“With each new day comes new strength and new thoughts.” Letting these thoughts develop into big ideas, and putting those big ideas into action is what UCI is known for. That’s why UCI is pleased to launch the Division of Teaching Excellence and Innovation (DTEI).
DTEI is a new division of the Office of the Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning. This unit is focused on supporting the use of instructional technology. In doing so, they hope to facilitate digital learning and online education by integrating technology into course development from the ground up.
The Division of Teaching Excellence and Innovation puts evidence-based teaching practices into the classroom, working in partnership with instructors to enhance student learning. DTEI hopes to build on existing pedagogical practices by providing faculty, lecturers, graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars with the 21st century resources they need.
“We are thrilled to launch this new division!” says Michael Dennin, Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning and Dean of Undergraduate Education. “The DTEI staff will engage in conversations with instructors about what they want their students to learn. Collaboration is key to maximizing student learning potential.”
A growing number of faculty have embraced technology in their classrooms, creating new instructional best practices. Active learning and blended learning in particular have been beneficial for students and instructors alike. But many find themselves struggling to translate effective in-class strategies to a digital format. That is where DTEI steps in. The DTEI will support the development of new UCI online and hybrid courses.
“We have created a more dynamic support system at the DTEI,” says Megan Linos, Director of the UCI Learning Experience Design & Online Education. “We facilitate partnerships that marry a professor’s experience with the course material with our instructional designer’s expertise in the relevant technologies.”
Positioned as a Division of the OVPTL, DTEI services include:
- Faculty development
- Graduate student/postdoctoral scholar teaching development
- Training on educational technologies for instruction or content development
- Design of online content presentation and assessments
- Planning evaluation of online course efficacy
- Consultation on online course design
- Access to education research community and resources at UCI
The development of this new division supports Pillar 4 of the UC Irvine strategic plan, which calls for investment in administrative, financial, and academic frameworks. These frameworks will increase efficiencies — growing and strengthening scholastic programs across campus. With this new division, UCI once again proves its dedication to prioritizing the student experience by giving faculty the support they need to foster successful classroom environments.
The creation and launch of this new division is another example of Vice Provost Dennin’s vision for enhancing teaching and pedagogy. Dennin recognizes the need to plan for a long term and sustainable way for any medium of teaching — including face to face, online, or a hybrid learning environment.
Learn more about the new DTEI at dtei.uci.edu