CRTLE Faculty Fellows: What We Do

What We Do

CRTLE Faculty Fellows are a cross‑campus cohort of educators who advance excellent, evidence‑based teaching at UTA. Fellows co‑lead programming, mentor peers, pilot ideas, and serve as liaisons between CRTLE and academic units, helping colleagues translate research and innovation into day‑to‑day teaching practices.

The Faculty Fellows have been an integral part of the Center for Research on Teaching and Learning Excellence for many years, consistently contributing expertise, leadership, and innovation to our programming. Their ongoing involvement has helped shape the Center’s direction and deepen our impact across campus.

Beginning with the 2025–2026 academic year, we expanded the Faculty Fellows cohort to 10 fellows. This growth allows us to broaden our reach, support more faculty-driven initiatives, and strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration. The expanded cohort reflects our commitment to elevating faculty voices and investing in a wider range of scholarly and pedagogical projects.

In addition to the core Faculty Fellows, we also support a group of Analytics Fellows. These fellows focus on data-informed teaching and learning, applying analytics to improve student success, course design, and institutional decision-making. By integrating analytics expertise into the broader fellow's program, we ensure that evidence‑based approaches inform our work and enhance the support we offer to faculty across the university.

  • Lead high‑impact programming: Plan and present Faculty Lounge sessions, workshops, panels, and webinars; contribute to signature events such as Faculty Voices and the annual CRTLE Faculty Showcase.
  • Cross pollinate ideas as an active think tank: Fellows use biweekly meetings as a dynamic, collaborative space to exchange emerging ideas, compare innovations from their respective disciplines, and share early teaching experiments. This think tank culture helps the group identify patterns across colleges, notice shifts in teaching and learning (including trends in AI, analytics, and UDL), and rapidly translate these insights into actionable strategies for faculty development. By regularly surfacing classroom observations and testing early-stage concepts together, fellows ensure that CRTLE programming stays current, responsive, and grounded in authentic instructional practice.
  • Pilot & evaluate: Design small, low risk pilots in their own teaching (e.g., learning analytics, AI literacy, UDL improvements, AI Chatbots) and share about process and curricular ideas.
  • Model and share evidence‑based teaching: Facilitate topics spanning active learning, assessment, accessibility/UDL, resilient teaching, AI‑enhanced pedagogy, and microlearning.
  • Create and amplify microlearning & digital resources: Produce infographics, short videos, micro‑lessons, and how‑to guides for CRTLE communication channels; write at least one long‑form Pedagogy Next blog post annually.
  • Consult and mentor: Offer informal peer consultations and connect faculty to resources in their respective department, college/school, and beyond.
  • Liaise across colleges: Serve as department/college champions who share programming, surface needs, and bring ideas back to CRTLE through biweekly planning meetings.
  • Serve as an advisory board to CRTLE leadership: Fellows provide ongoing feedback on strategic directions, identify emerging campus teaching needs, vet new initiatives, and offer guidance on faculty development priorities. Their diverse perspectives across departments help shape CRTLE programming, resources, and long-term planning.
  • Term: Typically, one two‑year term.
  • Weekly time: ~3–4 hours weekly
  • Meetings: Biweekly facilitator planning meetings plus event‑specific run‑throughs.
  • AI in teaching & learning: Course policy language, classroom use cases, and faculty development sessions (e.g., Pondering AI, AI course redesign, AI role‑play tools).
  • Learning analytics for student success: Partnered efforts with University Analytics; starter pilots connecting Canvas data and outcomes to practical course changes.
  • Universal Design for Learning & accessibility: Sessions and toolkits that help faculty build more inclusive courses.
  • Microcredentials & career readiness: Selecting, aligning, and assessing LinkedIn Learning/Coursera credentials in courses.
  • Faculty Voices & Faculty Lounge series: Many‑voices panels, hands‑on workshops, and problem‑solving forums; recorded sessions are typically summarized on Pedagogy Next.
  • Pedagogy Next: Fellows author blog posts, recaps, and resource guides; also support recruiting calls and special fellowships (e.g., Learning Analytics Fellowship).
  • ACUE Commons: Help onboard faculty, share “Quick Studies,” and recruit departmental champions.
  • Selection: Fellows are selected through an application or invitation process coordinated by CRTLE; applicants typically submit a brief statement, CV, and chair support letter.
  • Stipend: $4,000 per academic year (subject to funding and HR policies).
  • Support: CRTLE coordinates structured meetings the Faculty Voices series, provides templates, A/V and hybrid support, promotions, and optional podcast/recording resources.

Meet the CRTLE Faculty Fellows

Profiles and areas of expertise are featured on CRTLE’s website and showcased on Pedagogy Next. Explore the current cohort: Visit the CRTLE Administration & Staff page (Faculty Fellows section) and the Pedagogy Next “CRTLE Faculty Fellows” page.

