Data-Based Practices in Teaching Excellence

Empowering faculty to use data, reflection, and innovation to enhance learning for all students.

The Data-Based Practices in Teaching Excellence Initiative is a faculty development program designed to support continuous improvement in teaching through reflection, evidence-based decision-making, and peer collaboration. The initiative empowers faculty to examine their instructional practices, identify areas for growth, and implement meaningful changes that enhance student learning and success.

Recognizing that effective teaching is an ongoing process of inquiry and refinement, the initiative encourages faculty to use a variety of data sources—including student feedback, course outcomes, classroom observations, self-reflection, and scholarly teaching practices—to inform their instructional decisions. Participants select a teaching-related goal that aligns with their interests, disciplinary context, and students' needs, then develop and implement a plan for improvement. They receive badges to document the successful completion of these activities and acknowledge the competencies developed.

Reflective Pedagogy Practitioner -Badge
Student-Centered Learning Designer -Badge
Courageous Classroom Facilitator -Badge
Pedagogical Design for Excellent Teaching Scholar -Badge

Badge: Data-Based Practices in Teaching Excellence

The Data-Based Practices in Teaching Excellence Badge recognizes faculty who engage in a systematic, evidence-informed process of improving their teaching. Through self-reflection, analysis of teaching and learning data, peer feedback, and intentional implementation of instructional strategies, participants identify opportunities to enhance student learning and success.

Faculty earning this badge examine their current teaching practices, select a specific area for growth, establish measurable goals, and implement changes designed to create more accessible, engaging, and transparent learning experiences. Throughout the process, participants use data and feedback to evaluate the effectiveness of their efforts and refine their approach to teaching. 

Badge earners demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement and to fostering learning environments that support the success of all students.

Faculty who earn this badge will be able to:

1. Analyze evidence related to teaching and learning to identify opportunities for instructional improvement.
2. Use data-informed reflection to evaluate their teaching practices and establish meaningful professional development goals.
3. Incorporate evidence-based teaching strategies that enhance student engagement, learning, and academic success.
4. Apply principles of accessibility and inclusive teaching to support students with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and learning needs.
5. Increase transparency in course design, communication, assignments, and assessment practices to help students better understand and navigate the learning process.
6. Solicit and incorporate peer feedback to strengthen instructional effectiveness and support professional growth.
7. Implement and assess a self-directed teaching improvement plan using measurable outcomes and reflective practice.
8. Evaluate the impact of instructional changes on student learning and engagement and identify strategies for ongoing improvement.

Pedagogical Design for Excellent Teaching

A comprehensive professional development program for faculty and graduate teaching assistants that supports educators in reflecting on, refining, and applying evidence-based pedagogical practices to create engaging, inclusive, and rigorous learning experiences that promote student success.

Reflective Pedagogy Practitioner Badge

This badge recognizes educators who completed learning experiences that challenged them to reflect on their role in educational systems, how their personal experiences and disciplinary norms have shaped their teaching practices, and to develop a plan for reflective pedagogy.

Educators who completed this badge demonstrated proficiency in the following areas:

1. Analyze their role within educational systems by reflecting on how pedagogy is influenced by structural norms and power.
2. Use reflective practice to critically examine dominant narratives and identify exclusionary or limiting knowledge traditions.
3. Define metacognition and explain its relevance to teaching in higher education.
4. Evaluate the influence of instructor metacognition on pedagogical choices.
5. Develop a teaching statement and strategic plan to guide reflective pedagogy.
6. Examine how personal experiences shape instructor metacognition.
7. Apply data and evaluation tools to inform and refine teaching practices.

Student-Centered Learning Designer Badge

This badge recognizes educators who successfully completed learning experiences focused on the core features of a rigorous, student-centered classroom and integrated these strategies in their teaching.

Educators who completed this badge demonstrated proficiency in the following areas:

1. Identify the core features of a rigorous, student-centered classroom.
2. Design a syllabus that reflects student-centered principles.
3. Enhance classroom accessibility through intentional course design that addresses diverse student needs, experiences, and evidence-based teaching practices.
4. Integrate active learning techniques into lesson plans.
5. Adapt classroom structures to support student autonomy and choice.
6. Foster a growth mindset and critical thinking in both students and instructional practices.
7. Support student metacognition through targeted strategies.

Courageous Classroom Facilitator Badge

This badge recognizes educators who successfully completed learning experiences focused on strategies to build relationships and community to optimize the classroom climate.

Educators who completed this badge demonstrated proficiency in the following areas:

1. Incorporate contributions from historically silenced scientists and scholars.
2. Integrate diverse perspectives, examples, and representation into course materials.
3. Draft classroom expectations that promote student engagement.
4. Cultivate meaningful relationships with individual students.
5. Facilitate peer-to-peer learning to strengthen classroom community.
6. Demonstrate basic conflict resolution and harm-reduction strategies.
7. Identify effective tools to assess and improve classroom climate.

Pedagogical Design for Excellent Teaching Scholar Badge

This badge recognizes educators who successfully completed the full Pedagogical Design for Excellent Teaching curriculum and serve as advocates for reflective, student-centered, and inclusive educational practices.

Educators who completed this badge demonstrated proficiency in the following areas:

1. Synthesize reflective, student-centered, and evidence-based pedagogical approaches.
2. Design learning experiences that promote engagement, accessibility, rigor, and belonging.
3. Use assessment and reflective practice to continuously improve teaching effectiveness.
4. Foster classroom environments that support student agency, growth, and success.
5. Apply pedagogical principles across a variety of instructional contexts.
6. Advocate for teaching excellence through ongoing professional learning and collaboration.
7. Integrate inclusive and representative practices into course design and instruction.
8. Demonstrate a sustained commitment to continuous improvement in teaching and learning.