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from the issue of December 2, 2004
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Century Club offers networking, support for faculty
BY JEFF SCHLECHTE, SPECIAL TO THE SCARLET
More than 30 UNL faculty members recently gathered in the Nebraska Union to learn how to be more of a "guide on the side" than a "sage on the stage."
Puns like these could spell the start of some kind of doctoral comedy tour. But in fact, it's simply another meeting of the revitalized Century Club.
The Century Club is a group of faculty who meet to discuss methods to improve their teaching techniques when instructing large classes. The group is called the Century Club because the majority of these classes have 100 or more students.
The Century Club initially began on the UNL campus in 1977 as a two-fold operation, said Ted Pardy, professor of biological sciences and one of the group's founders.
"The Century Club served as both an action group to draw attention to the deplorable conditions of large lecture facilities and as a support group to offer assistance to teachers of large classes," he said.
At its peak, the Century Club boasted more than 30 members and published a monthly newsletter. Club members even took pictures of lecture hall conditions and gave a presentation to the administration, which led to then-Chancellor Martin Massengale allocating $125,000 for lecture hall renovation in 1982.
Membership fluctuated over the years. The Century Club became dormant with the elimination of the Teaching and Learning Center, which had provided mailing and communication support, a few years ago.
The Century Club began rebuilding this past spring under the leadership of Michael James, Ardis James Professor of textiles, clothing and design, and a group of interested faculty.
"It's very useful for faculty to hear colleagues discuss what they do," James said. "It enriches and validates the reason for having a Century Club."
Pardy agrees, and says members of the club gain new kinships with colleagues and networks of mutual support.
Topics at club meetings vary widely. Technology, assessment techniques, grade inflation and faster, more effective group work are just some of the ideas that have been discussed by Century Club members. At a recent meeting, Pardy, James and Kevin Lee, Behlen Observatory coordinator and professor of physics and astronomy, presented "The Uses and Abuses of PowerPoint" and shared their anecdotes and experiences with this highly used presentation tool.
"A more student-centered pedagogy allows for more class collaboration and interactive engagement," Lee said.
Making students feel they're important is one reason why Beverly Benes, professor of nutrition and dietetics, attends Century Club meetings.
"Large classes are more difficult to teach than small classes because an instructor can't get to know students on an individual basis," Benes says.
Members of the Century Club agree that meeting to share tips and techniques is imperative to improving their teaching abilities. While the goal of providing quality teaching is at the forefront of instructors' mind, how they're able to develop and improve on it are paramount. As careers and lives of faculty members become more hectic, the Century Club acts as a beneficial network of peers.
Jeff Schlechte is a senior agricultural journalism major from Waco, Neb.
For more information
To learn more about the Century Club or become a member and be placed on a Blackboard listserv with the group, contact Professor Michael James at 472-0289 or e-mail . All UNL faculty including adjunct professors and graduate teaching assistants are welcome to join the Century Club, even those who do not teach large classes, James said, because while the issues discussed may be primarily about large classes, the information and strategies are applicable for all styles of instruction.
GO TO: ISSUE OF DECEMBER 2
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