New SHP faculty members complete teaching excellence course

By Kate Hunger 

Megan Lynn Llamas, MA, BSRC, RRT, Respiratory Care assistant professor, has already put into practice strategies she learned during the recently offered Teaching Excellence Short Course for new faculty.

After taking the course, she asked students how they optimally learn and adjusted her teaching approach based on their responses. 

“I feel like it was really beneficial,” Llamas said. “I changed much of my teaching methods based off of this course. Students were learning, grades on exams were going up, and grades on quizzes were going up. Things we learned in the program really did work hand in hand with my real-time teaching. “

The course, which met eight times between January and early April, first was offered in 2014. The program is offered about every two years but can be offered more frequently if a large number of new faculty were to join the School, explained David Henzi, Ed. D., associate dean for academic and student affairs.

“This is actually the third time we have run the program,” he said. “New faculty are highly encouraged to take the course, but it is open to all faculty who want to increase their skill set as an educator.”

The course included sessions presented by various faculty on topics including syllabus planning, collaborative teaching, the flipped classroom model, grading and evaluations and the use of simulations. 

Llamas, who joined the faculty in August, appreciated the opportunity to improve as a teacher.

“As a new professor coming in I knew I had a lot to learn, and I really didn’t know where I was going to get that information and the knowledge I needed to be a better professor, to excel in my career to where I also am helping the students excel,” she said.

Gerardo Ramos, MS, Ph.D., MT (ASCP), F-ABFT, assistant professor and program director of the Division of Medical Laboratory Sciences, joined the faculty in January. He also attended the course.

“The Teaching Excellence Short Course provided very relevant and timely information for new UT Health San Antonio faculty,” he said. “The course covered critical and pertinent material on up-to-date topics that are deemed essential for effective educators.”