Full Program with Descriptions
Week One
Tuesday, May 15
9:15-10:30 AM:
Active Learning: Techniques to Spark Discussion
Terra Gargano (SIS)
MGC 200
Meaningful discussions are central to learning. Privileging multiple perspectives,introducing ideas, and infusing sense-making into knowledge communities through active learning approaches create a student-centered and engaged class. In this workshop, we will practice various active learning techniques to sparking, sustaining, and organizing classroom discussions.
10:45 AM-12:00 PM:
Curriculum Design with Creative Assignments
Betsy Cohn (SIS) & Chuck Cox (CAS-LIT)
MGC 200
Traditional papers and policy memos are useful, but students can demonstrate knowledge and build expertise in other ways. We will share ideas about curriculum design using assignments that challenge and engage students’ creativity in the service of learning objectives. Attendees will also get to devise creative assignments of their own.
10:45-12:00 PM:
Habits of Mind Office Hours: Ethical Reasoning
Ellen Feder (CAS-PHIL)
MGC 247
Ethical Reasoning Habit of Mind committee members are holding “office hours” to meet with faculty who have been asked to revise their HoM proposals. Please join us to discuss ideas and strategies for revising your proposal so that you’re ready to resubmit at the beginning of next semester.
12:15-1:15 PM:
Lunch
MGC 245
1:45-2:45 PM:
Self-Created Videos: Enhancing the Learning Experience
Joan Hua (Library)
MGC 200
This session introduces you to the video tool Kaltura and will prepare you to use the Kaltura CaptureSpace software to record mini-lectures, video feedback, weekly summaries, presentations, and more. You will learn not only the technical aspects of the software, but also how to effectively integrate this technology into your class and how to use it as a teaching tool. Please bring your own laptop to this session.
1:45-3:00 PM:
Habits of Mind Office Hours: Creative-Aesthetic Inquiry
E. Andrew Taylor (CAS-PERF) and Kimberly Lllerena (SOC)
MGC 247
Creative-Aesthetic Inquiry Habit of Mind committee members are holding “office hours” to meet with faculty who have been asked to revise their HoM proposals. Please join us to discuss ideas and strategies for revising your proposal so that you’re ready to resubmit at the beginning of next semester.
Wednesday, May 16
9:15-11:45 AM:
Complex Problems Faculty Fellows Spring Workshop – Morning Session
Cindy Bair Van Dam (CAS-LIT and AU Core), Richard Duncan (University College), and and Rebecca Comfort (University College)
MGC 200
Join your Complex Problems (CP) colleagues for a series of practical conversations and workshops on the following topics: aligning assignments with CP learning outcomes, balancing course content with the learning outcomes, working with first-year students, teaching reading, and incorporating reflection.
12:00-1:30 PM:
CTRL Faculty Award Recognition Luncheon
Joanne Allen (CAS-Art), John Sullivan (SOC), Erin Foreman-Murray (CAS-PERF), Britta Peterson (CAS-PERF) Krisztina Domjan (SPExS) and Julianna Martinez (CAS-WLC)
SIS Founders Room
Join us in honoring the recipients of this year’s Milton and Sonia Greenberg Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award (Joanne Allen, CAS-Art, and John Sullivan, SOC), Ann Ferren Curriculum Design Award (Erin Foreman-Murray and Britta Peterson (both CAS-Performing Arts), and Jack Child Teaching with Technology Award (Krisztina Domjan, SPExS), and Julianna Martinez, CAS-WLC). Each awardee will share some of their contributions and accomplishments with the audience
1:45-3:30 PM:
Complex Problems Faculty Fellows Spring Workshop – Afternoon Session
Cindy Bair Van Dam (CAS-LIT and AU Core), Richard Duncan (University College), and Rebecca Comfort (University College)
MGC 200
Follow up on the morning session by getting to work: Bring your laptops, reading lists, assignment ideas, and work with your CP colleagues to build your syllabus and incorporate programming ideas. Attendees can brainstorm and design with CP program staff and nearby.
