More than 100 professors, lecturers and instructors from Flint institutions of higher learning –Kettering University, University of Michigan-Flint, Mott Community College and Baker College – recently collaborated to present The Quad-POD (Professional Organizational Developers) Teaching Symposium at The University of Michigan-Flint. 

On Friday, Oct. 11, nearly two dozen faculty members from Kettering University took part in the inaugural Multi-Institutional Teaching Symposium, which included a faculty poster session, keynote presentations, group classroom sessions and roundtable discussions. With a focus on “Transformative Practices in Teaching and Learning,” the symposium was an opportunity for participants to share proven step-by-step processes and techniques to effectively personalize coursework for students.

Topics presented included “Engaging Students in Undergraduate Research,” “Critical Inclusive Pedagogies,” “Multidisciplinary Service Learning Research” and “Framing Meaningful Learning: A Critical Thinking Experience.” 

Dr. Julia Kiernan, Assistant Professor of Communications at Kettering University, served as keynote speaker. She presented how the interdisciplinary collaborations that are currently underway at Kettering University have worked to positively affect students’ engagement with their general education courses. She outlined the work the College of Science and Liberal Arts (CSLA) has done to date and explored ways in which interdisciplinary clusters have contributed to both student and faculty engagement and community building. 

“One of the things I am continually struck by since Kettering shifted to the College model is the shared passions of faculty across disciplines,” said Dr. Kiernan. “In the CSLA, particularly, it is really exciting to be working with colleagues from very diverse backgrounds who share pedagogical ideologies. I think it is these faculty collaborations that truly improve our students’ experiences at Kettering, not only in terms of student success, agency and engagement, but also via community building and relationship building.”

Plans are underway for the next Quad-POD Teaching Symposium scheduled for October 2020.  For more information, go to umflint.edu/tclt/quad-pod-consortium#tab-about-quad-pod.