Teaching Resource Center

In recent years, the enhancement of teaching has been a major priority for the faculty and administration of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.

The Teaching Resource Center (TRC), affiliated with the Agricultural Education and Communication Department, facilitates awareness of state-of-the art information on teaching and learning.

• Workshops and Programs
• Individual Faculty Consultations
• Information Dissemination
• Support for Professional Development
• Collaborative Activities within the University
• Further Information

Workshops and Programs

Workshops and other programs coordinated by the TRC have been conducted both by Florida faculty and distinguished speakers from other campuses. Programs have provided information on topics such as:

• Learning Styles and Teaching Styles
• Classroom Observation and Peer Evaluations
• Teaching Critical Thinking
• Classroom Activities to Enhance Distance Education Instruction
• Critical Thinking Project

Individual Faculty Consultations

The TRC provides one-on-one consultation to faculty who request it. Assistance can take the form of videotaping instruction for analysis, classroom observations, and/or evaluation of course materials. After analysis of potential problems, an individual plan is developed to address concerns.

Information Dissemination

The TRC serves as a facilitator for state-of-the-art information on teaching and learning. A resource library, including computer work stations with multimedia capability, has been established in 406 Rolfs Hall for use by IFAS faculty.

A newsletter from the TRC and other announcements update college faculty regularly regarding the available resources and instructional improvement opportunities.

Support for Professional Development

The TRC uses budgetary resources to the extent possible to support faculty participation in regional and national teaching improvement conferences and workshops. Faculty participating in such professional development activities are encouraged to share their experiences with other IFAS faculty upon return.

Collaborative Activities within the University To minimize the duplication of resources, the TRC works closely with the campus-wide University Center for Excellence in Teaching (UCET) and the Office of Instructional Resources.

Further information

For information on upcoming activities sponsored by the TRC, contact Dr. Anna Ball (352) 392-0502 ext. 239, or send e-mail to alball@ufl.edu.