Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences Robert Sternberg thinks that even teachers always have more to learn.
Sternberg is poised to head up the new Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT), a new program designed to improve teaching efficacy by creating a more leadership- and diversity-oriented educational zeitgeist at Tufts.
The Center, to begin its work this January, will be funded by a $250,000 grant from the Davis Educational Foundation, a Maine-based foundation that gives to colleges and universities in New England. CELT will lead topic-specific workshops and seminars for professors, conduct a semester-long training program for twelve selected faculty, and unify education projects already in existence.
The program will try to implement educational theory in classrooms, Sternberg said.
"One of the things Tufts emphasizes under the current leadership is going beyond barriers between scholarship and practice," he said. "CELT is an example of transforming theory into practice."
Concurrent with one of the university's main goals, CELT will emphasize serving others.
"Teaching for active citizenship and leadership is going to be a focus," Sternberg said. "I think Tufts already does a fine job of educating students, so I don't see anything we are doing as changing directions."
Officials hope more effective teaching will lead to a better education and more opportunities for Tufts students.
"Most CELT activities will be geared towards those at Tufts who teach, but by helping to enhance teaching, we will also affect students' possibilities to learn and get the most out of their experience at Tufts," said Associate Research Professor and CELT Deputy Director Linda Jarvin.
The professors involved will learn about the newest education practices and how to use them in their classes as a way to simply enhance the good educational experience Tufts students already receive, Sternberg said.
"The one thing I want to emphasize is that CELT is not a remedial program for poor teachers. It is to take teachers who are already good teachers and enhance their repertoire of skills," Sternberg said.
Professors will learn to instruct a broader range of students from a variety of backgrounds.
"Traditional education shines a stationary spotlight on one kind of kid; CELT moves that spotlight around," Sternberg said.
CELT will join a number of initiatives begun this year as part of a recent Tufts trend focused on educating and selecting students unconventionally. The most recent example is the new creativity testing on the Tufts Common Application supplement.
"Even as we advance our research and scholarship, we must continue to strive for excellence in teaching and renew ourselves as educators in light of new research on the process of learning, rapid developments in the fields we teach, changing demographics of our students, and new technology," Jarvin said.
Freshman Jonah Gold appreciates the university's efforts to enhance the educational experience but says that the school should follow up on other goals before it can be optimized.
"Tufts is a great place for many people to come and get an education to become leaders of tomorrow, but I think that Tufts needs to make a strong effort to help diversify its student population while also working with teachers to help teach effectively for this change," Gold said.
CELT is a progressive program that is still looking to improve itself. Student perspectives received via focus groups on effective teaching practices and the program's Web site will help to shape the program, Jarvin said.
"To me, a program like CELT shows that we put our money where our mouths are," Sternberg said. "We are actively demonstrating that teaching matters through a commitment of time, money and effort."
