University Center
for Teaching and Learning
2020-21 Annual Report
Greetings from Associate Provost Cynthia Golden
Executive Director, University Center for Teaching and Learning
Center Associate, Learning Research and Development Center
The past two academic years have presented the University Center for Teaching and Learning with some of the most significant challenges we have ever faced. Our Center was called upon to respond to evolving teaching and learning environments amid rapidly changing circumstances—and in the process of doing so, exceeded our own expectations for supporting faculty and students. Our team members were innovative, creative, and tireless in their efforts during this pandemic.
This report highlights some of our key accomplishments, but only scratches the surface as to how the Teaching Center enabled the University of Pittsburgh to sustain instructional continuity in the face of extreme adversity.
Flex @ Pitt
- The Teaching Center created resources to train faculty on how to use Zoom, which became one of the primary technologies supporting instruction. Since Aug. 1, 2020, more than 1 million Zoom sessions occurred at Pitt.
- The Online Student Toolkit was created, which helped provide students at Pitt with helpful information that allowed them to use educational technology tools like Canvas competently. Overall, 96 percent of students who were surveyed found the toolkit to be helpful.
- Faculty enrollment in the Teaching Online at Pitt self-paced Canvas course few to 517 participants.
- Teaching Center teaching consultants logged more than 530 hours of individual consultations with Pitt instructors in 2020-21.
Canvas Implementation:
The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic coincided with the University’s transition to the Canvas learning management system.
- Nearly 5,500 course were published on Canvas in spring 2021. More than 80 percent of instructors and 90 percent of students had at least one active course during this term.
- Our online self-help resources had more than 59,000 views during the 2020-21 academic year.
- During the fall 2020 term, 94 percent of survey respondents reported Canvas worked “very” or “somewhat well.”
Faculty Badging/Credentialing
- More than 1,600 badges awarded and more in progress.
- Newly added credentialing opportunities: Pitt Professional continuing education courses, the University Library System, Achievement in Pedagogy, Universal Design Concepts, Online Instruction, Assessment.
- Completely redesigned faculty seminars for accelerated and remote delivery.
Assessment of Teaching
- The 2019 ACIE recommendations on assessment of teaching were codified by the Office of the Provost and we expect it to have a significant and enduring impact on the university.
- We provided nearly 400 hours of consultation to help faculty and academic units improve assessment of teaching effectiveness, including through online resources and supporting units implementing the 2019 ACIE recommendations.
- The annual Assessment and Teaching Conference on Feb. 12 was held virtually this year, and was our first time supporting an event using Pitt’s new conference platform, Accelevents. Nearly 250 faculty and faculty support specialists attend the event.
Teaching Surveys
The Office of Measurement and Evaluation of Teaching administered nearly 15,000 surveys in fall 2020 and spring 2021, with response rates hovering around the 50% mark.
Adoption of the midterm survey option increased by almost 60% between fall 2019 and fall 2020, an indication of their effectiveness and usefulness.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The Teaching Center continues to support Pitt students by enriching the experience and knowledge of faculty and TAs with interactive workshops, one-on-one consultations, and other programming that underscores the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion in teaching.
- Over 5,000 students completed Pitt 0210 Anti-Black Racism: History, Ideology, and Resistance, a new course for first-year students. The Teaching Center contributed to multiple aspects of course development, including digital media, instructional design, and surveys.
- Seven faculty received the 2020 Provost’s Award for Diversity in the Curriculum in recognition of their efforts to integrate diversity and inclusion concepts into their courses and curricula.
- We established new highs in overall attendance (427), unique attendees (223), and first-time attendees (167) during the Provost’s Diversity Institute for Faculty Development in May 2021.
What Pitt Students Are Saying
Read anonymous feedback from students about their experience
participating in Pitt’s Anti-Black Racism course, which debuted in 2020.
I think having one module to go through per week was very nice because it didn’t make taking class be too much. Another great thing was bringing in different professors to teach each subject, not only because it gave us expert information, but because it also gave us the chance to hear from multiple sources.
I like that this course focuses on Black history in America. I learned things that I had never heard of before, and I think providing this course is a valuable step in fighting racism against Black people.
Very insightful, intellectual, and useful resources, readings, lectures, and materials from many different sources and speakers. The course allowed me to explore the various aspects and ideas about Anti-Black Racism that I may not have previously considered and to gain a better perspective and understanding of systemic and societal issues, narratives, and history that I may not have been aware of.
It filled a lot of gaps that the K-12 Public Education system fails to meet and did so in a way that was informative and not [alienating]. I really appreciate the aim to educate instead of chastising those who may not have grown up in an environment that would allow them the insight provided by the course.
Outreach & Events
- The Flex@Pitt Playbook tallied more than 18,000 page views during Flex@Pitt instruction.-We introduced a reimagined experience for more than 300 new faculty that included virtual early access to a variety of resources, monthly instructional communications, and an on-campus welcome event.
- Nearly 200 graduate and professional students attended New Teaching Assistant Orientation, held virtual in both 2020 and 2021.
- More than 250 online learners from Tuscarora Intermediate Unit, a regional educational service agency operating in south-central Pennsylvania, participated in Infant Mental Health, a School of Education online professional development course.
- Our informational and educational videos produced over 5,000 views on our YouTube channel. COVID-19 Faculty Survey – Fall 2020 respondents indicated that they relied on the Teaching Center newsletter as a source of information for COVID-19 updates.
