Faculty and administration at the University of the Fraser Valley have been deep in discussions over the last few years about how research and scholarly activity fit into our designation as a teaching intensive university. AS part of a recent discussion here are some of the ways that faculty highlighted how their research contributes directly to the success of students in the classroom. I thought it was worth posting.
*Incorporate into classroom teaching/learning practices
*Integrate in class structure to maximize success in attaining Institutional Learning Outcomes
*Use in designing curriculum
*Involve students in instructor research
*Use as examples of research in teaching
*Demonstrate to students real world application of research
*Use to encourage students to participate in research days
*Provide students with research data to manipulate with statistical analysis
*Teach research methodologies/process by involving students in own research
*Employ work study research assistants
*Support student career development
*Explore the role of research during teaching
*Introduce students to new concepts developed from instructor research (such as use of indigenous methodologies) in preparation for use in courses later on
*Improves ability to have latest information in the discipline available for student exploration
*Develop new questions to explore in class discussions
*Better able to increase student success through own research on teaching & learning
*Model lifelong learning for students
*Assist students to author/co-author papers
*Assist students to enter and be successful in graduate school
*Teaches students collaborative work skills
*Assists students to attain awards
*Students get first-hand information/results from research
*Gain exposure to other researchers and research institutions
*Utilize visual representations from research in class lecture
*Provide case studies from own research for students to examine
*Configure class content around own research areas of expertise
*Have students relate theory/method to their personal lives
Please leave some comments if you know of some things that can be added to this list.
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Dr. Marcella LaFever (University of New Mexico, 2005) is an Associate Professor in the Communications Department at the University of the Fraser Valley. She specializes in intercultural communication and brings that expertise to various subjects such as communication for workplace, instruction, social media, team and public speaking contexts.