Spring 2022 Faculty Workshop Series kicks off February 9

Organizers are gearing up for the Spring 2022 Faculty Workshop Series on Teaching & Learning, which will be held in person on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus this year.

Sponsored by the Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning, the popular workshop series runs from 11:30 AM to 1 PM CST Wednesdays from February 9 through March 9 in Room 182 (east side), Armory Building.

As part of the series, the Annual Faculty Retreat—co-sponsored by the Office of the Provost and CITL—will be held from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM on Friday, March 4, in Rooms A, B, and C, Illini Union.

Both are free, but registration is required.

“Come join a dynamic learning community by participating in this specially-designed workshop series for all faculty,” said Cheelan Bo-Linn, Senior Specialist in Education at CITL.

The workshops are open to faculty of all disciplines including post-docs, academic professionals/staff, and experienced teaching assistants, and they count toward completion of CITL teaching certificates.

“We always have many returning faculty who want a refresher or learn what’s new,” Bo-Linn said. “We’ll share strategies and best practices from research-based pedagogy. Great conversation and handouts are guaranteed.”

Here’s the schedule:

Wednesday, Feb. 9 – Session 1: Maximizing Informal (IEF and Formal (ICES) Student Feedback to Enhance Teaching and Learning. (I wish I had known that earlier…)

Reflecting and implementing what you have learned from informal student feedback, such as IEF, and formal student feedback, such as ICES, is a valuable process. We will share how to maximize gathering and analyzing the formal and informal student feedback.

Wednesday, Feb. 16 – Session 2: Creating a Reflective Teaching Philosophy Statement for Promotion and Tenure

Does your Teaching Philosophy Statement uniquely capture your thoughtfulness and commitment to teaching and learning? Does it address the latest proposed revisions to Comm #9 for P&T? Join this interactive workshop to begin creating or revising your reflective teaching statement.

Wednesday, Feb. 23 – Session 3: Opening the Classroom Door 

How you ever wondered what happens in the classes of some of our exemplary teachers? Would you like to see and have a chat? We have a great line-up of your colleagues who have offered to “open their classroom door.” Join this introductory session to learn more.

Wednesday, March 2 – Session 4: Are we Helping or Hurting? Critical Factors in Motivating Students to Succeed

Have you ever said, “If only my students were more motivated, they would be better students?” Did you then attribute their lack of engagement as being lazy or apathetic? Perhaps you should ask, “Am I helping or hurting their access to success?” What is at stake here is not about the quantity of student motivation, but rather the quality.

Friday, March 4 – Annual Faculty Retreat. This year’s theme is “Breaking Down the Garden Walls: A Promise of Access to Success.” 

During this year’s retreat, we’ll explore principles and approaches by which we can provide a campus culture that focuses on student success. In addition to listening to student voices and experiencing aspects of their lives, you’ll learn from faculty colleagues who will describe practices that can be implemented by all campus community members. There will be multiple opportunities to share ideas with your colleagues, in addition to interactive activities and resources.

Attendees will again be eligible to apply for one of 12 $4,000 competitive Faculty Retreat Grants from the Teaching Advancement Board to help implement ideas inspired by the retreat in their courses.

Wednesday, March 9 – Session 5: Creating a Responsive Student-Centered Syllabus to Support Learning

A syllabus is more than a contract or a schedule and listing of topics. What are the message and first impression? It is a great opportunity to think about your course: is it welcoming, supportive, fair? This is a great opportunity to think about how/if your syllabus promotes a learning-centered environment. Also, you will have a graphic "big idea" for your course.

Register today for the Faculty Workshop Series. And don’t forget to register for the Annual Faculty Retreat.