Welcome to the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) at Texas A&M University.  We are a part of a seven institution network funded by the National Science Foundation to promote “the development of a national faculty in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) committed to implementing and advancing effective teaching practices for diverse student audiences as part of their professional careers.”  TAMU CIRTL serves as a bridge by (1) contributing TAMU’s unique emphasis on inquiry-based courses to the CIRTL network and (2) network existing TAMU resources and facilitating access to CIRTL resources to the broader TAMU community.

Our goals are simple: 

(1) Prepare graduate students and post-docs as future faculty,

(2) Support TAMU’s initiative to infuse courses with inquiry-based pedagogy,

(3) Support faculty development in CIRTL pillars and inquiry-based pedagogy.

While our focus is on STEM disciplines, we encourage the diversity that accompanies the participation by all disciplines.

Please explore the above tabs.  Your will find content and resources, both at TAMU and beyond, that you may utilize in your courses and/or research.  Please contact us with any questions.  We are here to serve the faculty, administration, and students of Texas A&M University!

Dr. Bob Webb, Interim Dean of Graduate Studies and Campus Network Leader

Dr. Bruce Herbert, Professor and Co-PI

Ms. Michelle Simms, Graduate Research Assistant

Contact us

"This material is based upon work partially supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0227592.  Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation." 

CIRTL at Texas A&M University focuses on developing future STEM faculty through the integration of CIRTL activities with current university initiatives to bring inquiry-based learning into the undergraduate classroom.  Adapting and developing effective learning activities for the university’s diverse student audience, and integrating them successfully into courses, will require a coordinated effort of graduate students, post-docs, and faculty.  CIRTL will support this initiative through the professional development of graduate-through-faculty in effective teaching practices and instructional material design that fosters learning through inquiry.

TAMU CIRTL provides and/or supplements resources in teaching and mentoring.  Through participation in the national CIRTL network with its member institutions, TAMU benefits from expertise and resources (1) to develop expertise in Teaching as Research (TAR), Learning through Diversity (LtD), and development of Learning Communities (LC), (2) to connect with mentors from other institutions with expertise in these three CIRTL pillars, and (3) to put into practice the CIRTL core values within the context of their academic discipline.  Ultimately, CIRTL provides valuable models for the implementation of these vital core concepts.

For more information, to request assistance with integrating CIRTL pillars into your courses, or learn how CIRTL can be leveraged in your proposals and research efforts, please contact Bob Webb (bwebb@vprmail.tamu.edu) or Bruce Herbert (herbert@geo.tamu.edu).

Resources within the local TAMU CIRTL network include (see Resources tab for full descriptions):

Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)

Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE)

Graduate Teaching Academy (GTA)

Information Technology in Science (ITS)

Please visit the website of the national CIRTL network for more information in TAR, LtD, and LC. 

Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL)

Provides resources and a national network of faculty and graduate students from seven institutions working on issues affecting the preparation of graduate students and post-doctoral researchers as future faculty.  They host a conference bringing together faculty and students from around the country and a summer conference for students to strengthen their preparation as college teachers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).  From their website, you may also access free material focusing on Teaching as Research, Learning through Diversity, and Learning Communities (the three pillars of CIRTL), find a speaker for a special event, or network with faculty who share an interest in these topics.  Member institutions are led by the University of Wisonson-Madison and include Howard University, Michigan State University, Texas A&M University, The Pennsylvania State University, University of Colorado at Boulder, and Vanderbilt University.

Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE)

Provides professional development for faculty who desire to expand their repertoire of teaching strategies and design courses that challenge and support the learning of all students.  The CTE hosts resources, learning communities, workshops, and seminars for faculty development.  In addition, CTE provides professional development for graduate students through sponsorship of the Graduate Teaching Academy and the university sanctioned Teaching Assistant Training Evaluation Program (TATEP).

