The Grove Center team is available for group or individual consultations on topics related to teaching and learning. The consultations are considered confidential unless decided otherwise by the person or persons making the request. The goal of the consultation should be to support the design and improvement of curriculum, develop pedagogical skills, increase knowledge, or locate resources to support an instructor's skills in a specific area of teaching and learning.
Accessibility Consultations
Every learner is unique, and instructors play a crucial role in providing instructional accommodations. These accommodations ensure that students with diverse needs can access and engage with course content effectively. It can be confusing to know if your materials are accessible to all students, considering diverse learning needs, compatibility with assistive technologies, and legal requirements (such as the Americans with Disabilities Act). Whether adjusting assessment formats, providing extended time, or offering alternative materials, instructors create an inclusive learning environment that supports all learners and improves overall usability. If you’d like assistance, feel free to schedule a consult with our accessibility experts.
Course Design Consults
Crafting effective course designs involves balancing content coverage, active learning strategies, and assessment methods, all while considering the course instruction mode. Instructors sometimes grapple with aligning learning objectives, selecting appropriate assessments, and fostering student engagement, whether it is face-to-face, hybrid, or online. Our team can assist instructors with enhancing their course structure, creating engaging activities, and aligning assessments with learning outcomes. Whether exploring innovative teaching methods, redesigning existing courses, or integrating technology, you can schedule individual consultations with us. We are always excited to work with instructors to address specific design challenges. If you’d like to talk, feel free to set up a meeting with the design team.
Capturing Classroom Engagement Data for Instructor Reflection (CCEDIR) Observation Consults
Reflective teaching practices support growth toward teaching effectiveness. Penn State’s framework of teaching effectiveness includes reflective and evolving practice. Instructors must demonstrate teaching effectiveness through three sources of evidence, one being self-reflection. Instructors can gain some of their data for self-reflective practice through observation. The Grove Center worked collaboratively with Penn State Teaching and Learning with Technology (TLT) to develop a self-reflective observation tool called Capturing Classroom Engagement Data for Instructor Reflection (CCEDIR). The CCEDIR tool is an app that can be accessed using a laptop or tablet. It is easy to learn to use, and the data collected goes directly to the instructor for their reflection. Members of the Grove Center team can walk instructors through the process of setting up a series of reflective observations. If you are seeking a consultation to begin using CCEDIR, email the Grove Center team.
Syllabus Review
The course syllabus is usually a first point of contact between a student and an instructor. The Grove Center team is available to review syllabi and provide instructors with feedback on inclusive language and content. The team is also knowledgeable about Penn State’s requirements for all course syllabi. If you are seeking a consultation to have your syllabus reviewed, email the Grove Center team.
