TLC Programs
Our Programs
We’re helping shape the future of higher education. The TLC supports instructors through evidence-based initiatives, strategic partnerships, and financial resources—all designed to improve student success, satisfaction, and persistence. Our programs support our instructors, our university, and the community of teaching and learning.
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Professional Development Programs
We work with instructors to help them take their teaching to the next level.
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Community Programs
We collaborate with other teams and universities to advance the scholarship of teaching and learning.
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Funding Programs
We provide financial support for innovative research and continuing education in the pursuit of teaching excellence.
Professional Development
Professional development programs consist of workshops and teaching observation programs of various durations from a couple hours to a year-long program, offered throughout the year.
Workshops
These condensed programs, from workshops to bootcamps to ACUE which is a year-long certification program are offered to assist you in elevating your teaching through evidence-based active learning techniques.
Teaching Observations
Whether self-reflective, peer or student observations, these programs offer you the opportunity to receive feedback on your teaching, engage in group discussions, apply assessment information and reflect on your teaching style to help you grow in your teaching effectiveness.
Professional Development Programs
The ACUE certification is a year-long course on Effective Teaching Practices that explores 5 themes: Designing an Effective Course and Class, Establishing a Productive Work Environment, Using Active Learning Techniques, Promoting Higher Order Thinking and Assessing to Inform Instructors and Promote Learning. The program begins in September and concludes with a Pinning Ceremony the following September. Participants meet monthly with their facilitator and complete 25 one-hour modules.
EE is a 4-day bootcamp designed for faculty who are new to active learning. It is held 3 times each summer. It begins with a look into the benefits of student-centered learning, reviews several active learning techniques, demonstrates how to incorporate them into your classroom, and how to assess the effectiveness.
Mini Engaging Exploration workshops (Mini-EEs) are short workshops on a single concept of effective teaching practices. They are 1.5 hour professional development opportunities offered throughout the academic year.
The Writing-in-the-Disciplines (WID) Program at SHSU is part of the international movement of Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) that helps faculty integrate professional writing practices from their field into their academic courses. WID engages students to use writing as a tool to learn disciplinary content.
Teaching squares are a group of 4 instructors who observe each other's classroom practices to provide peer feedback for the purpose of instructor self-reflection and group feedback to help improve teaching and network with colleagues.
The Engaging Classrooms Observation (ECO) is a practical tool designed to help faculty evaluate active learning in their courses. Whether you're teaching in person or online, ECO offers meaningful insights to support continuous improvement in your teaching practice. It helps improve student engagement through targeted feedback so you can reflect on your teaching strategies and collaborate with peers for constructive dialogue and growth.
Community Programs
At SHSU, we see external partnerships as essential to advancing teaching excellence. The TLC invites collaborators to co-create research, share expertise, and engage in conversations that address today's educational landscape, whether through joint initiatives, scholarly work, or participation in EngageED.
EngageED is a free conference for educators that brings together faculty, instructional staff, and educational leaders to share practical strategies, research-informed practices, and innovative approaches to effective teaching and student engagement. It is held annually on the Sam Houston State University main campus in Huntsville, TX.
An FLC is a cross-disciplinary group of 6-15 faculty and staff members that engage in an academic-year-long collaborative program aimed at enhancing teaching and learning and community-building at Sam Houston State University. FLCs relaunch in fall semester.
The TLC can work with instructors or departments to re-design courses to achieve maximum efficacy, meet academic excellence and improve student satisfaction. We support instructors, departments and colleges during this collaborative process. Please reach out to tlc@shsu.edu to schedule a consultation,
Innovation Jams are informal, hour-long sessions dedicated to discussion of interesting and pressing topics related to teaching and learning. We're open to consult with your team or give a presentation on an active-learning topic or to address teaching need. Do you have an idea for a workshop or discussion? Get in touch with us at tlc@shsu.edu to hold an Innovation Jam in your department.
Funding Programs
We offer financial support for continuing education at conferences and workshops, grants and monetary awards to advance the scholarship of teaching and learning.
The Teaching Innovation Grant (TIG) is a $10,000 grant to a principal researcher or team to support research into active learning and innovative teaching techniques.
The Odyssey Award funds faculty attendance at professional development conferences or workshops to learn about active learning techniques. The application is open, with a rolling deadline. Educational conferences will have priority over educational sessions at a conference that is research focused. Applications will be open until funds are exhausted.
$100 will be awarded to each Sam Houston State University contributing author of a published paper that was connected by an event sponsored by the TLC. A $1000 prize will be awarded for the best paper of the year, and announced during the EngageED conference in February.
Contact the TLC
Visit Us
The Teaching & Learning Center, 1901 Avenue I, The College of Humanities & Social Sciences (CHSS) Building, Suite C002, Huntsville, TX 77340
Mailing: The Teaching & Learning Center, Box 2390, Huntsville, TX 77341-2390