UCITE invites you to participate in the Fall 2023 Teachers Observing Teachers Experience (TOTEs)! Volunteer CWRU faculty colleagues will open their classrooms to their peers in the spirit of sharing their passion for teaching and commitment to student learning. This Fall, TOTEs will take place Monday, October 2 through Friday, October 6, 2023.
Have you ever wondered how your colleagues engage students, design effective group learning activities, or address challenging subjects? Have you ever considered trying a new teaching method, but changed your mind because you were uncertain about how it might be received by students? Have you been wanting to make a change in your teaching, but are not certain where to begin? You are not alone.
The UCITE TOTEs program will provide faculty with opportunities to engage with one another, in active classroom learning environments, as members of a pedagogical community. This could happen in multiple ways. For instance, you may choose to explore what teaching looks like in a new discipline, learn how colleagues are using learning-assistive technology, or just interact with someone that you do not see on a regular basis. The choice is yours.
I am ready to participate as a TOTEs Host! How does this work?
Faculty who wish to host or open their classrooms to colleagues, should complete the TOTEs Host Application Form.
I want to observe classes during the Spring 2023 TOTEs event. What are the next steps?
Step 1
UCITE will verify faculty volunteers who have agreed to open their classrooms during the week of Monday, October 2 through Friday, October 6, 2023. We gladly invite all CWRU faculty to register to attend one or more of these open classes using the registration portal, UCITE TOTEs Applicant Form. UCITE TOTEs Applicant Form is due on Wednesday, September 20, 2023.
Step 2
During the week of September 25th, UCITE will send email to those who have registered for classes and those who have opened their classrooms, to connect faculty colleagues with one another. Classroom space may be limited, so we will do our best to accommodate requests in the order with which we receive them.
Step 3
During TOTEs, faculty attend the open classes of their peers. Colleagues may arrange to take an active role in discussion, based on conversations during the registration confirmation process, or faculty may choose to quietly observe; the arrangements are entirely up to each host and group of observers.
Step 4
UCITE encourages faculty participants to connect with one another following the week of TOTEs. Share a quick email, ask a follow-up question, or maybe find time for coffee or lunch to talk further about teaching and learning at CWRU.
Click below to review our faculty hosts from the current and previous semesters.
Course 1: The Bioethics of Horror (AIQS 100)
Who is the Instructor? Stephanie Larson
What will I experience? Small group learning activities
- Dr. Larson shared, "When is a person really dead? What obligations do clinicians have to patients? Should we prioritize bodily autonomy or community good in the face of a deadly outbreak? These questions are paramount not only to the field of bioethics -- a branch of philosophy concerned with healthcare, medicine, and advances in biotech and science -- but are also central concerns of the horror genre. In this course we will use writing to explore the ways horror fiction and film deal with biomedical ethical, social, and legal issues. We'll explore topics like genetics, disability, medical decision-making, and public health ethics through texts by authors like Stephen King, Octavia Butler, John Carpenter, and Shirley Jackson. Our goal as a class will be to consider how we can use our writing about the widely popular and accessible genre of horror to explore and communicate the ideas and arguments of biomedical ethics across modalities and audiences."
What is the open date, time, and location? Mon (10/2/23) Wed (10/4/23) or Fri (10/6/23): 8:25AM – 9:15AM, Crawford Hall 13A (22)
Can Visitors participate in this class during their observation? Yes!
Course 2: Managing Negotiations (ORBH 380)
Who is the Instructor? John Paul Stephens
What will I experience? Interactive Lecture
- Dr. Stephens shared, "Students will engage in a role play in Monday's class but will do so electronically (may not be a lot of behavior to observe). On Wednesday we will debrief how they handled the conflict in the role play, drawing on concepts from course readings."
What is the open date, time, and location? Mon (10/2/23) or Wed (10/4/23): 3:20PM – 4:35PM, Peter B. Lewis Bldg., Room 02
Can Visitors participate in this class during their observation? Yes!
Course 3: Children’s Picture Books (AIQS 100)
Who is the Instructor? Cara Byrne
What will I experience? Seminar, Discussion, Small group learning activities
- Dr. Byrne shared, "Class description: In this writing intensive course for first year undergraduates, students will discuss recent children's picture books that explore the topics of inequality and war. We will also discuss our partnership with local 2nd grade students. General Bulletin description: This course develops the habits of mind and writing/communication processes that characterize academic discourse. Students engage with questions and topics from multiple perspectives, and they establish effective writing processes (including planning, drafting, responding to feedback, revising, reflecting, and self-assessing)."