Graduate Teaching Academy (GTA)  2007-08 Program Summary

Supported by CTE and the Office of Graduate Studies, the GTA is a student led organization providing seminar series during the fall semester. The GTA is a one-year voluntary program that can be entered at the beginning of the fall or spring semester.  Participants who complete a series of requirements set forth by the GTA are eligible to obtain a Certificate of Completion designating them as a “GTA Fellow”.

Information Technology in Sciences (ITS)

In its 7^th year of operation, the NSF-funded Information Technology in Science (ITS) Center for Teaching and Learning is an interdisciplinary graduate program that seeks to replenish the nation's supply of science and mathematics education specialists through team-led, learner-centered opportunities involving scientists, mathematicians, education researchers and education practitioners.

iTunes U

iTunes U is a service provided by Texas A&M University in cooperation with Apple, Inc. to provide pod casting content to TAMU and the general public.  Of the 250 participating US institutions, TAMU is one of only 16 schools featured in the Apple Showcase and the only public university from Texas.  TAMU iTunes U receives a weekly average 6,000 hits from US and abroad.  Of the STEM departments, the colleges of Agriculture and Engineering currently have content available on iTunes and the colleges of Science and Veterinarian Medicine have content in development.  In addition, TAMU offers “Research Quick Briefs” as a weekly podcast highlighting research of faculty and agencies of the Texas A&M University System.  College Teaching Certificate (CTC):  Offered through the College of Education, the primary goal of this area of emphasis is to allow graduate students the opportunity to learn and intern about the theory, practice, and scholarship of college teaching and learning. Individuals are able to obtain the certificate while completing a degree in any department.

Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)

With the goal of improving the undergraduate experience, QEP focuses on embedding inquiry into undergraduate curriculum.  Each college has established a QEP committee composed of faculty from individual departments.  Monthly university-wide QEP meetings are held to facilitate further growth and the development of learning communities.  College and departments participate in these activities through their development and assessment of new inquiry-based courses being offered to our undergraduates.

University Writing Center (UWC)

Established in 2001 to support writing-intensive courses in all disciplines at TAMU, the UWC provides tutorial services to gradate and undergraduate students as well as faculty development in the teaching of writing. The UWC also consults with faculty who are developing writing-intensive courses, and encourages writing as an active learning technique in all disciplines.

CIRTL PILLARS:

Teaching-as-Research (TAR):  "the deliberate, systematic, and reflective use of research methods by science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) instructors to develop and implement teaching practices that advance the learning experiences and outcomes of both students and teachers." Resources:  TAR Developmental Framework Chart, Guidebooks, Publications, Delta Program, STEM Education Scholars Program, Speakers, more.

Learning Communities (LC):  "bring together groups of people for shared learning, discovery, and generation of knowledge. To achieve common learning goals, a learning community nurtures functional relationships among its members."  Resouces: LC Developmental Framework Chart, Guidebooks, Publications, Delta Program, Speakers, more.

Learning-through-Diversity (LtD):  "capitalizes on the rich array of experiences, backgrounds, and skills among STEM undergraduates and graduates-through-faculty to enhance the learning of all. It recognizes that excellence and diversity are necessarily intertwined."  Resources: LtD Developmental Framework Chart, Diversity Institute program, Guidebooks, Publications, Delta Program, Speakers, more.

CIRTL GUIDEBOOKS:

OK, you're hooked on CIRTL pillar concepts and want to implement one or all into your courses, or even teach a new course, but don't know where to start.  CIRTL Guidebooks provide complete course materials in a convenient PDF (including discussion and justification of concepts, pedagogical support, detailed weekly Facilitator's guide, etc.) and are real-world tested at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  The guidebooks may be taught as-is or adapted to your discipline: 

CIRTL PRESENTATIONS and PUBLICATIONS:

The next best thing to being there.  Learn from the experts in the CIRTL network as they discuss topics and demonstrate concepts found in the core principles of CIRTL (see Pillars above for more information).  Presentations, publications.