Derek Bruff
Center for Teaching conducts student focus groups to study online and hybrid learning
Jan. 20, 2021—Faculty and students found themselves teaching and learning in new contexts last fall, from online courses to hybrid classrooms. In October and November, the Center for Teaching in the Office of the Provost conducted a series of focus groups with students to better understand their experiences learning in these environments.
Center for Teaching offers resources and workshops for adaptive teaching this spring
Jan. 6, 2021—As the Vanderbilt community prepares for another semester of adaptive teaching, the Center for Teaching continues to create resources to help faculty and instructors teach effectively in a variety of contexts.
Center for Teaching shares ideas for faculty to make the most of in-class reading days
Dec. 8, 2020—Derek Bruff, director of the Center for Teaching and principal senior lecturer in mathematics, shares ideas for Vanderbilt instructors to make the most of the recently announced additional in-class reading days, scheduled for Feb. 23-24 and April 7-8, 2021.
Center for Teaching strengthens online instructional design expertise
Oct. 14, 2020—The Center for Teaching has announced two strategic hires: Julaine Fowlin as assistant director for instructional design, and Ransford Pinto as assistant director for graduate programs.
Adaptive Teaching at Vanderbilt: Preparation, collaboration over summer paves way for effective teaching in hybrid classroom
Aug. 26, 2020—Vanderbilt’s substantial investments in classroom technology and efforts to foster collaboration over the summer were aimed at preparing faculty to teach effectively within the hybrid classroom this fall.
Adaptive Teaching at Vanderbilt: August workshops, new course development website available from Center for Teaching
Jul. 31, 2020—For faculty and other instructors looking for teaching ideas for the fall, the Center for Teaching is offering a variety of online workshops in August, as well as a new Online Course Development Resources website.
Adaptive Teaching at Vanderbilt: Strategies to promote adaptive teaching and active learning this fall
Jul. 8, 2020—During a recent faculty town hall, Center for Teaching Director Derek Bruff presented several strategies for adaptive teaching and active learning that faculty and other instructors might find useful as they plan their fall courses.
Adaptive teaching town hall video available to view; new faculty question webpage launched
Jun. 26, 2020—More than 300 faculty members participated in a virtual town hall Wednesday on adaptive teaching and learning. Since all questions were unable to be answered during the June 15 and June 24 faculty town halls, a new webpage that features answers to questions submitted during both has launched on the Return to Campus website.
Wednesday’s virtual town hall for faculty to focus on adaptive teaching
Jun. 23, 2020—A second virtual town hall focusing on adaptive teaching for the fall semester will be hosted for faculty on June 24 at 11 a.m. The town hall will include a presentation from Center for Teaching Director Derek Bruff on how to teach in a hybrid or remote course this fall, followed by a discussion of questions from faculty regarding teaching.
Adaptive Teaching at Vanderbilt: Investing in new classroom technology to support faculty this fall
Jun. 19, 2020—Vanderbilt University is making substantial investments in classroom technology to support faculty as the fall semester approaches. The strategy includes upgrading classroom technology to support livestreaming and recording in classrooms, building new video recording studios, and training faculty in both new and existing technology available in the classroom.
The Open Dore: How the Center for Teaching supports faculty
Apr. 15, 2020—In this month’s edition of the "Open Dore" newsletter, Center for Teaching Director Derek Bruff discusses the essential role the center plays in supporting Vanderbilt faculty year-round, and especially in times such as now, when there's an unprecedented and historical shift in methods and rapid adoption of new technologies.
Behind the computer screen: VUIT enhances resources for remote work, learning
Apr. 6, 2020—From protecting data to training on Zoom to ensuring systems function properly to answering phones for the university and Medical Center, more than 280 staff members behind computer screens are working diligently to keep the university running smoothly online.