[ea]² — Teaching & Learning Support Center
Who we are
Espaço de Apoio ao Ensino e Aprendizagem [ea]² is UNICAMP’s Teaching & Learning Support Center, an academic unit of the Office of the Dean for Undergraduate Studies (PRG), created in March 2010 to enhance the quality of undergraduate education across the university.
Our mission
To foster excellent, equitable, and innovative undergraduate education by supporting faculty development, strengthening curriculum design and governance, and advancing evidence-based teaching and learning practices across UNICAMP.
What we do
- Advise program coordinations and curriculum committees (NDEs) on Program Pedagogical Projects design, implementation, and continuous review.
- Provide ongoing professional development for faculty and graduate teaching assistants (PED).
- Curate and disseminate knowledge on university pedagogy and educational innovation.
- Promote communities of practice and collaborative spaces for reflection and design.
- Support university-wide systems and practices for learning and teaching evaluation.
Program axes & signature initiatives
Curriculum & Program Support (RenovaGRAD)
Objective: Support undergraduate program coordinations and NDEs in creating, implementing, and monitoring Program Pedagogical Projects, interpreting national curriculum guidelines, and aligning governance, assessment, and institutional tools (e.g., SIGA).
Primary audience: Program coordinators and associates, NDE members, undergraduate secretariats.
Key actions:
- Periodic meetings and tailored advising with coordinations and NDEs.
- Workshops and training on Program Pedagogical Projects design, learning outcomes, and assessment.
- The “Conversando sobre a Graduação” roundtables and the Renovagrad Forum (hybrid).
Typical deliverables:
- Updated Program Pedagogical Projects with clear outcomes and assessment plans.
- Shared repositories and templates to streamline program governance.
Faculty Development (GraduAÇÃO)
Objective: Offer short courses, workshops, and digital resources on higher education pedagogy and active learning, as well as institutional tools and learning environments.
Primary audience: Faculty, postgraduates in teaching assistants (PED), and other instructors.
Key actions:
- In-person and online courses on planning, educational assessment, and student engagement.
- Hands-on sessions on AVAs and tools (e.g., Moodle, Google Classroom, online assessment, video, podcasts).
- Showcase and documentation of successful teaching practices.
Typical deliverables:
- Micro-credentials or certificates (when applicable).
- Reusable digital learning objects, guides, and video libraries.
First-Year Teaching (IngressaGrad)
Objective: Sensitize and equip instructors for the demands of first-year students—supporting transition, academic performance, and commitment to their program.
Primary audience: Instructors of first-year courses across UNICAMP.
Key actions:
- Annual cycle of workshops and talks on first-year challenges and inclusive practices.
- Shared resources and thematic reading lists tailored to gateway courses.
Typical deliverables:
- Guides for first-year course design and early-alert strategies.
- Cross-unit communities focused on introductory teaching.
Graduate TA Preparation (PED+ / PEDMais)
Objective: Provide structured training for graduate teaching assistants (TA) to build their teaching identity, develop effective instructional strategies, and work collaboratively with supervising faculty.
Primary audience: Graduate students participating in PED programs (graduate teaching assistants).
Key actions:
- Hybrid workshops and mentoring cycles aligned to the academic semester.
- Opportunities for supervised practice and reflective teaching portfolios.
Typical deliverables:
- Certification/credit validation when applicable.
- E-books and open materials with reflections and cases from PED+.
Communities of Practice (Faculty)
Objective: Develop continuing professional learning through thematic, collaborative groups that study, design, and produce materials on priority topics for higher education (e.g., hybrid learning).
Primary audience: UNICAMP faculty and invited partners.
Key actions:
- Hybrid meetings with expert dialogues, case studies, and collective production.
- Moodle-based knowledge sharing and public presentations of outcomes.
Typical deliverables:
- Open educational resources (texts, audio, video, learning pathways).
- Courses and activities that scale outputs to other units.
NDEs in Motion (Núcleos Docentes Estruturantes)
Objective: Foster qualified dialogue among NDEs, support the creation of new NDEs, and coordinate exchanges of practices to improve Program Pedagogical Projects, curricular reforms, and teaching/learning evaluation.
Curriculum Committee (Núcleo Docente Estruturante — NDE): Brazil’s faculty-led program committee, required by federal regulations, responsible for curriculum design, monitoring and continuous improvement. Comparable to curriculum/program committees found internationally, and complemented in some systems by external examiners.
Primary audience: NDE members, program coordinations and associates, pedagogical advisors, and undergraduate offices.
Key actions:
- Regular meetings, experience-exchange events, and roundtables hosted by [ea]².
- Curation of a shared knowledge base for NDE operations.
Typical deliverables:
- Updated procedures and documentation to strengthen NDE work.
- Networked practices that accelerate curriculum renewal.
Outreach & Knowledge Sharing (InformaGrad)
Objective: Integrate [ea]² with teaching units through systematic communication, visits, and dissemination of opportunities and resources.
Primary audience: Teaching units and academic leaders.
Key actions:
- Briefings to units, newsletters, and visits to map needs and promote offerings.
- Coordination with central units to align support and scale innovations.
Typical deliverables:
- Shared planning roadmaps between [ea]² and units.
- Improved visibility and uptake of programs and resources.
Innovation & Digital Competence
Objective: Explore educational technologies and equitable digital practices for active and hybrid learning environments.
Primary audience: Faculty and course teams.
Key actions:
- Hands-on sessions and pilots with emerging tools and learning analytics.
- Showcases of applied innovations and lessons learned.
Typical deliverables:
- Guidelines for inclusive, technology-mediated teaching.
- Documented pilots that inform wider adoption.
Research at [ea]²
Objective: Conduct applied research and evaluation to link program design with impact on student learning and faculty development.
Primary audience: Faculty, graduate students, and institutional partners.
Key actions:
- Mixed-methods studies embedded in [ea]² programs.
- Dissemination via reports, e-books, and events.
Typical deliverables:
- Evidence to inform decision-making and continuous improvement.
- Peer learning across units and external networks.
New Faculty Onboarding (Acolhimento Docente)
Objective: Support new faculty in understanding UNICAMP’s academic life, institutional resources, and teaching expectations.
Primary audience: Newly hired faculty members.
Key actions:
- Orientation sessions and curated resources focused on undergraduate teaching.
Typical deliverables:
- Faster integration and consistency in teaching practices across units.
Leadership history
Coordinators of [ea]² since its creation (with academic unit in parentheses):
- Prof. Dr. José Alves de Freitas Neto — Coordinator, May 2010 to May 2013 (IFCH)
- Prof. Dr. Sérgio Antonio da Silva Leite — Coordinator, June 2013 to May 2017 (FE)
- Profa. Dra. Soely Aparecida Jorge Polydoro — Coordinator, June 2017 to May 2021 (FE)
- Prof. Dr. Arnaldo Pinto Júnior — Coordinator, June 2021 to May 2025 (FE)
- Prof. Dr. Sílvio Roberto Consonni — Coordinator, since June 5, 2025 (IB)
Founding Resolution
Rector’s Resolution GR-013/2010 (March 11, 2010) — Establishes the Teaching & Learning Support Center ([ea]²).
Open the official resolution (PG/UNICAMP)
Contact
[ea]² — Espaço de Apoio ao Ensino e Aprendizagem
Rua Sérgio Buarque de Holanda, 800 — Sala CB55 — Campinas, SP
+55 (19) 3521-7991 — infoea2@unicamp.br