Year
2022 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999

Theme Select... Difficult Conversations Open Educational Practices Engaging Social Justice Critical Thinking Inquiry-based Learning Infusing Multicultural Perspectives into the Curriculum Blended Learning Teaching Civic Engagement Empowering Peer Learning Teaching for Tolerance Planning for Large Classes Faculty Learning Communities Creating a Culture of Writing Teaching for a Sustainable Future Educating Global Citizens Teaching Ethics across the Curriculum Student-Faculty Collaboration Academic Service-Learning Authentic Learning

Instructor Select... Abel, Troy Acevedo-Gutierrez, Alejandro Akinrinade, Babafemi Amundson, Garth Apel, Kenn Biswas, Bidisha Bone, Amber Sudduth Borda, Emily Boudreaux, Andrew Brennan, Scott Brown, Nicole Burton, Brian Bussell, Mark Chapman, Kamarie Chen, Paul Currier, Deborah Dagnon, Paula Darby, Kate Davidson, Heather DeBari, Susan Dietrich, Dawn Dodd, June Donovan, Deb Estrada, Larry Faculty GUR Group Ferreras-Stone, Jessica French, Kristen Garcia, Joseph Geisler, Marc Green, Rebekah Gynan, Shaw Hammond, Joyce Hansen, Thor Harwood, Angie Heckathorn, Jill Hoover, Ken Janson, Carol Kanov, Jason Kodner, Robin Landel, Carolyn Lapsansky, Janice Lee, Ee Lin Linneman, Scott Lockhart, Julie A. Love, Ed Mana, Mike Multicultural Faculty Fellows Mitchell, Robert Myers, Gene Neem, Johann Neff, Mark Nelson, George 'Pinky' Newcomer, Jeff Nielsen, Carolyn Oslapas, Arunas Perry, Tara Pilgrim, Tim Richards, Marc Rivera, Lysa Roelofs, Matthew Sapin, Julia Saunders, Kathleen Shull, David Smeins, Linda Staton, Mark Stelling, Pete Stone, Ann Symons, Larry Tag, Stan Treneer, Stephanie Teacher Education Partnership Vajda, Edward Wang, Grace A. Webb, Sheila Welch, Jerimiah Young, Kathleen

Showcase Nomination and Application Form

The Innovative Teaching Showcase is a series publication featuring best practices of Western’s most dynamic instructors. For more information about the Showcase, see About or Nomination Details.

What are the options for being included in the Showcase?

• Feature: Be one of three featured faculty; larger time commitment. See About for details.
• Profile: Have your innovative work included in brief form on the Profiles page. See examples.

What is an example of a Showcase from a previous year?

How do I nominate an instructor?

• Use the form linked above to suggest someone you believe should be featured in the Showcase. Nominees will be contacted prior to the selection process to verify interest and to provide additional materials. Instructors nominated by students will not see the nomination text during the active quarter.

How do I apply to be included?

• Instructors may use the form linked above to apply to be included in the Showcase. Email relevant syllabi and/or additional documentation as attachments to: cii@wwu.edu

What is the theme?

• This year's Showcase, themed “Difficult Conversations,” seeks to honor faculty who facilitate important conversations in their courses, embracing challenges and promoting communication strategies that both support learning goals and serve students in life beyond college. Participating in debates and intense discussions can feel uncomfortable, but practice in this area helps students develop essential skills as they “learn to speak in critical and democratic ways by watching people in positions of power and authority model these processes.”¹ As higher education delves deeper into inclusion and equity work, those who make space in their curriculum for challenging student dialogue give hope for a more civil society.

What are some examples of this year's theme?

• Raising challenging questions, addressing how they could become controversial, contentious, or isolating, and modeling pathways for constructive debate and possible solutions.
• Exploring privilege, power, and oppression dynamics in a way that bolsters trust and supports students’ identities.
• Employing pre-discussion strategies such as providing context to texts, texts with multiple viewpoints, and terminologies to help inform discussion, and other methods to set the tone for constructive discussions.
• Utilizing techniques such as critical incident questionnaires for students to do critical self reflection or using background surveys to inform teaching and meet students’ needs.
• Addressing social positioning and personal bias by inviting students to investigate their implicit biases, knowledge gaps, and assumptions before entering difficult conversations.
• Facilitating rich experiences to transform and expand thinking about ideas, beliefs, and values.

We look forward to hearing from you for the next Showcase!