Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning

Tag: Mason Core Instructor Certification

Workshop: Solving the Puzzle: Engaging Non-Majors in Mason Core Courses

Register Here | Facilitator: Laura Poms

How could teaching a Mason Core course possibly be any different from teaching a major course? There are an array of reasons, resulting in some interesting instructional challenges. By definition, the majority of students in Mason Core courses are non-majors. What does this mean for student engagement, course content coverage, scaffolding, assignment design and even student support? This workshop focuses on the differences between teaching a major course and one with the broader learning outcomes associated with a Mason Core course. Whether this is your first time teaching a Mason Core course or you are a seasoned veteran, this workshop will help you develop new strategies for increasing student engagement and success while better managing the additional workload that often comes with teaching a general education course.

By completing this workshop in addition to the High Impact Practices Cluster Parts 1 & 2, you can earn the Level 1: Certified Mason Core Instructor Certification.

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

Cluster: High Impact Practices Part 2

Register Here | Facilitator: Crystal Anderson

Are you interested in developing learning experiences where students can apply their skills and competencies in and beyond the classrooms? In the second of this two-part series, you will participate in two workshops. The Implementing High Impact Practices (Engage) workshop shows you how to get students involved in their own learning. The Grading High-Impact Practices (Assess) workshop shows you how to assess nonstandard cumulative assignments, like research, projects, or internships.

By completing Part 1 and Part 2, you can earn a CPD Level 1 Teaching Essentials Credential as part of Stearns Center’s Continuing Professional Development program. If you also complete the Mason Core Enhancement “Solving the Puzzle” workshop, you can earn the Level 1: Certified Mason Core Instructor Certification.

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

Cluster: High Impact Practices Part 1

Register Here | Facilitator: Crystal Anderson

Are you interested in developing learning experiences where students can apply their skills and competencies in and beyond the classrooms? In this first of a two-part series, you will participate in two workshops. The Fundamentals of Effective Teaching (Required) workshop explains the critical elements of teaching today’s students. The High-Impact Practices (HIPs) and Applied Learning (Design) workshop shows you how to use transparent assignment design for courses with internships, undergraduate research and project-based learning.

By completing Part 1 and Part 2, you can earn a CPD Level 1 Teaching Essentials Credential as part of Stearns Center’s Continuing Professional Development program. If you also complete the Mason Core Enhancement “Solving the Puzzle” workshop, you can earn the Level 1: Certified Mason Core Instructor Certification.

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

Workshop: Solving the Puzzle: Engaging Non-Majors in Mason Core Courses

Register Here | Facilitator: Laura Poms

How could teaching a Mason Core course possibly be any different from teaching a major course? There are an array of reasons, resulting in some interesting instructional challenges. By definition, the majority of students in Mason Core courses are non-majors. What does this mean for student engagement, course content coverage, scaffolding, assignment design and even student support? This workshop focuses on the differences between teaching a major course and one with the broader learning outcomes associated with a Mason Core course. Whether this is your first time teaching a Mason Core course or you are a seasoned veteran, this workshop will help you develop new strategies for increasing student engagement and success while better managing the additional workload that often comes with teaching a general education course.

By completing this workshop in addition to the High Impact Practices Cluster Parts 1 & 2, you can earn the Level 1: Certified Mason Core Instructor Certification.

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

Cluster: High Impact Practices Part 2

Register Here | Facilitator: Crystal Anderson 

Are you interested in developing learning experiences where students can apply their skills and competencies in and beyond the classrooms? In the second of this two-part series, you will participate in two workshops. The Implementing High Impact Practices (Engage) workshop shows you how to get students involved in their own learning. The Grading High-Impact Practices (Assess) workshop shows you how to assess nonstandard cumulative assignments, like research, projects, or internships.

