CTL Newsletter - January 2023

Improving student engagement in the classroom is a common concern among faculty. We tend to think of engagement in restrictive terms, as students asking and answering questions. Yet, it is more complex. Engaged students are not just absorbing content, they try to make meaning of what they are studying by putting in intellectual effort and working through challenging ideas. Engaged learners care about the subject, feel motivated or excited to learn, and take ownership of their own learning. What if we could encourage motivation, curiosity, and enthusiasm for learning? Given what we know, can we actually promote student engagement in the classroom? The answer is, Yes!

A Classroom dialogue is a facilitated conversation within a CU class that provides an opportunity for participants to share their experiences and speak from their own perspectives while also challenging participants to understand why they hold a perspective. The goal is for participants to gain a deeper understanding of their own and others’ perspectives on a course related topic or issue. Now is the perfect time to send in your dialogue request forms. Please email Pilar Sattler-McQuillan with any questions.

The newest three-year cycle of the ASSETT Innovation Incubator for members of the College of Arts & Sciences launches today, January 31, 2023. ASSETT wants to hear from you if you have an innovative idea that addresses the question: How might we radically transform the undergraduate experience by engaging Arts & Sciences students in active learning with technology? 

Learn more about the ASSETT Innovation Incubator and start drafting your idea submission today. If you have questions about the Innovation Incubator, the idea submission process or would like to meet others interested in the program, join ASSETT for a luncheon from 12-1pm on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. Since this is a catered event, registration is required. This event and program is only open to members of the College of Arts & Sciences. 

This is THE annual conference for faculty interested in Reacting to the Past pedagogy (RTTP) hosted at Barnard College. Participants will have the opportunity to play two games, and attend numerous breakout sessions. Submit your application to be one of four lucky faculty selected to receive $1200 in funding to support travel to the Annual Institute.

Tue, Feb 7: Engaging Students with Active Learning
Tue, Mar 7: Simplify Grading with Rubrics and Speedgrader
Tue, Apr 4: Who you gonna call for course design resources and support (not Ghostbusters!)
Tue, May 2: Humanizing Your Course

Thu, Feb 9: Establishing Inclusion and Developing a Positive Attitude
Thu, Feb 23: A Constructivist Approach to Enhancing Meaning
Thu, Mar 9: Engendering Competence
Thu, Mar 23: Mindfulness & Meditation to Enhance Learning Transfer

Join us on Zoom from 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. MT
Wed, Feb 22: Supporting Black-Identified Students
Thu, Mar 16: Topic TBD
Wed, Apr 26: Doing the Work Over the Summer
Sign up for the Inclusivity Network email list!

Join us on Zoom from 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. MT
Tue, Feb 28: Mid-Semester Check-Ins
Tue, Mar 21: Building An Inclusive Syllabus
Tue, Apr 25: Reflect to Restructure Course
Sign up for the Inclusivity Network email list!

Join us on Zoom from 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. MT
Wed, Feb 8th: Leveraging Learning Modalities in Online Education
Wed, Mar 8th: A.I. in the Classroom: Benefits and Challenges
Wed, Apr 12th: Addressing Academic Integrity in the Modern Age 
Wed, May 3rd: Deploying Open Educational Resources (OERs) in Your Virtual Classroom
Sign up for the OCoP email list!

Join us on Zoom from 11:00 a.m.-11:50 a.m. MT
Thu, Feb 16: Spring Kick-off & Community Welcome
Thu, Mar 16: UDL and Assessments
Thu, Apr 20: UDL and Activities
Thu, May 18: UDL and Course Design Checklist

Thu, Apr 6: Learn more about the different stages and ranks for instructors while panelists share their career experiences
Thu, Apr 20: Learn more about the positions and opportunities that are available in higher education besides research and teaching

Our partner, Arts and Sciences Support of Education Through Technology (ASSETT) provides support for integrating technology with pedagogy to promote impactful learning for all instructional personnel in the College of Arts & Sciences. ASSETT staff are available to consult with you on course designs, curriculum development, integrating effective and ethical uses of technology, digital literacy and pedagogy, authentic assessment, open education practices, and many other engaging teaching and learning topics.

The Center for Humanities & the Arts (CHA) welcome you to an afternoon of conversation revolving around the past, present and future of the arts and humanities at CU Boulder and beyond. The CHA's 25th Anniversary Celebration will be a discussion hub to look back and plan ahead for how to promote, support, and celebrate the arts and humanities. RSVP here, or for more information visit their website. 

Mondays, Jan. 23 - Feb. 27 | Research Mentor Training
Wed, Jan. 25 - Mar. 22 (biweekly) | Laying the Foundations for a Successful Teaching Career
Jan. 30 - Mar. 26 | Advancing Learning Through Evidence-Based STEM Teaching
Tuesday, Mar. 14 | Communicating to Learn: Incorporating Scientific Communication into STEM Courses
Wednesdays, Feb. 8 & 15 | Decode a Troublesome Concept or Skill for Your Learners
Tuesdays, Mar. 21 - Apr. 11 | Be Your Own Driver: Imagining Post-PhD Career Versatility
Thursdays, Mar. 23 - Apr. 13 | How CIRTL has Impacted my Career: Hearing from CIRTL Alumni
Wednesday, Apr. 26 | CIRTL Network Teaching-as-Research Presentations
 

Undetected, I slipped in and out of books,
passages of music, brightly painted rooms
where, woven into the signature of voluptuous vines,
was the one who flew one day out the window,
leaving behind an arrangement of cakes and ornamental flowers;
to weave one’s self, one’s breath, robes of it, whole
and fully formed, was a way of shining
out of this world.

The CTL newsletter is published once per month during the academic year and includes timely teaching strategies and resources, CTL updates, and upcoming events of interest to the campus teaching community.