2022 August Faculty Workshops Session Descriptions Archive

Wednesday, August 17

9:30 AM – 10:45 AM – Session One

101: Navigating Free Expression and Inclusion: Implications for Teaching and Learning

In this session, we will share strategies for faculty and staff to set the tone for classroom and other learning spaces where all students feel free to pursue important and challenging questions in a way that is inclusive and equitable. We will explore how AU policies play a role in shaping and supporting our shared values of free inquiry and inclusion.

Watch the recording of Session 101

102: Delivering Blended Courses for Changing Times

As we move through these changing times, this session will cover methods for how to reorganize an existing course into a blended course ( meaning a mix of in-person classes and asynchronous online classes). We will discuss learnings including strengths and weaknesses from blended courses taught during the 2021-22 academic year. Topics of discussion include syllabus organization, grading, asynchronous lectures, and in-class lecture restructuring. Participants are encouraged to bring a syllabus they would like to consider converting from a fully in-person class to a blended class to participate in an activity focused on how to redesign syllabi.

Watch the recording of Session 102

103: An Introduction to CourseArc

CourseArc is a platform for creating and managing engaging and accessible online content. In this workshop, we will provide a high-level overview of the features and functions of CourseArc and how they can be used to create effective learning experiences for your students. We will also demonstrate how CourseArc seamlessly integrates with Canvas.  

11:00 AM – 12:15 PM – Session Two

201: Sparking Student Curiosity

Research tells us what we know—curiosity is central to learning. This workshop will explore how we can help students cultivate curiosity by presenting engagement-related challenges and sharing best practices to overcome those challenges. Participants will then discuss individual practices and brainstorm ideas to help spark students’ curiosity in their pursuit of learning.

Watch the recording of session 201. 

202: Working with Credo: An Inclusive Resource for Developing Information Literacy Skills

Credo is a bank of videos, tutorials, and quizzes designed to help students develop information literacy skills.  It is a good choice for the inclusive classroom as it supports diverse learning styles and needs.  This session introduces Credo as a resource and instructional tool, including embedding Credo modules into Canvas.

Watch the recording of session 202.

203: Humanize Your Online Course with VoiceThread

In this workshop, educators will learn how to establish a social presence using VoiceThread to improve course satisfaction and student learning. We will cover all of the basic VoiceThread features, demonstrate how everything works in Canvas, showcase a variety of examples, and have an open Q&A throughout the training.

Watch the recording of Session 203.

12:30 PM – 1:45 PM – Lunch

Who are the AU Undergraduate Students? Implications for Teaching and Learning

This luncheon will provide insights into AU undergraduate students, most of whom are Gen Z students. The panel will discuss trends in student development with an emphasis on the incoming cohort and students early in their time at the university.

2:00 PM – 3:15 PM – Session Three

301: Any Course can be a Sustainability Course!

While we often think of environmental studies classes as the natural home for sustainability, topics of sustainability can be a great fit in any class. In this session, we will discuss the definition of sustainability and brainstorm ideas for incorporating sustainability by making small changes to your syllabus.

Watch the recording of session 301.

302: Qualtrics: Changes and Implementation

We will be going over the updates that have been introduced into Qualtrics over the past year. We will cover the functional dashboard and template changes within the platform. We ask that you have logged into Qualtrics before the beginning of the workshop.

Watch the recording of session 302.

3:30 PM – 4:45 PM – Session Four

401: Equity and Rigor: Using Transparency and Flexibility to Promote Student Achievement

Rigor and equity are often framed as mutually exclusive in teaching; however, both are necessary to promote high levels of student performance. In this workshop, participants will explore how inclusive teaching strategies, such as transparency and flexibility, foster a rigorous classroom and enhance student achievement and engagement.

This session was not recorded.

402: How to Incorporate High-Impact Service-Learning into Your Course

Community-based learning (CBL) integrates meaningful service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience and strengthen communities. With over 12,000 nonprofits in D.C., there are countless opportunities for students to apply theory, practice skills, and address critical social justice issues. Learn about two programs at AU: the Community Service-Learning Program (CSLP) Add-On Credit and Community-Based Learning Courses.

Watch the recording of session 402.

Thursday, August 18

9:30 AM – 10:45 AM – Session One

501: Set the Tone for Engagement, Empowerment & Collaboration from Day 1

The first day of class lays the foundation for the semester for us and our students. Join us for this interactive workshop to discuss various approaches to building community with your students and setting expectations for positive, productive interactions throughout the semester. 

Watch the recording of session 501.

