The Art of Teaching

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning

Seminar Series

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The Art of Teaching Lunchtime Seminar Series

The Art of Teaching Lunchtime Seminar Series features inspiring faculty from across the disciplines sharing their thoughts and strategies about the art and science of teaching and learning. We welcome new faculty, new stories, and new ways of thinking about the art of teaching. Join us via Zoom on the first Thursdays of the month from 12 pm to 1 pm.

I have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist . . . Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. (John Steinbeck)

Thursday, December 7, 2023

Experiential Learning

Toni Marie Gist (FSHN) and Justine Karduck (FSHN)

Award-winning faculty from the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition will host an engaging session discussing how to infuse experiential learning into the course curriculum. Dr. Justine Karduck and Mrs. Toni Gist will collectively share about student-peer mentorship, internships/externships, student-run campus fairs, converting a course for study abroad, and James Scholar experiences.

Now more than ever, students seek meaningful connections with their peers. One can transcend a student's traditional class into something more experiential with deeper, sustainable learning through peer mentorship, internships/externships, student-run campus fairs, study abroad, and James Scholar projects. During this discussion, Justine Karduck and Toni Gist will showcase tips and tricks for implementing new practices in your class to keep students engaged and connected. Please come with questions because there will be a lot of time for everyone to share ideas.

THE ART OF TEACHING SERIES

The Art of Teaching Lunchtime Seminar Series has been inspiring instructors and building connections since 2021.

In Spring 2021, we showcased CITL Faculty Fellows and some of the research they have been doing on their teaching.
In Fall 2021, we featured faculty who are early in their careers sharing tools and strategies they are still developing.
In Spring 2022, we looked at alternative approaches to teaching and learning that included social justice, game-based pedagogy, and newer approaches to assessment.
In Fall 2022, we returned to the theme of faculty research with exemplary presenters sharing how they are conducting research on their teaching or using research to inform their teaching.
In Spring 2023, we heard from faculty who used innovative methods and resources to support students online and learned how to engage in the scholarship of teaching and learning.

Stay tuned to learn more about our plans for Spring 2024!

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Previous Art of Teaching Presentations

The Stu/dio: Innovations in Student-Driven Development & Serious Games-Learning through Play

November 2, 2023

Presenters: Daniel Cermak (Informatics) and Katryna Starks (Game Studies and Design)

Daniel Cermak discusses the STU/DIO, a student-driven initiative brings process to the combination of high-end student skills and the creative direction provided by campus faculty.

Later, Katryna Starks explores games that further the understanding of history, language, culture, and the ways that entertainment games integrate serious content, promoting a lifetime of learning.

View the webinar recording.
A Small but Meaningful Mindset for Improving Your Teaching

October 5, 2023

Presenter: Amy Lynette Clay (French & Italian)

What small but meaningful practices can you adopt to improve teaching and learning in your courses? Amy will share how she adopted a small but meaningful approach to improve courses in her program while balancing other professional responsibilities.

Download the presentation PDF.

View the webinar recording.
Islands in the Stream: Fluidity in Teaching: Adapting to a Constantly Changing Teaching Environment
September 7, 2023

Presenter: Andrea Faber Taylor (Crop Sciences)

Andrea Faber Taylor (Crop Sciences) will share ideas for: Adapting your course to engage students in a variety of settings; incorporating supportive and restorative activities for students; and investing in yourself to consistently be your best self.
- Download the presentation PDF.
- View the webinar recording.
Dos, Don’ts, and Time-Saving Practices
April 1st, 2021

Presenter: Lawrence Angrave (CS)

Students may present a wide range of hidden and non-hidden physical, emotional, and learning disabilities. Lawrence will highlight principles of universal design, and offer effective strategies for making your classroom and course materials accessible and welcoming to all types of learners.
Group Projects that Deepen Learning
November 5th, 2021

Presenter: Leon Liebenberg (MechSE)

Concerned by a growing sense of emotional disconnect among his students online, Leon responded by developing a series of scaffolded mini-projects as a way to encourage higher engagement and self-directed learning.
An Exploration of Multi-Modal Assignments
May 6th, 2021

Presenter: Faculty Panel

Senior Associate Director Robert Baird will moderate a panel discussion on using multi-modal assignments in teaching. See inspiring examples of faculty who successfully encouraged students to demonstrate content mastery through AR, graphic novels, games, portfolios, and other media.
Harnessing the Profound Connection Between Emotion and Learning to Enhance the Success of All Students
March 4, 2021

Presenter: Shelly Schmidt (FSHN)

Shelly will describe her work on the impactful connections between emotion and learning, and discuss ways to make our college classrooms a safe and authentic place for students to learn and grow, and where they can feel empowered to do their best work.
Effective and Efficient Teaching for Student Success
February 4th, 2021

Presenter: Emily Knox (iSchool)

Teaching is a skill acquired over time, often through the development of tacit knowledge, and can be difficult to articulate. Emily will tease apart this process and describe a variety of techniques for making teaching more effective, and helping students be more successful.
Immersion and Engagement: Teaching through Games & Simulations
December 3rd, 2020

Presenters: Judith Pintar (iSchool) & Dan Steward (Sociology)

Judith and Dan will discuss the ways they use games to enhance learning, including table top role-playing to teach about propaganda and media interference, and "Sociopoly" to teach about social inequality
- Read the story on Pintar & Steward's use of play-based learning.
- View the webinar recording.

SEMINAR SERIES RESOURCES

Speaker Slide Presentations

Presentation Video Recordings

All sessions will continue to be recorded and presenter materials gathered. For more information, or to suggest a speaker for the series, please contact Jordan Leising at jleising @illinois.edu.