Thursday, May 17
9:15-10:30 AM:
Curriculum Design with Creative Assignments
Betsy Cohn (SIS) & Chuck Cox (CAS-LIT)
MGC 200
Traditional papers and policy memos are useful, but students can demonstrate knowledge and build expertise in other ways. We will share ideas about curriculum design using assignments that challenge and engage students’ creativity in the service of learning objectives. Attendees will also get to devise creative assignments of their own.
9:15-10:30 AM:
Habits of Mind Office Hours: Cultural Inquiry
Lindsey Green-Simms (CAS-LIT)
MGC 247
Cultural Inquiry Habit of Mind committee members are holding “office hours” to meet with faculty who have been asked to revise their HoM proposals. Please join us to discuss ideas and strategies for revising your proposal so that you’re ready to resubmit at the beginning of next semester.
10:45 AM-12:00 PM:
Grading Strategies: Improvise. Adapt. Overcome.
Alison Thomas (CAS-LIT)
MGC 200
This workshop will initiate discussion about grading as a pedagogical act. We’ll discuss the usefulness of classroom tools such as rubrics for maintaining fairness and consistency, and we’ll look at examples of rubrics for a variety of academic genres (group work, presentations, essays, and more). Based on some of my work in CAS, I hope I can also inspire everyone to think about how to create meaningful evaluations that incorporate lessons about integrity and ethical decision-making.
10:45-12:00 PM:
Habits of Mind Office Hours: Ethical Reasoning
Ellen Feder (CAS-PHIL)
MGC 245
Ethical Reasoning Habit of Mind committee members are holding “office hours” to meet with faculty who have been asked to revise their HoM proposals. Please join us to discuss ideas and strategies for revising your proposal so that you’re ready to resubmit at the beginning of next semester.
10:45-12:00 PM:
Habits of Mind Office Hours: Natural-Scientific Inquiry
Jessica Uscinski (CAS-PHYS), Vikki Connaughton (CAS-BIO), and Ryan Moore (SPA-GOVT)
MGC 247
Natural-Scientific Inquiry Habit of Mind committee members are holding “office hours” to meet with faculty who have been asked to revise their HoM proposals. Please join us to discuss ideas and strategies for revising your proposal so that you’re ready to resubmit at the beginning of next semester.
12:15-1:15 PM:
Lunch
MGC 245
1:45-2:45 PM:
Gradebook: Maximizing Grading in Blackboard
Joan Hua (Library)
MGC 200
The Grade Center in Blackboard is a comprehensive tool that can be customized to meet many grading scenarios. In this workshop we will explore the Grade Center in depth, including weighing grades and setting up grading schemas. Additionally, this workshop will explore how to create and grade with rubrics, how to setup assignments, and how to customize your Grade Center. This workshop will cover a lot of material and will be fast-paced. Please bring your laptop to the session.
Week Two
Tuesday, May 22
9:15-10:30 AM:
Habits of Mind Office Hours: Socio-Historical Inquiry
Mary Frances Giandrea (CAS-HIST)
MGC 247
Socio-Historical Inquiry Habit of Mind committee members are holding “office hours” to meet with faculty who have been asked to revise their HoM proposals. Please join us to discuss ideas and strategies for revising your proposal so that you’re ready to resubmit at the beginning of next semester.
10:45 AM-12:00 PM:
Grading Strategies: Improvise. Adapt. Overcome.
Alison Thomas (CAS-LIT)
MGC 200
This workshop will initiate discussion about grading as a pedagogical act. We’ll discuss the usefulness of classroom tools such as rubrics for maintaining fairness and consistency, and we’ll look at examples of rubrics for a variety of academic genres (group work, presentations, essays, and more). Based on some of my work in CAS, I hope I can also inspire everyone to think about how to create meaningful evaluations that incorporate lessons about integrity and ethical decision-making.
