The CTL fosters faculty development across all disciplines and modalities via programming, faculty-led learning communities and development of learning modules on successful teaching practices.
The goal is to give faculty a place to collaborate and support one another, share their ideas, strategies and resources and build relationships and community. It improves teaching practices by offering a structured environment for discussion, reinforcing the application of new techniques and improving student learning. Dr. Tolley’s research focuses on instructional and assessment practices that improve student learning, while Professor Fritz brings decades of experience helping faculty translate educational innovations into practice.
In this Q&A, they share what the CTL offers, common questions faculty ask, why discussing teaching practices with colleagues across departments can lead to discoveries that benefit students across all schools at Mercy and more.
Q&A
What are the key responsibilities of your department?
Our main purpose at CTL is to support all Mercy faculty and their teaching, to positively impact student learning. We provide formal and informal means of professional development, including Faculty Seminar Day, Communities of Practice, New Faculty Cohort sessions, Lunch and Learns and other offerings. Our programming seeks to enhance pedagogy in collaboration with stakeholders across the University.
What does a typical day look like for your team?
There is no typical day for us at CTL! Every day brings a different opportunity for sharing best practices for teaching and learning. Whether it is in one-on-one consultations with faculty or a large-scale event, our focus is on contributing to the culture of learning at Mercy University.
What are the most common questions your department receives?
We often get asked about how to make lectures more engaging for students, how to appropriately incorporate technology into instruction, and how to provide ongoing feedback to improve student outcomes.
What’s one thing you wish more people knew about your department?
Our role is to be an additional resource for faculty, whether you are planning your syllabus, choosing instructional strategies, developing classroom assessments or just want to learn more about the newest educational innovations. We love to talk about teaching!
Who should Faculty, Staff or Students contact for assistance?
All faculty are welcome to reach out to us at CTL at any time! Visit us in-person in the CTL Hub, located in Main Hall, Suite G5, or email us at ctl@mercy.edu.
What’s one helpful tip from your area of expertise that you’d offer to fellow members of the Mercy community to help them thrive or simplify their day-to-day tasks?
Every day is an opportunity to learn! Being a reflective practitioner, no matter your role, leads to personal and professional growth.
Do you have a fun fact or little-known insight about your office, department or the nature of your work that you would like to share with the Mercy community?
We believe that teaching and learning do not happen in isolation. Because learning is social and iterative, discussing what you are doing in your classroom with others, including outside of your department and school, can be an enlightening experience. While sharing tips and tricks that work well for you, you may become aware of new strategies to adapt and implement in your own context.
