UAA College of Business and Public Policy

Integrating High-Impact Teaching & Learning Practices into the UAA Classroom

College of Business and Public Policy Professor Dr. Sandra Ehrlich Shares Team-Based Learning Best Practices with New UAA Faculty

College of Business and Public Policy (CBPP) Professor Dr. Sandra Ehrlich shared high-impact teaching and learning practices with more than 40 new faculty members at the UAA Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence, CAFÉ Orientation session in the Consortium library.

“One evidence-based best practice is incorporating Team-Based Learning into the classroom. As a reflective practitioner, it is one of my greatest joys to work alongside new faculty to mentor and guide their immersion into the TBL pedagogical practice,” she said.

Adopting a Flipped Classroom Model

“One strategy I recommend is to adopt a ‘flipped classroom’ model on a small scale—with one assignment or one unit—and then, to assess the impact of their student learning outcomes,” said Ehrlich.

“To get the TBL wheel turning, I urge new faculty to think about an assignment from a student perspective to answer the question, ‘What do I want my students to be able to do?’ Once they answer that question, faculty can begin to scaffold student learning with applied activities,” she said.

“I moved from a traditional, lecture-based classroom to a Team-Based Learning classroom in CIS 280—Managerial Communications to challenge and engage our students in the critical thinking skills vital to effective problem-solving and decision-making in business. My ultimate goal was student success from the classroom to the workplace,” Ehrlich said.

Integrating High-Impact Educational Practices

“Research has shown that integrating high impact practices in teaching and learning promotes student learning and resilience, increases student engagement, and improves retention and graduation rates,” she said.

“I will continue to work closely with CAFÉ Director, Shawnalee Whitney, to facilitate TBL workshops to promote high-impact practices in the classroom tied to engaged student learning during the 2017-2018 academic year,” said Ehrlich.