Teaching Test Kitchen Lab Proposal Form

What is the Teaching Test Kitchen Lab (TTKL)?

A Teaching Test Kitchen Lab (TTKL) cohort is a small group of up to 4 faculty with a lab leader who have identified a need or issue in the classroom from the SLO assessment process who collectively create an action plan. The action plan will explore and improve teaching and/or student success including student learning outcomes and assessments. TTKL cohorts can be made up of faculty from a single department or from faculty across disciplines.

Examples:

• Create or revise a class, curriculum, program sequence, etc. to meet needs identified by the inquiry/assessment
• Design or revise an online class with an emphasis on regular and meaningful communication with students
• Create a collection of model and non-model student work aligned with a rubric
• Create a shared rubric/formative assessment project
• Design and start using a process that better meets student needs in any student services area
• Explore and experiment with authentic assessment
• Explore and implement evidence based pedagogy (study skills, mindsets, Brain-Targeted Teaching, etc.)

What are the goals of the TTKL project?

• Improve student learning, retention, and success
• Increase collaboration
• Increase involvement in and understanding of assessment processes
• Share effective teaching practices with the cohort and college as a whole
• Close the assessment loop by synthesizing information and putting recommendations into action

What exactly do people do in a TTKL?

• Look at previous findings and recommendations from SLO assessments
• Find a few sources of other existing data relevant to your topic to establish a context/rationale
• Plan and create or implement your product/action
• Conduct a short evaluation of the product/action, or make a plan for doing so if you need more time
• Document product/action as:
  • Brief written report 
  • Brief presentation to the College

What are the required activities for team members?

• Submit a time sheet 
• Meet at least 4 times over TTKL project period to complete all parts of the project together:
  • By week 4 of the semester schedule an initial meeting with a TLC co-facilitator where you will refine your plan, develop a timeline, and take a look at previously published research on the issue
  • Meet at least 2 other times between to complete, implement, and evaluate your work.
  • Plan project presentation to campus.
• Presentation to campus (in coordination with TLC - Inservice, ISW, Professional Development Day, etc.)

What does the lab leader do?

• Ensure that the project is moving along on schedule
• Ensure that all team members are included in the collaboration
• Maintain contact with TLC committee and ask for support when needed
• Respond in a timely manner to communications from TLC committee

Is this a paid activity?

• Yes, there are stipend of $1,500 available for TTKL lab leaders and $1,000 for lab participants paid upon completion of TTKL activities. TTKL cohorts will be asked to present their work to the campus after receiving their stipends.
• All full-time and part-time faculty are welcome and encouraged to participate.
• Please note that you are welcome to run a TTKL even if we run out of stipend allocations. Also, some projects might have a small core group of 2 or 3 people doing most of the work who request stipends, but others may participate in a focus group, pass out surveys, and collect student work, etc. without committing much time or requesting compensation.

Questions or Concerns? Contact a TLC committee member!