The Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE)
The Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE)
Vision
The Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE) aims to take a leading role in enhancing educator capacity and pedagogical effectiveness at the American University of Bahrain (AUBH), through promoting a culture of innovative teaching and learning.
Mission
The mission of the CTLE is to provide up-to-date resources and a range of high-quality professional development (PD) activities, including workshops, knowledge-sharing sessions, and roundtable discussions that help enrich teaching and learning practices at the University.
The CTLE partners with faculty, students, and colleagues across AUBH to promote excellence and innovation in pedagogies that are inclusive, learner-centered, and research-based. The Center also supports the purposeful use of new media and emerging technologies in the classroom as well as online, to foster the success of the faculty and students.
CTLE Values
- Faculty Driven
- Evidence-Based
- Student-Centered
CTLE Beliefs and Guiding Principles
- Students’ achievement and learning are the highest priority.
- Teaching is a critical and reflective practice.
- Teaching and learning are driven by inquiry and experimentation.
- Teaching and research are interconnected and can mutually impact one another positively.
- Collaborative efforts with and among the faculty in the form of Communities of Practice (CoPs), focusing on the sharing and exchange of innovative pedagogies, constitutes a leap towards excellence.
- The integration of new media and emerging technologies contributes to the enrichment of teaching and learning across the University.
- Sustained efforts towards opportunities of interdisciplinary discussions and teaching help build and promote a culture of innovative and effective pedagogies.
Overview of CTLE Operations
Professional Development Activities
In every academic year, the CTLE develops a formal operational plan that lays out a range of diverse PD activities, covering a wide variety of topics, which are determined based on an analysis of faculty and college needs. The operational plan with specific KPIs helps ensure that assessed PD needs are addressed in a timely fashion.
Most of the activities that are implemented are usually in accordance with the setout Professional Development Plan for Academic Faculty Members of that year. However, in some cases, a few other activities are developed and carried out based on unexpected needs, either identified by staff members themselves or by the CTLE Director, in accordance with conversations and discussions with senior management like the College Deans, Academic Provost, or the VP of Institutional Effectiveness and Accreditation.
All the activities, however, are strongly aligned with the vision, mission, and values of AUBH and contribute to the achievement of the strategic goals of the University, primarily those within Theme 1 (Student Success) and Theme 2 (Excellence) of the institution’s Strategic Plan.
The AUBH vision is:
The American University of Bahrain will be internationally recognized for quality and innovation in learning, the success of the leaders it graduates, and its positive impact on social and economic transformation.
While the AUBH mission, which informs all institutional operations and practices is:
Our mission is to provide transformative, flexible, and innovative learning opportunities to position graduates to launch and sustain satisfying and successful careers. We will foster learner success by promoting interdisciplinarity and entrepreneurial endeavors, providing analytical and technical skills necessary to thrive in the digital economy, and engaging with our communities to foster respect, positive impact, and social responsibility.
Online Education Unit
This workshop underscored the use of cutting-edge robotic technologies to advance knowledge and upskill students with some of the necessary hands-on technical skills as well as the soft skills required in today’s fast-paced world.
By leveraging advanced information and communication technologies (ICT), the Unit provides support and training to facilitate effective implementation and utilization of these programs. It prioritizes the protection of intellectual property rights and the privacy of all participants, ensuring a secure and respectful learning environment. The Unit also actively engages in regular assessments and feedback collection to identify areas for improvement, adapting its strategies to
incorporate the latest advancements in educational technology and pedagogical methods. Through a collaborative approach, it works closely with faculty to develop innovative teaching practices that enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. The Unit’s commitment to excellence is reflected in its proactive efforts to create a dynamic and responsive educational framework that supports the academic success and personal growth of every student at AUBH.