The John M. Burns Conference on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning is co-sponsored each year by the Teaching, Learning, and Professional Development Center and the Teaching Academy. Named in honor of Dr. John M. Burns, who helped found the Teaching Academy, this conference is held each fall and features two keynote sessions from an invited teacher-scholar and a poster session from recipients of the Annual Lawrence Schovanec Teaching Development Scholarship Award. Past speakers include Noah Finkelstein, Bryan Dewsbury, Peter Felten, Claire Howell Major, Michele DiPietro, and Derek Bruff.

The 21st annual John M. Burns Conference will be held on Monday, October 3rd, 2022, with Dr. Michelle D. Miller. Registratration is now open!

About Dr. Michelle D. Miller

You Must Remember This: Why Memory is Important for Learning (Even in the Age of Google)

10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | TLPDC Room 150

Contemporary faculty are wary of over-emphasizing memory and memorization in their courses. This aversion to focusing on memory stems from a wide variety of concerns, from the wish to nurture higher thinking skills, to resistance to a culture of over-testing in K-12 education, to repudiation of an outdated and hierarchical “banking” model of learning. These are all valid concerns. However, neglecting or avoiding memory in our teaching creates missed opportunities to take advantage of new research on the importance of developing a knowledge base while developing expertise in an academic discipline. It also sets students up to fail in situations where relying on the Internet for information is impractical or impossible. This interactive presentation challenges common myths and misconceptions about the role of memory for learning, reviews provocative new research linking memory and thinking skills, and offers techniques and technologies that help students develop a solid base of knowledge, without detracting from application or critical thinking.

We Know What to Do – So Why Don't We? Mobilizing Our Campus Communities to Support the Teaching Evaluation Initiative

*Please note that this session is focused on reaching those with administrative roles but anyone is welcome.

1:30 - 3:00 p.m. | TLPDC Room 150

Our era has seen barriers to higher education fall: More people are getting to learn, in more times and more places, than ever before. We also know more than ever about the science of learning, which allows us to design better and more compelling educational experiences for our students. We also know more about the biases of student evaluations and yet we still rely on them as the sole evaluation of teaching effectiveness. Significant gaps remain between what we know and what happens in practice. Administrative obstacles, unclear objectives and goals, even philosophical differences can all get in the way of creating positive change that lasts. This interactive talk focuses on common barriers we face in our push for more effective approaches to teaching and learning, and even the Texas Tech Teaching Evaluation Initiative, and practical ways to overcome barriers and differences to work together for continued improvement. 

Register by September 23rd to be entered in a raffle to win Dr. Miller's newest book!

2022 Registration

About Our Speaker

Recordings of Previous Sessions

2021 Sessions

*Please Note: While this conference is face-to-face, we are offering a virtual option for remote faculty. If you have a remote appointment, please email Molly Jacobs to request a Zoom link.