The mission of The Washington University Teaching Center is to foster excellence in teaching and learning by integrating pedagogy and scholarship with classroom design. This unique approach allows The Teaching Center to develop and support the methods, tools, and physical spaces that can improve student learning. The Teaching Center serves all schools at Washington University.
The Teaching Center’s staff has expertise in 1) developing effective teaching methods that improve student learning, 2) designing and conducting evaluative studies on teaching and learning, and 3) designing and maintaining state-of-the-art classrooms in which instructional technology is as easy to use as chalk and chalkboard. The first two of these three areas are the focus of the professional staff in the Academic Services section. The third area is the focus of the Classroom Services section. Teaching Center staff in both sections collaborate frequently to ensure that all aspects of our work are informed by knowledge about the best practices in teaching, instructional technology and other tools that can support teaching and learning, and a shared commitment to Washington University's mission of excellence in teaching, learning, and research.