10:45-12:00 PM:
Habits of Mind Office Hours: Socio-Historical Inquiry
Mary Frances Giandrea (CAS-HIST)
MGC 247
Socio-Historical Inquiry Habit of Mind committee members are holding “office hours” to meet with faculty who have been asked to revise their HoM proposals. Please join us to discuss ideas and strategies for revising your proposal so that you’re ready to resubmit at the beginning of next semester.
12:15-1:15 PM:
Lunch
MGC 245
1:45-2:45 PM:
Creating Active Classrooms: Tools to Encourage Participation
Katie Kassof (Library)
MGC 200
We often put a lot of focus on virtual learning spaces, but much of your interactive time with students is in a physical space: the classroom. Throughout the past few years, AU has modernized most of the classrooms so the installed technology can enable different pedagogical strategies. This workshop will explore what is available in classrooms around campus, offer ideas for different learning activities that take advantage of the installed technology, and look at options that you can bring into your classroom to facilitate active learning.
Wednesday, May 23
9:00-4:00 PM:
Community-Based Learning Faculty Institute
Marcy Campos (Center for Community Engagement & Service), Harry Gilliard (Center for Community Engagement & Service), Jennifer Betancur, (Latin American Youth Center), Fatima Bah (Isaiah House of So Others Might Eat (SOME)), and Aimee Richardson (CAS-Health Studies)
MGC 247
Community-Based Learning & Research (CBLR) is a teaching pedagogy that incorporates meaningful community service into a course with the goal to enhance students’ learning. In this Institute faculty will: (1) Understand key characteristics of high impact CBLR; (2) Re-envision and revise a course design and syllabus; (3) Develop new tools and tips for incorporating reflection; (4) Connect course content with the service provided; (5) Hear directly from community partners and faculty practitioners about the best practices for collaboration; and (6) Share challenges and strategies. This Institute, now in its fifth year, is relevant both for those who have experience with CBL but want to refine an existing course and those who are exploring this approach for a forthcoming class.
10:45-12:00 PM:
Challenges and Best Practices to Team Teaching
Stephen MacAvoy (CAS-ENVS) and Maggie Stogner (SOC)
MGC 200
Come join us for an enriching panel discussion related to challenges and lessons learned from faculty across disciplines who have experience team-teaching in the Honors Program. This session is both for faculty who have team-taught, and for faculty who are interested in team-teaching.
12:15-1:15 PM:
Lunch
MGC 245
1:45-2:45 PM:
Bringing Surveys into the Classroom with Qualtrics
Bill Harder (CTRL)
MGC 200
Qualtrics is a powerful and customizable survey platform that every member of the AU community has access to. This session introduces the basics of survey design and distribution via Qualtrics. Then, several ways to use Qualtrics in the classroom will be explored, including using Qualtrics to: gather original data to analyze with your students, demonstrate how to construct randomized experiments, collect student feedback throughout your course, and collect data for your own research.
Thursday, May 24
10:45-12:00 PM:
Metacognition and Reflection
Gwendolyn Reece (Library)
MGC 200
Aristotle taught that Contemplation is the highest form of the intellectual virtues but its preconditions are increasingly difficult to meet in our contemporary circumstances. Join us as we consider ways to incorporate reflection, and especially metacognitive reflection, into our pedagogy.
12:15-1:45 PM:
Lunch
MGC 245
1:45-2:45 PM:
Student Reflection Through Blogs, Wikis, and Other Tools
Scott Vanek (Library)
MGC 200
Online learning tools offer excellent options for supporting student reflection and communication. In this workshop, we will discuss ways to facilitate continuous learning beyond the face-to-face time in the classroom. We will introduce a suite of tools available in Blackboard, such as the Discussion Board, Blogs, Journals, and Wikis, that help students communicate, collaborate, and exercise reflective thinking.