Conversation: Co-Teaching as a Learning Experience

Pamela L. Eddy, Kristen L. TarantinoPresentation for the CIDER Conference on Higher Education Pedagogy

Blacksburg, VA   February 12, 2016

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Agenda

• Overview of the literature and definitions

• Facilitator experiences

• Engagement in conversation using guiding questions

• Summary and posting of key points

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Literature

• Professional growth—reflection (Conderman & McCarty, 2003)

• Power differentials (Eddy & Mitchell, 2006)

• Receptive to different perspectives (Leavitt, 2006)

• Adult Learning Theory (Knowles, 1980)

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Introduction

Context• College Teaching Certificate (ctc.wm.edu)• Kristen (CTC capstone wiki)• Pam

The Course—Comparative Higher Education• Reaction vs. Creation• Co-Teaching requirements

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College Teaching Certificate (CTC)

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Planning

Summer 2015

• Embedded within CTC Capstone– Course Design/Teaching Strategies– Concurrent SoTL project

• Mapping syllabus and course objectives– Updated course readings and assignments– Online class preparation

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Power

• Unique mitigating factors– CTC– Timing of symbolic interactions (online class)– High comfort level and experience in

communicating with one another• Awareness of power differential• Expectations of roles• Shared meaning/understanding• Parallel paradigms vs. interdisciplinary

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Roles

• Pam remained primary instructor; Kristen supported instruction.

• Kristen was Pam’s graduate assistant– Afforded more opportunities to connect– Present on campus

• Both facilitated small group discussion and learning activities

• Kristen as researcher and co-instructor• Both read submitted student work – evaluated

by Pam and modeled for Kristenctc.wm.edu @wm_ctc

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Guiding Questions

1. How do you define the concept of co-teaching?

2. What are the key learning outcomes for those involved in co-teaching based on adult learning theory?

3. What do you see as challenges of co-teaching?

4. How do you navigate the power differential involved with co-teaching?

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Lessons Learned

• Agree on communication structure• Socialization of faculty roles• Accommodating different learning styles and

learning places• Keep online component• Some strategies just don’t work• Make roles in the class more explicit• Evaluation as a necessary learning experience

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Conversation: Co-Teaching as a Learning ExperiencePamela L. Eddy

ProfessorThe College of William and Mary

Williamsburg, VApamela.eddy@wm.edu

ctc.wm.edu

@wm_ctc

Kristen L. TarantinoDoctoral Candidate

The College of William and MaryWilliamsburg, VA

ktarantino@email.wm.edu