NUTSHELL NOTES

Boot Camp originated in 1993 as a solution to an age-old problem: "How can teaching skills truly be enhanced, given existing faculty commitments of time during the normal school term?" Workplace conditions unique to colleges may leave faculty exhausted and frustrated. Dealing successfully with these conditions requires obtaining skills that go beyond pedagogical techniques. We have learned that one special summer week when faculty can concentrate solely on university-level teaching and career survival skills is more effective in producing permanent career success than isolated workshops given during the school year.

"Boot Camp" is unlike any conference or symposium. Boot Camp concentrates on the central unifying concept of building one’s own teaching system, in the context of what fits best for us and for our careers within our specific institutions. In a "teaching system," all practice is aligned to achieve one’s own carefully chosen core aspirations. We begin to explore these aspirations by defining, within a document called our "teaching philosophy," the traits we value and the outcomes we wish to result from teaching. We then learn how to refine and to make choices for our teaching endeavors so that seemingly separate aspects of practice begin to work together to produce the desired results. Instead of merely drafting documents such as syllabi, tests, or supplementary materials based on prescriptive methods, we draft such documents based upon good practices and upon our core values and objectives. When one has a true teaching system, then a student will know your core teaching philosophy from reading your syllabus or your tests. Consistent alignment of your efforts to do what you most want to do enables students to achieve what you most want them to achieve. When faculty are not satisfied with student outcomes, either with repect to learning or to students’ evaluation of satisfaction with the course experience, it is surprising how often this occurs because faculty are not actually doing what it is they most want to do.

There is no universal "best" teaching system, but there is a best system for you--namely the system that most effectively helps you achieve the outcomes that you desire. Discovering that system is what "Boot Camp" is about. This discovery is helped by the extremely supportive environment present in this program. Attendants have included instructors from the most prestigious top-ten schools to the most modest community colleges and have ranged from full professors with decades of experience through graduate students who aspire to become new college teachers. Outcomes of this program speak for themselves. Some attendants in "career terminating situations" later find themselves in the situation of recipients of best teaching awards. Others have founded faculty development centers at their own campuses.

The "Camp" is small. We prefer to work with a size of no larger than twenty faculty. Other distinguishing characteristics for "Bootcamp 2000" include: (1) workshops that result in attendants preparing actual materials for their own classes on-site, (2) receipt of a personal library of acclaimed resource books and (3) an emphasis on how to use assessment practices to make you increasingly successful in each passing future year.

The "Boot Camp for Profs" experience will introduce you to a body of literature that is seldom encountered within academic disciplines. It is immensely useful, and familiarity with it is gradually becoming indispensable to success in today’s universities. Materials you will receive in the 2000 "BOOT CAMP for PROFS" include a very thick and useful set of working notes plus the following books. Sections of these will be used during the week, and they will serve you for many years as good reference sources. If you were to found your own office of faculty development, these would constitute a solid set of resources.

Angelo, T. A., and Cross, K. P., 1993, Classroom Assessment Techniques (2nd ed.): San Francisco, Jossey-Bass, 427 p.

Barnes, L. B., Christensen, C. R., and Hansen, A. J., 1994, Teaching and the Case Method (3rd ed.): Harvard Business School Press, 333 p.

Davis, B. G., 1993, Tools for Teaching: San Francisco, Jossey-Bass, 429 p.

Fulwiler, T., 1987, Teaching with Writing: Portsmouth, NH, Boynton/Cook Pub., 158 p.

King, P. M., and Kitchener, K. S., 1994, Developing Reflective Judgement: San Francisco, Jossey-Bass, 323 p.

Leamnson, R., 1999, Thinking About Teaching and Learning – Developing Habits of Learning With First Year College and University Students: Sterling, VA, Stylus, 169p.

Millis, B. J., and Cottell, 1998, Cooperative Learning for Higher Education Faculty: Oryx Press, 282 p.

Nuhfer, E. B., and others, 1999, A Handbook for Student Management Teams: Denver, CO, Univ. of CO at Denver, 52 p.