By completing Part 1 and Part 2, you can earn a CPD Level 1 Teaching Essentials Credential as part of Stearns Center’s Continuing Professional Development program. If you also complete the Mason Core Enhancement “Solving the Puzzle” workshop, you can earn the Level 1: Certified Mason Core Instructor Certification.

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

Cluster: High Impact Practices Part 1

Register Here | Facilitator: Crystal Anderson

Are you interested in developing learning experiences where students can apply their skills and competencies in and beyond the classrooms? In this first of a two-part series, you will participate in two workshops. The Fundamentals of Effective Teaching (Required) workshop explains the critical elements of teaching today’s students. The High-Impact Practices (HIPs) and Applied Learning (Design) workshop shows you how to use transparent assignment design for courses with internships, undergraduate research and project-based learning.

By completing Part 1 and Part 2, you can earn a CPD Level 1 Teaching Essentials Credential as part of Stearns Center’s Continuing Professional Development program. If you also complete the Mason Core Enhancement “Solving the Puzzle” workshop, you can earn the Level 1: Certified Mason Core Instructor Certification.

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

Workshop: Teaching Reading in Mason Core: Strategies to Increase Engagement

Register Here | Facilitator: Tricia Wilson

Struggling to engage students in your Mason Core course reading assignments? In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore practical, research-informed strategies to help students re-engage with reading in meaningful ways. We will discuss common challenges students face around reading and how to build supportive, scaffolded reading practices that address students’ discomfort with challenging texts, demystify unfamiliar formats and jargon, and encourage active reading as a shared classroom experience. No matter your discipline, you’ll walk away with adaptable approaches for strengthening students’ persistence and skill with academic reading, both in Mason Core courses and beyond.

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

Cluster: High Impact Practices Part 2

Register Here | Facilitator: Crystal Anderson


Are you interested in developing learning experiences where students can apply their skills and competencies in and beyond the classrooms? In Part 2 of this thematic faculty development cluster, you will learn how to get students involved in their own learning (Implementing High Impact Practices (Engage) workshop) and how to assess nonstandard cumulative assignments, like research, projects, or internships (Grading High-Impact Practices (Assess) workshop).

By completing Part 1 and Part 2, you can earn a CPD Level 1 Teaching Essentials Credential as part of Stearns Center’s Continuing Professional Development program. If you complete the Mason Core Enhancement with Part 2, you can earn the Level 1: Certified Mason Core Instructor Certification.

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

Workshop: Solving the Puzzle: Engaging Non-Majors in Mason Core Courses

Register Here | Facilitator: Laura Poms


How could teaching a Mason Core course possibly be any different from teaching a major course? There are an array of reasons, resulting in some interesting instructional challenges. By definition, the majority of students in Mason Core courses are non-majors. What does this mean for student engagement, course content coverage, scaffolding, assignment design and even student support? This workshop focuses on the differences between teaching a major course and one with the broader learning outcomes associated with a Mason Core course. Whether this is your first time teaching a Mason Core course or you are a seasoned veteran, this workshop will help you develop new strategies for increasing student engagement and success while better managing the additional workload that often comes with teaching a general education course.

By completing this workshop in addition to other faculty development programming from the Stearns Center, you can earn the Level 1: Certified Mason Core Instructor Certification.

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

Cluster: High Impact Practices Part 1

Register Here| Facilitator: Crystal Anderson 


Are you interested in developing learning experiences where students can apply their skills and competencies in and beyond the classrooms? In this first of a two-part series, you will participate in two workshops. Fundamentals of Effective Teaching (Required) explains the critical elements of teaching today’s students. High-Impact Practices (HIPs) and Applied Learning (Design) shows you how to use transparent assignment design for courses with internships, undergraduate research and project-based learning.

By completing Part 1 and Part 2, you can earn a CPD Level 1 Teaching Essentials Credential as part of Stearns Center’s Continuing Professional Development program. If you complete the Mason Core Enhancement with Part 2, you can earn the Level 1: Certified Mason Core Instructor Certification.

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