Nov 11, 2014 11:34 AM EST By J Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

The Wisconsin Collaboratory for Enhanced Learning (WisCEL) offering its resources to faculty and staff interested in teaching active learning technology-enhanced courses, school officials announced.

Since WisCEL launched in spring 2012, it has grown to serve 55 courses and more than 4,500 undergraduate students this academic year.

"There's a lot of interest in blended-learning and active-learning instructional models on campus, and this is one of the few places where instructors can do it," Sarah Mason, WisCEL's associate director, said in a statement." We also serve instructors from across campus. We're currently supporting course 21 departments."

Staff at WisCEL's two learning centers, located in College Library and Wendt Commons, work closely with instructors to not only incorporate technology into curricula, but also to rethink how course architectures and instructional strategies can allow for innovative approaches to learning.

WisCEL offers a variety of tools and resources for faculty and staff including learning spaces that can accommodate up to 114 and circular tables with computers for each student and dedicated monitors for group work, smaller rooms for seminars and discussion sections with movable furniture and instructional technology.  

The program provides online resources and workshops to help instructors collaborate on strategies and best practices.

According to Mason, several WisCEL courses, particularly those related to engineering and pre-calculus, have improved the likelihood that students will earn b-level or higher grades, while reducing the rates of Ds, Fs and drops.

Those interested in learning more about WisCEL can attend its three-year anniversary reception on Friday, Nov. 14. 

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