Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning

Tag: CPD

Reflective Assessments for STEM Faculty and Students

Register here| Facilitator: Laina Lockett

What are the essential actions to stay an innovative STEM Educator? This workshop will review strategies for continual growth as STEM educators to ensure that students are best prepared for a changing world. In this workshop we will discuss essential reflective actions for both you and your students as a way to grow.

This workshop is part of the Level 1 Foundational Practices in STEM Education Cluster. Other workshops in this cluster include:

September 4 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am:  Fundamentals of Effective Teaching

September 11 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am: Reading as Active Learning in STEM Disciplines

September 18 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am: Motivating Students in STEM Courses

*Adding to your calendar will not register you for the event; please register using the link above.

Motivating Students in STEM Courses

Register here| Facilitator: Laina Lockett

Do you teach a STEM course but feel that your students lack motivation? If you answered yes, you aren’t alone. Since the pandemic, professors across the country have been expressing that they have noticed a general trend in reduced student motivation. In this workshop we will discuss theories of motivation so that you can engage your students whether you teach a large class, teach online, have many non-majors or are teaching an upper-level course. You will gain tips, tricks and ideas that can be implemented into your course this semester and beyond!

This workshop is part of the Level 1 Foundational Practices in STEM Education Cluster. Other workshops in this cluster include:

September 4 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am:  Fundamentals of Effective Teaching

September 11 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am: Reading as Active Learning in STEM Disciplines

October 2 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am: Reflective Assessments for STEM Faculty and Students

*Adding to your calendar will not register you for the event; please register using the link above.

Reading as Active Learning in STEM Disciplines

Register here| Facilitator: Laina Lockett

How many times have you asked your class a question only to realize that only a few (or maybe none) of your students have done the assigned reading? Working with students who are not prepared for class is a common frustration among STEM faculty especially since there is often a large amount of material to cover in any given course. In this workshop, you will learn how to turn reading assignments into opportunities for active learning. We will discuss some of the research on how students learn from reading, how to teach your students to get more out of reading, as well as how to design more engaging reading prompts, guides and classroom activities. The small changes discussed in this workshop can have large and long-lasting impacts for your students, so be sure to join the session!

This workshop is part of the Level 1 Foundational Practices in STEM Education Cluster. Other workshops in this cluster include:

September 4 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am:  Fundamentals of Effective Teaching

September 18 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am: Motivating Students in STEM Courses

October 2 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am: Reflective Assessments for STEM Faculty and Students

*Adding to your calendar will not register you for the event; please register using the link above.

(Re)Designing Syllabi for Inclusive Classrooms that Support Learners and Instructors POSTPONED

Register here. POSTPONED | Facilitator: Rachel Yoho

Are you ready to align your courses with university commitments to inclusive teaching? Or are you developing a new course or submitting an existing one for the new university-wide tags (like Mason Core)? In this workshop, we will work to advance our understanding of inclusive course design and how to improve syllabi to be more inclusive for everyone in the space (including instructors!). During the session, we will have specific discussion time to focus on connecting these ideas with your course and your discipline. At the end of the workshop, participants will leave with a greater understanding of the potential considerations for designing and redesigning inclusive course syllabi and aligning with broader institutional initiatives and expectations.

*Adding to your calendar will not register you for the event; please register using the link above.

How to Make Your Assignments Relevant

Register here| Facilitator: Crystal Anderson

Do you want to create hands-on assignments that have relevance to students’ lives? Would you like to increase student motivation and performance on your assignments? In this workshop, you will learn how to use the Transparency in Learning & Teaching (TILT) framework, a set of strategies that have been shown to increase motivation, boost academic confidence and highlight skills valued in the workplace for all students. This workshop counts for the CPD Level 1 Teaching Essentials Credential, part of Stearns Center’s Continuing Professional Development program.

*Adding to your calendar will not register you for the event; please register using the link above.