CRTLE Faculty Fellows Pedagogy Next CRTLE FACULTY FELLOWS Page

CRTLE Faculty Fellows Microlearning and Knowledge Sharing Guide

This guide provides CRTLE Faculty Fellows with a set of options for creating and sharing microlearning artifacts and knowledge products throughout the academic year. These artifacts support faculty development, strengthen instructional practice, and contribute to CRTLE’s mission of fostering innovative, evidence-informed teaching at UTA.

Microlearning artifacts are small, focused teaching resources such as infographics, short videos, quick-tip visuals, or micro-lessons. These artifacts help Faculty Fellows share practical strategies and pedagogical insights with colleagues across campus.

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate depending on the tool and format.

Steps:

  • Choose a teaching-related topic connected to your area of focus as a CRTLE Faculty Fellow.
  • Select a format (infographic, video, audio snippet, or short slide-based lesson).
  • Outline 3–5 key ideas or tips you want to highlight.
  • Create the artifact using Adobe Express, Canva, PowerPoint, or similar tools.
  • Export as PNG, JPG, PDF, or MP4.
  • Share with CRTLE and/or more broadly in your own networks.

Adobe Express enables quick production of polished microlearning items, including infographics, videos, social graphics, and teaching-tip visuals. Adobe Express is available to faculty through UTA.

Difficulty: Easy. Templates make creation straightforward.

Steps:

  • Log in to Adobe Express using your UTA credentials.
  • Select a template type (Infographic, Video, Social Graphic).
  • Insert your teaching message or strategy.
  • Customize colors, layout, icons, and images.
  • Export your completed artifact.
  • Share with CRTLE and/or more broadly in your own networks.

Canva provides extensive templates and customization options for creating clean, accessible teaching materials.

Difficulty: Moderate. Offers more design flexibility.

Steps:

  • Log in to Canva.
  • Search for “Infographic” templates.
  • Replace sample text with your microlearning content.
  • Add icons, shapes, or images to enhance clarity.
  • Adjust layout and color for readability.
  • Share with CRTLE and/or more broadly in your own networks.

Pedagogy Next is CRTLE’s faculty-facing blog where Fellows can share teaching reflections, classroom strategies, and innovations.

Difficulty: Moderate. Writing-focused but informal.

Suggested Length: 400–1000 words.

Steps:

  • Choose a teaching idea or experience connected to your fellowship work.
  • Draft your post with an introduction, instructional strategy, practical steps, and a takeaway.
  • Revise for clarity.
  • Submit to CRTLE for review.
  • Add the published link to your portfolio.

CDE teaching tips are short, actionable strategies for faculty and are an excellent venue for CRTLE Faculty Fellows to share insights.

Difficulty: Easy. Brief writing.

Suggested Length: 150–300 words.

Steps:

  • Identify a single teaching strategy.
  • Write your tip.
  • Add helpful links if appropriate.
  • Email to CRTLE for review and forwarding.
  • Add to your portfolio.

Sharing your microlearning outputs helps build your scholarly presence and supports CRTLE’s mission by elevating teaching innovation at UTA. LinkedIn is recommended for professional sharing.

Difficulty: Easy.

Steps:

  •  Export your artifact.
  • Write a brief descriptive caption.
  • Tag collaborators if desired.
  • Use appropriate teaching and CRTLE-related hashtags.
  • Share with CRTLE and/or more broadly in your own networks. Add to your digital portfolio.

Your digital portfolio serves as your record of growth and contributions as a CRTLE Faculty Fellow.

Difficulty: Easy. Templates simplify setup.

Steps:

  • Create a digital portfolio in Adobe Express.
  • Add sections such as Microlearning, Teaching Tips, Publications, Blog Posts.
  • Upload new work monthly.
  • Share with CRTLE and/or more broadly in your own networks.
  • Share your portfolio link at the CRTLE showcase.

Fellows can design a 10–20 minute recorded micro-workshop introducing a teaching strategy, tool, or pedagogical model. These can be hosted on Stream, Canvas Commons, or shared via CRTLE channels.

Steps:

  • Select one targeted teaching concept.
  • Develop 3–5 slides or a short demonstration.
  • Record narration using PowerPoint, Zoom, or Screencast-O-Matic.
  • Export as MP4
  • Share with CRTLE and/or more broadly in your own networks.

Interview a colleague about their teaching practice; record a 5–10-minute conversation.

Steps:

  • Draft 3–4 guiding questions.
  • Record via Zoom or Teams.
  • Edit lightly and upload. Check for accessibility and captioning.
  • Share with CRTLE and/or more broadly in your own networks.

Record a 3–5 minute audio reflection on a teaching topic.

Steps:

  • Write a brief script.
  • Record using Voice Memos or Audacity.
  • Export as MP3 and edit on Adobe Podcasts.
  • Share with CRTLE and/or more broadly in your own networks.