University of Pittsburgh To Hold Second Annual Teaching Excellence Fair Nov. 15

November 13, 2002

PITTSBURGH—The University of Pittsburgh will hold the second annual Teaching Excellence Fair, featuring "Innovation in Education" projects presented by 14 faculty grant recipients, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 15 in the J.W. Connolly Ballroom at Alumni Hall, 4227 Fifth Ave., Oakland.

In an October 2001 Teaching Times article announcing the grant winners presenting at this year's fair, Andrew Blair, vice provost for faculty affairs said, "We're looking for interesting, unique, and sustainable efforts. The program sends a clear message that the University of Pittsburgh puts a high value on teaching, even though we're a comprehensive research university."

The Provost's Advisory Council on Instructional Excellence (ACIE) established the award program to recognize and support innovative approaches to teaching. Blair chairs ACIE on behalf of Provost James V. Maher. A total of $215,000 was awarded to the faculty winners, who will display the results of their efforts at the fair.

Mini-sessions on teaching-related topics will be offered at the fair. In addition, there will be demonstrations of new instructional support software and technical resources, such as developing a teaching portfolio, using visuals to enhance courses, and implementing a "student response system" for classroom feedback and assessment.

For more information, visit the Center for Instructional Development and Distance Education Web site at http://www.pitt.edu/~ciddeweb/.

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