Seldin, P., and others, 1993, Successful Use of Teaching Portfolios: Bolton, MA, Anker Publishing, 212 p.

Those registered for the optional workshop on advising also receive.

Ellis, D., 1998, Becoming a Master Student (8th ed. - updated): Rapid City, SD, Houghton-Mifflin, 346 p.
 
 

THINGS TO BRING TO "CAMP"

General

Workshops have follow-up exercises that result in products for your own classes. Bring texts, notes or syllabi that you would likely employ in an upcoming course. You will have access to computers, and it will be very helpful to bring some of your class notes and, particularly, syllabi, on a computer disk. Because this is a golden opportunity to produce some excellent class materials, consider the course that you think will be most difficult to teach next term. Then bring the textbook and any materials that you would normally use to prepare lessons for that course.

Bring to the first day’s session (requires some preparation before arrival):

(1) three copies of a one-page (maximum!) teaching philosophy that includes at least a summary of your teaching goals as they exist today. Two of these copies should be printed without your name or that of your institution on it. You can consider these as preliminary because we will refine this document throughout the week.

(2) One copy of a course syllabus—any course that you teach or aspire to teach.

(3) A learning evaluation tool you have constructed for a class, such as a final exam or an assigned project.

DRESS

Dress is very informal-- summer recreational wear works very well for this entire week. Leadville is at an elevation of about 10,000 ft with cool evenings and warm sun during days. For those engaging in whitewater rafting (a mid-week option) bring clothing that can (1) be doused with water without care and (2) can offer protection from excessive sun exposure. Those engaging in horseback riding (also a mid-week option) should bring long pants such a blue jeans. The area around Leadville has wonderful hiking trails and scenic biking.

COST

The $700 fee includes the workshops, materials, lodging, and most meals. Materials furnished include texts, bound notes, on-site Xeroxing and computer disks. Meals include breakfast/brunches and lunches Sunday-through-Saturday, a get-acquainted barbecue Sunday evening, and a banquet on the final Friday evening. Not included is Wednesday's supper (on your own) and the cost of Wednesday afternoon’s recreational activity that you choose such as whitewater rafting or horseback riding.

ACADEMIC CREDIT OPTION

Attendants have the option to earn three hours of graduate credit through CU-Denver’s Department of Communication under the course title, Communication and Management in the College Classroom. Credit registrants need to attend all sessions, and complete and turn in copies of all workshop assignments.
 
 

GETTING TO CAMP

All activities will take place at Colorado Mountain College’s Timberline Campus on 901 South Highway 24 in Leadville, Colorado. Housing will be in the new dormitories at this campus. Attendants may drive to Leadville via Interstate 70 and exit on either Highway 24 (Exit 171) or Highway 91 (Exit 195). The closest airport is Denver International Airport which is about 135 miles (three hours driving time) from Leadville. Weekly rates on rental cars in summer are good, and probably provide the most economical connection from Denver to Leadville.
 
 

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

July 23, Sunday FOUNDATIONS of SUCCESSFUL TEACHING

Convene 1:00 p.m.

1:00 Welcomes --The "Boot Camp" Concept and Experience -- Ed Nuhfer

1:30 Ethics of Teaching -- Mitch Handelsman

2:30 Developing an Integrated System of Teaching -- Ed Nuhfer

Bring to this (a) 1-page teaching philosophy or list of teaching goals

(b) Your syllabus of a course you have taught

(c) Any tool you use for assessment in that course (exam; project, etc.)

5:30 Opening Night- Bar-B-Que -- Introductions with Recreational Games!
 
 

July 24, Monday METHODS of CLASSROOM COMMUNICATION

Convene 9:00 a.m.

