As we enter the home stretch of the Fall 2011 semester at Lamar University, we want to remind you that the Center for Teaching+Learning Enhancement is here for you. Take a look at the services we offer and let us know if there is something else we can do to help you improve as a teacher. In addition, remember that the Quality Enhancement Plan indicates that LU will increase the use of teaching methods that promote active learning in all of our classes but especially in the core courses. You can download a copy of the QEP now. If you are looking for some teaching techniques specific to your discipline, contact us for some individualized attention. As you begin to think about your courses for next semester, we wanted to suggest you take a look at a terrific article by Suzanne Weinstein and Shao-Wei Wu entitled Readiness Assessment Tests vs. Frequent Quizzes: Student Preferences. They write, "If an instructor’s objective is for students to do the readings prior to class and be prepared to participate fully in class discussions, she should consider using Readiness Assessment Tests to provide some external motivation. However, if an instructor’s objective is for students to learn the material in any way possible, and/or there isn’t time enough to score student responses every class period, he might consider weekly quizzes as an alternative." The call for proposals has been issued for the 2012 Southwest Teaching & Learning Conference to be held March 30 and 31, 2012 in San Antonio. They are looking for proposals from any field including but not limited to: business, education, arts and sciences, as well as technical and vocational programs. While the primary emphasis is on college and university teaching and learning, they welcome proposals from all scholars. The conference aims to facilitate a discussion of the particular issues associated with educating traditionally under-served student populations. This year’s focus is on technology in the classroom to enhance the teaching and learning process.