What is the open date, time, and location? Tues (10/3/23): 10AM – 11:15AM, Crawford A11
Can Visitors participate in this class during their observation? Yes!
Course 4: Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (NUMN 417)
Who is the Instructor? Craig King
What will I experience? Interactive Lecture, Case-Study Based Learning
- Dr. King shared, "Students will engage in a “scrambled” class format, mixing short lectures with in-class case studies as well as experienced RN and APRN guest speakers. Content for the week will cover grief and mood disorders."
What is the open date, time, and location? Tues (10/3/23): 12:30PM – 2:45PM, Samson Pavilion 163
Can Visitors participate in this class during their observation? Yes!
Course 5: Fundamentals of Neuroscience I (NEUR 201)
Who is the Instructor? Ashley Nemes-Baran
What will I experience? Google Tools, Collaboration Software, Polling/Audience Response Systems
- Dr. Nemes-Baran shared, "In this introductory neuroscience course, students will learn the basics of the brain structure and function to set them up to explore more special topics in depth in 300-level courses. During the 10/3 class we will discuss taste and olfaction (smell), and during the 10/5 class we will discuss part 1 of the visual system. This is a large ~130 student lecture class that attempts to provide engaging activities in a large group."
What is the open date, time, and location? Tues (10/3/23) or Thurs (10/5/23): 10AM – 11:15AM, Rockefeller 301
Can Visitors participate in this class during their observation? Yes!
Course 6: Weather and Climate (EEPS 117)
Who is the Instructor? Anne Willem Omta
What will I experience? Interactive Lecture
- Dr. Omta shared, "This is an interdisciplinary course focusing on the science of weather and climate. First, students will be introduced to weather patterns and the study of air motions based on classical mechanics. Then, the focus will be shifted to climate and the science of global warming. There will be a strong emphasis on the underlying physical mechanisms, as well as on current research. In addition, the potential socio-economic consequences of climate change will be discussed. Lastly, there will be an introduction into climates of the geological past."
What is the open date, time, and location? Tues (10/3/23) or Thurs (10/5/23): 10AM – 11:15AM, Kent Hale Smith 123
Can Visitors participate in this class during their observation? Yes!
Course 7: Gods and Heroes in Greek Literature (CLSC/WLIT 203)
Who is the Instructor? Timothy Wutrich
What will I experience? Interactive Lecture, Case-Study Based Learning
- Dr. Wutrich shared, "Students read selected works of Homer, Hesiod, Pindar, Aeschylus, Euripides, Aristophanes, and Plato in English translation to explore the nature and significance of Greek myth, hero-making, and dramatic performance. The original social and historical context of these works will be examined, and we will also notice the power that mythic narratives have continued to hold over the western imagination. Mixed lecture and discussion."
What is the open date, time, and location? Tues (10/3/23) or Thurs (10/5/23): 11:30AM – 12:45PM, Guilford 323
Can Visitors participate in this class during their observation? Yes!
Course 8: General Psychology (PSCL 101)
Who is the Instructor? Rita Obeid
What will I experience? Interactive Lecture, Polling/Audience Response Systems
- Dr. Obeid shared, "This course provides a general overview about psychological concepts. I'm this specific session we will be talking about what constitutes intelligence."
What is the open date, time, and location? Thurs (10/5/23): 2:30PM – 3:45PM, DeGrace 312
Can Visitors participate in this class during their observation? Yes!
Course 9: Sociology of Law (SOCI 360/460)
Who is the Instructor? Brian Gran
What will I experience? Interactive Lecture, Case-Study Based Learning
- Dr. Gran shared, "This course focuses on the role of rights in the U.S. legal system and society. In particular, we consider three questions. The first is how do rights fit in the legal system and society? Second, how have different social groups used and thought about rights? Third, how do legal actors like judges and lawyers think about rights compared to non-lawyers? In the course we will study both theoretical perspectives (e.g. critical legal, critical race, feminist, and communitarian theories) and substantive topics. We evaluate theories of legal hegemony for the encounters people have with the law. We consider law as both practice and a structure, studying dimensions of the law that include legislation, litigation, constitutional debate, adjudication, lawyering, and legal consciousness."
What is the open date, time, and location? Thurs (10/5/23): 8:30AM – 9:45AM, Mather Memorial 225
Can Visitors participate in this class during their observation? Yes!
Course 10: Criminal Law (LAW 1102-320)
Who is the Instructor? Michael (Mike) Benza
What will I experience? Interactive activities, loudness, comedy, and the hint of serious consequences of what we (lawyers) do and its impact on people and society
- Dr. Benza shared, "This is a first year basic course using the issues of criminal law to explore issues of statutory interpretatio, societal impact on the development of the law, roles of attorneys and judges in the development of the law. We all "know" what any specific law is "supposed to do" but seeing what it actually does and how difficult it is to actually write a law that "gets" who we want to get and does not "get" who we don't want to get is the core idea of the course."
