Image: by Jewel Caruso Claire Major (PhD 1998) was named the founding faculty director of the University of Alabama's Teaching Academy. Currently a professor of higher education, Major is enthusiastic about the role of this new campus resource hub. “My vision for the UA Teaching Academy is to create a vibrant hub of teaching innovation and collaboration,” Major said. “I envision faculty members from various disciplines coming together to exchange ideas, develop new teaching strategies and inspire each other to continuously evolve as educators.” According to its mission, the UA Teaching Academy “supports the institution's strategic goal of providing a premier education characterized by outstanding teaching. It serves as an instructional resource hub and innovation center dedicated to promoting equitable and supportive learning environments and high-quality, evidence-based instruction.” The center, which launched this fall, provides guidance on a range of pedagogical and curricular topics to assist instructors in the development of more effective courses and to enhance the learning experience for students. Through the Academy's website, faculty members have access to many resources including interactive workshops, seminars led by experts, online teaching toolkits, and pedagogical guides. Best practice guides include key topics, such as artificial intelligence, inclusive learning, classroom engagement, assessment, and course preparation. Congratulations to Claire Major on leading this new initiative at the University of Alabama! To read the full interview with Dr. Major, please visit: https://news.ua.edu/2023/09/ua-develops-instructional-resource-hub-for-faculty/. Type of News/Audience: Alumni
