Past Events

Designing a Syllabus Students Will Actually Read

Apr 23, 2024, 12:30 – 1:30 PM

How many times have you said, “That’s in the syllabus”? Students are often overwhelmed by the syllabi they receive at the beginning of each semester, but there are some small changes instructors can implement that will make a huge difference for students. This session will introduce faculty and instructors to some visual design techniques and executive functioning supports that will make your syllabus more approachable for your students.

Graduate Teaching Academy: Using Student Evaluations for Reflection and Growth

Apr 19, 2024, 12:00 – 1:00 PM

Student course evaluations are an imperfect measure of teacher effectiveness that research has found to be problematic. This workshop seeks to lessen the anxiety around reading your evaluations by reframing how we read and internalize student feedback. We will focus on how evaluations can be used in ways that benefit our growth as instructors.

An Introduction to SOTL

Apr 17, 2024, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

This virtual session will introduce the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) to participants, distinguishing it from other types of scholarly research. Participants will explore best practices and processes for getting started with SoTL to enable them to begin conceptualizing their own projects.

Faculty Panel: Extension Integration in the Classroom

Apr 12, 2024, 12:00 – 1:00 PM

Extension plays an important role in UK’s land grant mission of making a difference in the lives of Kentucky citizens across the state through research-based education. There are many opportunities to connect Extension with learning in the classroom. Join us for this session that will provide a basic overview of Extension and feature three faculty members who will share their unique applications of Extension in their teaching.

gold and blue circuit design with "AI" in the middle

GenAI as Teaching Assistant

Apr 10, 2024, 3:00 – 4:30 PM

If you are curious about how Generative AI could assist you within your course, then this session is for you. When you are designing and building out various components of your course, Generative AI might be well positioned to assist you over the summer as you prepare for fall. During this semester, my students have been leveraging AI to help them develop a learning module in their field and we will share our lessons learned. Plus, you will also be given opportunities to explore a variety of tools during the session.

Teaching Neurodiverse Learners

Mar 26, 2024, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

This virtual workshop will include a brief introduction to neurodiversity including common misconceptions, instructional barriers, and strategies. Several evidence-based planning tools will be referenced in this session including Transparent Assignment Design and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Instructors will leave with a better understanding of their neurodiverse students and some new tools for teaching these students in their classrooms. NB: this workshop can be applied towards the inclusive teaching badge.

Graduate Teaching Academy: Transferable Skills for TAs

Mar 22, 2024, 12:00 – 1:00 PM

As a graduate teaching assistant, you have learned, developed, and honed a number of skills and competencies that bring value to positions not just within academia, but also positions outside of academia. In this workshop, we will unpack the professional skills that you use daily in your teaching and discuss how to communicate these skills beyond academia.

UK Core: Sharing Ideas to Elevate Learning

Mar 21, 2024, 1:00 – 2:40 PM

All UK Core course instructors who teach in Global Dynamics; US Citizenship or Community, Culture, & Citizenship in the US; Quantitative Foundations; Statistical Inferential Reasoning; Composition & Communication I & II are invited to join us for an enriching workshop designed to share innovative teaching practices and enhance student success within the UK Core.

Facilitating Conversation around Divisive Topics

Mar 7, 2024, 2:00 – 3:00 PM

Conflict in the classroom risks suppressing dialogue and sustained engagement. This is especially true in an era when contentious socio-political issues arise frequently. Instructors engaging students in classroom discussion around these issues are challenged with navigating intersecting identities and diverse political perspectives. Discomfort can be compounded if instructors feel unprepared to facilitate constructive conversations due to lack of perceived expertise, fear of poor evaluations, or simply from being caught off guard.

Exploring Digital Whiteboard Apps: Find your Alternative to Jamboard

Mar 7, 2024, 2:00 – 3:00 PM

Digital whiteboard applications are widely used instructional tools that support student engagement and active learning. This workshop will acquaint participants with digital whiteboards with special attention to options that replace Google Jamboard. Google announced that Jamboard will be phased out by the end of 2024 but there are many other free options available. Session attendees will explore a variety of these tools and applications to enhance student participation and meaning-making in their classes.