The Teaching Quality Framework helps to structure discussions about teaching at Appalachian State. Intended as a framework and not a prescription, it directs our attention to three components of the teaching and learning process: the learning environment, course design and implementation, and a reflective stance toward our disciplines and pedagogies. It also encourages us to reflect on our teaching using information from a variety of sources, including ourselves, our students, and our colleagues. When we use this general framework to situate our pedagogical discussions, we provide a strong foundation for the maintenance and growth of the diverse range of effective teaching approaches that App State is known for.
The Teaching Quality Framework is the work of a 2020 Teaching Quality Taskforce, which was convened to identify characteristics, values, and processes to support the development and evaluation of quality courses across all modalities. The task force was led by members of the Center for Academic Excellence (now named CETLSS) Leadership Team and consisted of representatives of each college who were nominated by the Deans.
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Helpful Teaching Quality Framework Tools:
- Teaching Quality Values Statement (PDF | Docx) - articulates core beliefs related to dimensions of teaching excellence that foster effective learning experiences, based on the pedagogical literature and connected with our institutional mission to foster transformative learning for all students.
Teaching Quality Growth Guide (PDF | Docx) - sample instructor behaviors that align with the three dimensions of teaching quality. The behaviors in the guide are samples from the literature intended to spur discussion about effective teaching.
Teaching Quality Lenses of Inquiry (PDF | Docx) - examples of evidence or information instructors might consider as they reflect on the maintenance and growth of their teaching
Teaching Quality Reflection Tool (PDF | Docx) - a tool that instructors may find helpful in organizing the information they have collected about their teaching, as aligned to the three dimensions of the framework and three data sources
The Teaching Quality Framework Document (PDF) - submitted as the product of the 2020 Framework. This document includes versions of the above tools, plus a contextual explanation of the work.
Tools by Programs and Departments:
These tools were produced by groups who received a Teaching Quality Framework Grant. If you are interested in applying for this grant, please see our grant page.
Evaluating Teaching using the Teaching Quality Framework (Department of Counseling, Family Therapy, and Higher Education) - Promotion & Tenure recommendations and annual review guidelines for assessing teaching quality
Wellbeing Framework Assessment Phase I (Appalachian State Veterinary Technology Program) - A logic model and assessment plan for evaluating the interaction between teaching and student wellbeing. As a follow-up, in 2023-2024, the program is working with TASSL to collect and analyze the data from the model/plan
Self-Reflection Guide for Annual Reviews (Department of Communication) - A draft guide to serve as a complement to or replacement for existing annual review procedures regarding teaching quality