2018 SDSU Fall Conference
The SDSU Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning, in collaboration with the SDSU Office of Academic Affairs held the annual SDSU Fall Conference on Wednesday, August 15, 2018. The event began with refreshments and conversation at 8:00 am and was followed by welcomes from President Barry Dunn and Provost Dennis Hedge at 8:30 am.
We were pleased to share with the campus community that Dr. Peter Felten, Professor of History, Assistant Provost for Teaching and Learning and Executive Director of the Center for Engaged Learning at Elon University, was serving as our keynote speaker for the event. Dr. Felten’s keynote, “The Undergraduate Experience: What Matters Most for Student Success,” began at 9:30 am. This presentation challenged participants to critically consider what they can individually do to cultivate conditions that challenge and support all of our students to succeed. A bio for Dr. Felten can be found below.
That morning concluded with a workshop style session at 10:30 am led by Dr. Felten entitled “Engaging Students as Partners in Teaching and Learning.” Participants considered the question of what happens if we approach our work differently, aiming to teach with students? The session explored practical strategies from diverse disciplines for creating and sustaining student-faculty partnerships in teaching and learning.
The event continued in the afternoon with three distinct opportunities that began at 1:00 pm. Participants were able to focus their learning on one of the following:
- “Making a Place for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Your Work” with Peter Felten
- “Creating a Culture of Engagement” with Shelly Bayer and Katherine Bertolini
- “Using Appreciative Education to Impact the Undergraduate Student Experience” with SDSU Faculty and Staff trained in Appreciative Education
Biography for Dr. Peter Felten
Peter Felten is a professor of history, assistant provost for teaching and learning, and executive director of the Center for Engaged Learning at Elon University. His books include the co-authored volumes: The Undergraduate Experience: Focusing Institutions on What Matters Most (Jossey-Bass, 2016); Transforming Students: Fulfilling the Promise of Higher Education (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2014); Engaging Students as Partners in Learning and Teaching (Jossey-Bass, 2014); Transformative Conversations (Jossey-Bass, 2013); and the co-edited book Intersectionality in Action (Stylus, 2016). He has served as president of the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (2016-17) and also of the POD Network (2010-2011), the U.S. professional society for educational developers. He is co-editor of the International Journal for Academic Development and a fellow of the John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education.