CANCELLED – 502: Black Undergraduate Men Learning in Campus Spaces: Insights from the COVID-19 Pandemic

Contemporary incidents of racism and racial violence in American society oftentimes influence students’ curricular and co-curricular experiences on college campuses. Using data from both semi-structured and photo-elicitation interviews, this session will unearth how undergraduate Black men experienced negative experiences in the classroom during the COVID-19 pandemic.

11:00 AM – 12:15 PM – Session Two

601: “Difficult” Discussions: Managing Conflict When Discussing Identity and Politics Within the Classroom

It is inevitable that conflicts in the world around us will appear in our classroom discussions. How can we make space for students to explore these topics generatively? In this workshop, participants will explore the impact of their own and students’ identities on such class discussions and begin building plans for addressing challenging topics.  

This session was not recorded.

602: R-Studio Crash Course

We will be going over the basics of R-Studio and Quatro (no slides). We will cover how to import data, obtain descriptive statistics, and run univariate tests. We ask that you join the workshop with everything installed on your computer (instructions will be emailed prior to the workshop). 

Watch the recording of session 602.

603: Moving from Passive to Active: Creating Engaging Videos with Playposit

We all want students to play a more active role in our online classes. With PlayPosit, students have an opportunity to interact with the videos you create, by easily incorporating questions throughout the videos that will gauge student knowledge. During this session, we will discuss how to use PlayPosit in your class.

Watch the recording of session 603.

12:30 PM – 1:45 PM – Lunch

CTRL Faculty Award Luncheon

At this luncheon, come hear this year’s CTRL Faculty Award Winners talk about their work. Raychelle Burks (one of two winners of the Milton and Sonia Greenberg Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award) will talk about the Digital Image and Vision Applications in Science (DIVAS) project, which was created to enhance computational thinking skills and computing self-efficacy in natural or physical science majors in an inclusive community of practice (CoP). Krisztina Domjan (one of two winners of the Milton and Sonia Greenberg Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award) will discuss her research on how comprehensive notes on texts, adequate information literacy skills, and transparent class norms will lead to learning-centered academic class discussions and meaningful engagement of international college students. Susan Apgood and Anjali Varma (winners of the Ann Ferren Curriculum Design Award) will talk about their class, which examines the barriers and discrimination that women leaders face, spotlights successful women leaders, and provides the next generation of leaders with tools to navigate and assist those navigating the labyrinth women leaders face.

Watch the luncheon.

2:00 PM – 3:15 PM – Session Three

701: Contemplative Pedagogy for Academic Achievement and Community Well-Being

Contemplative pedagogy is the application of contemplative practices within learning environments that foster critical analysis, reflection, planning, combining course readings, independent student research, and student lived experiences. This session is designed for faculty of all teaching experience levels who are new to or have intermediate experience with contemplative practices.

Watch the recording of 701.

702: Professional Life and Self-Care: Resources and Strategies for Maintaining Boundaries and Recharging while Supporting Students

As university professionals, we are engaged in supporting students in ways that have greatly changed and expanded, particularly during the pandemic. This session will focus on strategies and approaches that facilitate skills around setting boundaries with our work with students and building strategies to recharge and develop a practice of active life role balancing.

This session was not recorded.

703: Canvas Overview

This workshop is designed to introduce Canvas to those who have never used it before. From navigating Canvas to developing your assignments, this workshop provides a high-level overview of basic functionality within Canvas and will prepare you to publish your first Canvas Course.

Watch the recording of session 703.

3:30 PM – 4:45 PM – Session Four

801: Working Towards Antiracism and Equity in 2022: Perspectives from AU Faculty

Through their own experiences, faculty may become aware of the challenges, opportunities, and tensions that relate to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) and antiracist efforts in their teaching, research, and service.  In this interactive workshop, we will share firsthand perspectives and engage in discussion to shed light on the ways AU faculty currently center DEI and antiracism through their ideas, practices, and strategies.

Watch the recording of session 801.

802: Information, Technology, and Hope: Strategies for Empowering Student Researchers

Incorporating a range of disciplinary perspectives, this diverse panel hopes to complicate understandings of information literacy by exploring iterative strategies—from assignment design and in-class activities to instructor disposition and life skills instruction—that empower students and instructors to approach information literacy principles from a position of (skeptical) hope..

803: Kaltura Within Canvas

This workshop introduces you to a useful tool for student engagement within Canvas: Kaltura. Kaltura is a video creation and streaming software giving instructors the ability to record mini-lectures, screen record, and students the ability to create video presentations. In this workshop, we will explore effective ways to increase student engagement through mixed media.

Watch the recording of session 803.