Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning

Tag: CPD

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.

Fundamentals of Effective Teaching

Register here| Facilitator: Crystal Anderson

Do you want to be an effective teacher? Do you want to know how to measure your teaching effectiveness? In this workshop, you will learn about elements of effective teaching, including engagement, multiple modalities, inclusive teaching and assignment design. You will also learn how to set achievable teaching goals and measure them. This workshop is required for the Level 1 Teaching Essentials Credential for the Continuing Professional Development Program.

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

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

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. 

Mini Course: Introduction to AI Inspired Pedagogies

Monday, Juy 21 – Thursday, Juy 24 | 12:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Register here| Facilitator: Laina Lockett

By now you’ve probably heard of ChatGPT or one of the other various new large language models (LLMs) that have taken the world by storm. But do you know how to deal with the ever-evolving artificial intelligence technology as it relates to your teaching? In this mini course you will be exposed to the basics of redesigning your course as it relates to learning outcomes and instructional activities. We will also explore how to get feedback from students regarding the changes that you make.

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

Introduction to AI Inspired Pedagogies

Register here| Facilitator: Laina Lockett

This section is full; therefore, registration is closed. We created an additional section in July due to high demand.

By now you’ve probably heard of ChatGPT or one of the other various new large language models (LLMs) that have taken the world by storm. But do you know how to deal with the ever-evolving artificial intelligence technology as it relates to your teaching? In this mini course you will be exposed to the basics of redesigning your course as it relates to learning outcomes and instructional activities. We will also explore how to get feedback from students regarding the changes that you make.

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