9:00 Communication Skills for the Traditional Classroom --Sam Betty and others

(Better lecturing, pacing, designing and using visual aids)

Lunch Break:

1:00 Teaching with the Case Method -- Peter Bryant

Break - 20 minutes

3:20 Integrating writing assignments into discipline-specific courses: research papers and short

reports.--Margie Krest

5:30 Dinner

7:00 Optional Evening Workshop -- Advising, Mentoring and Teaching Outside the Classroom
 
 

July 25, Tueday COLLABORATIVE METHODS

Convene 9:00 a.m.

9:00 Applied Cooperative/Collaborative Learning I -- Barbara Millis

Lunch Break

1:00 Development through Student Management Teams -- Ed Nuhfer and Mitch Handelsman

2:00 Dynamic Role Play -- Sam Betty and Mitch Handelsman

3:00 Applied Cooperative/Collaborative Learning II -- Barbara Millis

5:30 Dinner

July 26, Wednesday AWARENESS of NEW STUDENTS

Convene 9:00 a.m.

9:00 Teaching and Learning with First Year Students --Bob Leamnson

Lunch Break

Afternoon- Evening RECREATION Options- Horseback riding, white water rafting, or personal R & R break--your choice!

Dinner--out on your own in Leadville or with your recreational group
 
 

July 27, Thursday – PASSAGES — TRANSITIONS OF SCHOLARS

Convene at 9:00 a.m.
 
 

9:00 Mentoring Students to Higher Levels of Thinking -- Mike Pavelich

10:30 Models of Intellectual Development and Reflective Judgement -- Mike Pavelich & others
 
 

Lunch Break
 
 

1:00 Assessments and Responsibilities –(Evaluations, uses and misuses) -- Ed Nuhfer and others

3:00 Your Teaching Philosophy Revisited --Staff
 
 

7:00 Evening Workshop - Creating a More Fit Place in Which to TeachAvoiding Burnout; Becoming a Better Colleague --Bootcamp Staff
 
 

July 28, Friday - EMPLOYING the NEW INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY

Convene 9:00 a.m.

9:00 So Many New Toys!–How Do I Know What Games to Play? --Carl Pletsch

10:30 Have Course Will Web--Converting your existing course to a web-based course. Kent Homchick

Lunch

1:00  Why policy makers and administrators are interested in IT/distance education-- what this means for faculty:  Reflections upon CO House Bill 1289 and related CCHE Initatives. -- Bob Tolsma

3:00  "CU at the College Forum" -- Ellen Stevens
 
 

BANQUET -- WE SURVIVED BOOT CAMP CELEBRATION!
 
 

July 29, Saturday — PULLING IT ALL TOGETHER

Convene 9:00 a.m.

9:00 Demonstrating Success: Teaching Portfolios and The Teaching System -- Ed Nuhfer and others

10:30 Summary and adjournment

Lunch

INSTRUCTORS: The instructors include faculty and faculty developers from six institutions (University of Colorado at Denver, University of Colorado at Boulder, University of Denver, Colorado School of Mines, U. S. Air Force Academy and University of Massachussetts). Instructors are selected based on recognition in their disciplines as both teachers and scholars.

OTHER WAYS TO REGISTER: Complete registration form to here: Then copy and e-mail to enuhfer@carbon.cudenver.edu, or copy and FAX to 556-5855, or phone 303-556-4915 and leave that information via voice mail.
 
 

To COMPLETE REGISTRATION: Submit Payment

You may pay:

(1) by check,

(2) by purchase order from your institution, or

(3) by personal credit card. with Visa _____, Discover Card _____, or Master Card _____.

If by check, make payable to "Boot Camp -University of Colorado at Denver"

Mail to: Office of Teaching Effectiveness

University of Colorado at Denver

Campus Box 137, PO Box 173364

Denver, CO 80217-3364

If by Purchase Order, Mail to address above or FAX to (303) 556-5855, Attn. "Boot Camp"

If by credit card, phone to (303) 556-4915 or FAX to (303) 556-5855, Attn. "Boot Camp"

(For security, do not use e-mail to furnish credit card numbers).

When pre-registrations are received, an information packet with maps and detailed site information is mailed to registrants.