What is the open date, time, and location? Mon (10/2/23) Wed (10/4/23) or Fri (10/6/23): 8:55AM – 9:50AM, Law School Building, Room 158
Can Visitors participate in this class during their observation? Yes!
Course 11: Criminal Procedure (LAW 4807-300)
Who is the Instructor? Michael (Mike) Benza
What will I experience? Interactive activities, loudness, comedy, and the hint of serious consequences of what we (lawyers) do and its impact on people and society
- Dr. Benza shared, "The course focuses on the 4th and 5th Amendments. We are currently exploring the discrete issues under the 4th A - what is a search, what is "unreasonable", basics of warrant requirements, and, of course, exceptions to the rules. This course explores the direct impact the 4th A has on the daily interactions between police and people - it addresses what police can and cannot do under the Constitution and frequently shocking/surpising to students what the rules really are. Confusion, inconsistency, and frustration reign supreme."
What is the open date, time, and location? Mon (10/2/23) Tues (10/3/23) or Thurs (10/5/23): 1:15PM – 2:10PM, Law School Building, Room 157
Can Visitors participate in this class during their observation? Yes!
Course 1: Fundamental Immunology (BIOL 316/416)
Who is the Instructor? Alan Levine
What will I experience? An Interactive Lecture, Polling/Audience Response Systems, and small group learning activities
- Dr. Levine shared, "This is an introductory immunology course for UG and grad students [masters, and PhD]. We try to balance the material to appeal to this very broad range of listeners. At times we break into smaller groups, not always. we try hard to engage students in understanding the material and thinking about its impact."
What is the open date, time, and location? Monday, February 27 OR Friday, March 3, 2:15pm-3:05pm, Clapp 108
Can Visitors participate in this class during their observation? Yes!
Course 2: General Psychology (PSCL 101)
Who is the Instructor? Rita Obeid
What will I experience? An Interactive Lecture, Polling/Audience Response Systems, and small group learning activities
- Dr. Obeid shared, "This is a introduction to psychology large lecture class, in this session I will discuss the topic of intelligence and how we measure intelligence. We discuss the history of intelligence testing and controversies. I lecture in this class to describe concepts but I also employ active learning approaches. We start the class with a "thought question", which I call "Question of the Day". I then break up the different topics with think pair share activities where students think about a topic, discuss it with their peers, and then share with the class."
What is the open date, time, and location? Tuesday, February 28, 10am-11:15am, Robbins Building E301
Can Visitors participate in this class during their observation? Yes!
Course 3: Introduction to Improvisation (THTR 233)
Who is the Instructor? Chris Bohan
What will I experience? Performance
- Dr. Bohan shared, "This course is designed to teach the student the introductory techniques utilized by all improvisational actors. The student will be introduced to performance skills (truth, support, and listening), technical skills (environment, relationship, and event), and structural skills (establish, potential, and resolution) that will help them to form and sustain successful improvisation scenes and scenarios. While “improvisation” is best known as a comedic enterprise, this course will focus on using improvisational techniques/rules to improve communication skills, as well as a means to discover the ‘truth’ of a moment."
What is the open date, time, and location? Tuesday, February 28 OR Thursday, March 2, 1pm-2:15pm, MPAC G21
Can Visitors participate in this class during their observation? Yes!
Course 4: Law & Economics (ECON 338)
Who is the Instructor? Jenny Hawkins
What will I experience? Interactive Lecture, Small group learning activities
- Dr. Hawkins shared, " Around this point in the semester, we will begin examining the economic perspective of property law. We'll use game theory and other economic reasoning to understand the purpose of law/rules specific to property. Any court cases that will be discussed will be provided in Canvas."
What is the open date, time, and location? Tuesday, February 28 OR Thursday, March 2, 1pm-2:15pm, Peter B. Lewis Building Room 03
Can Visitors participate in this class during their observation? Yes!
Course 5: Foundations of Engineering and Programming (ENGR 130)
Who is the Instructor? Kurt Rhoads
What will I experience? Small Group Activities, Lab, Hands-on learing, Low-stakes formative assessment, Rapid prototyping
- Dr. Rhoads shared, "Students will work in teams to develop and present a device that detects vibrations integrating hardware and software programming."
What is the open date, time, and location? Wednesday, March 1, 3:20pm-4:35pm, Bingham B38
Can Visitors participate in this class during their observation? Yes!
