Introduction to TLTRs
Teaching, Learning, and Technology Roundtables (TLTRs)

Definition

A TLT Roundtable (TLTR) is a diverse group that meets regularly, considers issues, and (usually) provides advice to the Chief Academic Officer, other leaders, and many constituencies.

A TLTR is designed to bring together people who would not otherwise work together on educational improvements (for example, technology leaders with faculty who are not yet enthusiastic users of technology for teaching). TLTRs are often asked by Chief Academic Officers for advice on a regular basis, e.g., on new faculty development initiatives, internal grants programs, or budgets that affect resources and support services available to improve teaching and learning with technology.  

Through the TLTR's meetings, action teams and reports, the Roundtable can help its institution make better-informed decisions, sustain collaborative change, and develop better strategies for using technology to improve teaching and learning.  When operating properly, TLT Roundtables reduce the confusion, frustration, unrealistic expectations, and wasteful duplication of effort that often accompanies the explosive array of opportunities offered by educational technology. 

Characteristics
Roundtables often have other names but they share the following characteristics:

  • Roundtables meet regularly (sometimes in subgroups, sometimes as a whole)

  • Roundtables are composed of a diverse set of members

  • Roundtables provide advice for the Chief Academic Officer and others on professional development, policy, budget and other matters. Roundtables have often been concerned with barriers that slow the 'mainstreaming' of technology use (e.g., the support service crisis) and with opportunities to use technology to improve the educational program. 

  • Roundtables help move information, from outside into the institution and across the institution's many boundaries, helping the institution notice and act on problems and opportunities more quickly.

Want to learn more about TLT Roundtables?

Not sure if your institution has the equivalent of a TLT Roundtable? Ask yourself whether it has a single formal or informal body including representatives from the faculty, library, academic support services, administration, etc. that performs the functions described above.  If not, your institution may be ready for a TLT Roundtable!

Teaching Learning and Technology Roundtables exist at many institutions (often with other names). Their goals are usually to bring disparate people and units together in order to catch issues that normal institutional process can't deal with adequately, providing advice on steps that are likely to result in improving teaching and learning (with technology.)



The TLT Group helps people in educational institutions to improve teaching and learning by making more appropriate and cost-effective use of information technology without sacrificing what matters most to them.

PO Box 5643
Takoma Park, Maryland 20913
Phone: 301.270.8312  Fax: 301.270.8110
 To learn more about our work or our organization contact: 
Sally Gilbert






Subpages (2): Guidelines TLTR2
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