Faculty Share Their Experiences with TEI
The Teaching Effective Initiative (TEI) is a voluntary professional development program that provides recognition to instructors invested in growing their teaching practice. The TEI Program provides a structure to engage in developing teaching effectiveness through implementation, self-reflection, and growth, grounded in the evidence-based teaching practices of the CSU Teaching Effectiveness Framework (TEF). Participants can earn a Certificate of Achievement in each of the seven domains of the TEF upon completion of professional development experiences, integration and completion of a reflection equivalent to ten domain experience units (DEUs) as outlined in Domain Experience Units (DEUs) Equivalents by Professional Development Experience. Instructors can take either a “depth” approach and focus on earning only one domain at a time, or choose a “breadth” approach and engage in a variety of domain experiences. At this time, we are not able to offer the TEI for graduate teaching assistants or graduate students; we encourage all graduate students at CSU to participate in the Graduate Student Teaching Certificate of Completion Program.
Getting Started in the Teaching Effectiveness Initiative
Step 1
Attend a professional development experience. For ideas, review the TEI Pre-Approved Professional Development list and sample experiences to earn a TEI domain certificate of achievement list.
Step 2
Implement new (or revise existing research-based teaching practices) in the classroom based on professional development experiences related to a TEF domain.
Step 3
Complete the Post Implementation Reflection Form to describe and reflect on specific research-based teaching practices.
Step 4
Log into Bridge/My Learning to submit your reflection for approval. Post Implementation Reflection Forms will be reviewed semi-annually by the TEI committee using the Reflection Rubric.
Video: How to submit a TEI Reflection Form [2:25]
TEI 2023 Domain Certificate Recipients
Why Participate in TEI?
Instructors can earn a Certificate of Achievement for each domain of the CSU Teaching Effectiveness Framework (TEF) by implementing and reflecting on teaching practices learned at the professional development experience. Additionally, the TEI may prepare you to write your annual review documentation or CV SECTION 3: EVIDENCE OF TEACHING AND ADVISING EFFECTIVENESS of the Promotion and Tenure Application template.
Teaching Effectiveness Framework Achievement Certificates
INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES
CURRICULUM/
CURRICULAR
ALIGNMENT
CLASSROOM
CLIMATE
FEEDBACK &
ASSESSMENT
STUDENT
MOTIVATION
PEDAGOGICAL
CONTENT
KNOWLEDGE
INCLUSIVE
PEDAGOGY
Post Implementation Reflection Exemplars
Wonder what an accomplished reflection looks like? Curious about what other faculty are doing in their classes and how students respond to the changes? Download the exemplars to see the types of evidence-based practices that have been implemented at CSU.
Best Practices in Teaching - Active Learning
“I added the activities write-pair-share, empty outlines for in-class note-taking, background knowledge probes, and clearest/muddiest point.”
Download the Exemplar
Best Practices in Teaching - First Four Weeks
“One change I will make is to add a formal reflection question assignment that students submit after taking the exam.”
Download the Exemplar
Best Practices in Teaching - Planning a Class Session
“I think the naturally slower pace of iClicker/Jamboard helps to facilitate deeper critical thinking and builds natural breaks into the class…”
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Best Practices in Teaching - Creating Assignments
“In order to scaffold for presentation assignments, I introduced examples of presentation slides from previous years and asked students to give feedback on them… By giving more opportunities for students to ask questions in class earlier on, students seem to have had less ambiguity on what was expected on assignments.”
Download the Exemplar
Best Practices in Teaching - Inclusive Pedagogy
“Clearly communicating the expectations and grading scheme for each assignment… This is especially important when working with first-generation students who may not have had experiences with the systems we use or mentors / support systems to share insight and feedback on how to approach college.”
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Teaching Squares - Inclusive Pedagogy
“One change I have implemented … a ‘think-pair-share’ approach in this class to promote individual reflection, small group discussion, and then large group shared learning. As an inclusivity practice, this helps to amplify a larger diversity of student voices, especially those that might not be comfortable sharing their thoughts in front of the whole class. Another change … relates to Curriculum Design – namely, addressing relevant inclusivity issues within course content.”
Download the Exemplar
Teaching Effectiveness at CSU
Faculty Development Opportunities at CSU
Forms and Resources
- Teaching Effectiveness Initiative FAQs
- DEU Equivalents by PD Experience
- TEI Post Implementation Reflection Form (Download)
- Reflection Rubric for TEI Domain Experience
- Teaching Effectiveness Initiative Dashboard
- Sample experiences to earn a Teaching Effectiveness Initiative domain certificate of achievement
- Teaching Effectiveness Initiative Pre-Approved Professional Development
Contact Info
Tonya Buchan
Senior Faculty Developer & Teaching Effectiveness Initiative Program Manager
Instructional Innovation and Engagement