Course 6: Death, Loss & Grief (SASS 518)
Who is the Instructor? David Miller
What will I experience? Interactive Lecture, Small group learning activities
- Dr. Miller shared, "This course focuses on how social worker intervene with individuals and families experience the grieving and loss process. Students use practice approves to develop skills in order to effectively and appropriately intervene with clients experiencing loss across the spectrum."
What is the open date, time, and location? Wednesday, March 1, 6:30pm-8:30pm, Mandel Building, Room 338
Can Visitors participate in this class during their observation? Yes!
Course 7: Radical Children's Literature (USSY 291H)
Who is the Instructor? Cara Byrne
What will I experience? A Seminar Discussion, Case-Study Based Learning and Small group learning activities
- Dr. Byrne shared, "This is a SAGES (Seminar Approach to General Education) course about controversial and contemporary children's picture books. In this particular class, students will explore picture books about the COVID-19 pandemic and will engage in small group and full class discussion about using children's literature as public health documents. Prior to class, students will read several example picture books and critical articles."
What is the open date, time, and location? Thursday, March 2, 8:30am-9:45am OR 10am-11:15am, Crawford 111
Can Visitors participate in this class during their observation? Yes!
Course 8: Fundamentals of Neuroscience 2 (NEUR 202)
Who is the Instructor? Ashley Nemes-Baran
What will I experience? Interactive Lecture, Polling/Audience Response Systems
- Dr. Nemes-Baran shared, "This is the second course in our two-course series of Fundamentals of Neuroscience. This large lecture-format (87 students) course consists of sophomores, juniors and seniors that have already taken their first course and have a basic understanding of the brain. In this course, we dive deep into the synapse and explore how synaptic transmission works. For the 3/2 class period, we will specifically focus in on Metabotropic Receptors, explore some of their intracellular pathways and what outcomes we can observe."
What is the open date, time, and location? Thursday, March 2, 10am-11:15am, Nursing Research Building, Room 290
Can Visitors participate in this class during their observation? Yes!
Course 9: Dynamics of Biological Systems (BIOL 300/ EBME 300)
Who is the Instructor? Hillel Chiel
What will I experience? Lab
- Dr. Chiel shared, "Students work together in teams of 2 to solve problems that teach them how to do mathematical modeling of biological systems, and how to use the tools of dynamical systems theory to analyze mathematical models. In the second half of the semester, they reconstruct a model of a biological system from the technical literature."
What is the open date, time, and location? Tuesday, February 28 OR Thursday, March 2, 1pm-2:15pm, Clapp 304
Can Visitors participate in this class during their observation? Yes!
Course 1: Introduction to Biochemistry (CHEM 328)
Who is the Instructor? Rekha Srinivasan
What will I experience? A large 130 student class engaged in active learning through POGIL group activity.
Course 2: Principles of Microeconomics (ECON 102)
Who is the Instructor? Jenny Hawkins
What will I experience? We'll be doing supply/demand analysis using graphs. Students will practice on together and we'll discuss their results.
Course 3: Biology's Survival Guide to College (BIOL 112)
Who is the Instructor? Rebecca Benard
What will I experience? A flipped classroom. On this day students will complete a jigsaw activity. Before class, each student in a group becomes an “expert” on a different text. During class students take turns summarizing the main points of the article they read. The students make connections of how the content and concepts in the different texts fit together.
Course 4: Classical Electromagnetism (PHYS 423)
Who is the Instructor? Pavel Fileviez Perez
What will I experience? We will discuss the general solutions to the Maxwell's equations using advanced mathematical tools. Green's functions, Special Functions and other methods.
Course 5: Transport Phenomena for Chemical Systems (ECHE 360)
Who is the Instructor? Don Feke
What will I experience? We will be discussing examples of fluid-flow and how to obtain approximations to analytical results through scaling analyses.
Course 6: Programming in Java (CSDS 132)
Who is the Instructor? Harold Connamacher
What will I experience? A variation of the Socratic teaching adapted to a large lecture (nominally 270 students). The anticipated lesson will involve students presenting their solutions to the lecture and then the class analyzing them together using provided metrics.
Course 7: Children's Picture Books (FSSY 185R)
Who is the Instructor? Cara Byrne
What will I experience? A 19-student seminar-style course discussing children's picture books about war and conflict with a short writing workshop at the end of class.
Course 8: Health Policy & Service Delivery (SASS 511)
Who is the Instructor? David B. Miller
What will I experience? Discussion of the policy making process, current health policy topics, and student-led discussions of assigned readings.
If you have questions about UCITE’s new TOTEs program, contact us: ucite@case.edu.