!