FIT workshop descriptions and learning outcomes (listed alphabetically)
This symbol indicates workshops that are offered at least once every academic year.
This symbol indicates “Special Topics” workshops. These workshops may not be offered on a regular schedule depending on the availability of the facilitator.
FIT: Academic Misconduct and Teaching
Format: In person
Length: 2 hours
Description: This interactive workshop is designed to familiarize instructors with academic honesty policies on campus. We will define academic honesty, discuss its fundamental importance within the academic community, and discuss examples. We will identify resources for detecting academic dishonesty and strategies for promoting academic honesty. Finally, we will discuss the responsibilities of instructors and students for reporting incidents of academic dishonesty to the Office of Student Conduct emphasizing the documentation process and procedures to be followed. Participants are encouraged to bring questions about academic honesty and issues for discussion.
Outcomes: Afer completing this workshop, participants will be able to:
-define academic dishonesty and identify examples
-have a toolkit of resources for detecting academic dishonesty
-have a toolkit of resources for promoting academic honesty in the classroom
-follow proper procedures for reporting academic dishonesty on campus
FIT: Active Learning: An Introduction
Format: Offered both in person and online
Length: 2 hours
Description: Active learning can engage students, enhance learning, and create an exciting classroom environment. In this workshop, participants will explore a variety of active learning strategies that can be used in any classroom or lab setting. We will identify define, identify, and practice several active learning strategies, and we will address some of the challenges of using active learning in the classroom.
Outcomes: After this workshop, participants will be able to:
-define active learning
-compare and contrast active vs. passive learning
-practice and evaluate a variety of active learning techniques
-identify ways to establish a classroom environment that supports active learning
-develop one active learning strategy
-assess active learning strategies to aid in continued improvement and refinement
FIT: An Introduction to Teaching with Service-Learning
Format: In person
Length: 2 hours
Description:As a "high impact" pedagogy that involves collaboration between
students, instructors, and community members focused on community
issues, service-learning has the potential to generate significant
student outcomes, including better understanding of course material,
civic learning, personal growth, and critical thinking. In this
interactive workshop we will apply a conceptual framework for
service-learning to examples across a range of disciplines, identify the
ways in which the counternormative nature of the pedagogy challenges and
transforms students and instructors alike, and examine an instructional
design process that can support intentional and integrated design. We
will briefly review research-grounded tools related to the design of
critical reflection, assessment, and partnerships.
FIT: Advising as Teaching
Format: In person
Length: 2 hours
Description: This workshop will focus on the instructional processes of advising. Specifically, the workshop will touch on the curriculum, pedagogy, and learning outcomes that advisors and faculty members can use to develop strong advising relationships. This workshop is co-sponsored by the Office of Advising Support, Information and Services.
Outcomes: After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:
-discuss the concept of “developmental advising” and how that allows students to become more self-sufficient
-explain fundamental theories that guide advising processes
-compare and contrast the three types of advising meetings
-discuss different roles to consider when designing advising experiences as learning experiences
-write goals and objectives that you will be able to use when advising students to make explicit the
-expectations of the advising relationship
FIT: Classroom Assessment Techniques
Format: Offered both in person and online
Length: 2 hours
Description: Classroom assessment techniques (CATs) are strategies to quickly assess student learning and provide feedback. In this workshop, participants will discuss, practice, and share a variety of approaches for assessing students’ learning.
Outcomes: After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:
-define classroom assessment techniques
-discuss the benefits and challenges of using CATs
-explain and identify several CATs that can be applied in their classrooms
-practice the CAT as both a teacher and as a student
Format: Offered both in person and online
Length: 2 hours
Description: Managing the classroom environment is one of the most challenging aspects of teaching. This workshop is designed to address classroom management issues and concerns. Topics will include: creating a welcoming environment, establishing guidelines and expectations, maintaining professionalism, and handling disruptive students.
Outcomes: After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:
-explain the importance of managing a learning environment
-compare today’s learning environment with your own past experiences
-discuss how to establish guidelines, expectations, and rules
-discuss non-confrontational ways of dealing with classroom issues
-share and practice managing classroom situations
FIT: Collaborative Learning and Group Work
Format: In person
Length: 2 hours
Description: Collaborative learning environments have become the norm in many academic settings, but the process of managing group work and group projects can become challenging for instructors at all levels. This workshop is designed to address some of the common challenges of group work and to explore strategies for designing effective collaborative learning experiences for you and your students.
Outcomes: After this workshop, participants will be able to:
-compare the pros and cons of group work and collaborative learning
-discuss ways to overcome barriers and challenges in group work
-discuss strategies to design effective group projects
-explore ways to manage group work and keep team members on task
-discuss tools for evaluation and grading group work vs. individual contributions
FIT: Creating an Inclusive Classroom for Your Students
Format: In person
Length: 2 hours
Description: No two students are alike. This session will involve exploration of the many differences students bring to the classroom and address teaching strategies which honor these differences. Through working with personal stories and best practices, participants will have an opportunity to discover ways to accommodate students' differences within the larger classroom.
Outcomes: After this workshop, participants will be able to:
-share the differences they bring to the classroom as students and examples of ways their faculty have addressed or not addressed these differences.
-review best practice for addressing student differences.
-discuss complexities encountered when attempting to accommodate student differences in both large and small classes.
-work in small groups to use their own stories and the stories of other students as case studies to discover new ways of accommodating student differences.
FIT: Creating Plagiarism-Proof Assignments
Format: In Person
Length: 2 hours
Description: Coming Soon
FIT: Encouraging and Managing Student Discussions Online
Format: In person
Length: 1.5 hours
Description: Engaging online discussions don't just happen--it takes planning and monitoring to establish a real discussion online. In this workshop, participants will explore successful strategies for setting up effective discussions and managing those discussions. We will cover ten specific strategies that you can use today in any online discussion forum. This workshop is co-sponsored by the Professional Writing Program.
Outcomes: After this workshop, participants will be able to:
-identify specific strategies for successful online discussions
-brainstorm discipline specific topics for online discussions
-establish appropriate guidelines for online discussions
FIT: Engaging Students: Using Games in the Classroom
Format: In person
Length: 2 hours
Description: One way to engage students is to introduce an educational game into your classroom. Games can be designed to address a variety of course goals and objectives, and games can provide a fun, interactive learning environment to add creativity to the classroom. This interactive workshop will introduce you to the gaming experience in the classroom environment. Participants will play games and then reflect upon the purpose, design, and generalization to other contexts.
Outcomes: After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:
-identify how games can be designed to address course goals and objectives
-explain the basic elements of constructing an educational game
-compare and contrast the benefits and challenges of games as a teaching strategy
-adapt an existing game to your classroom
-reflect upon the purpose, design, and generalization to other contexts
FIT: Effective Questioning Techniques
Format: Offered both in person and online
Length: 2 hours
Description: "Are there any questions?" How many times have you asked this question only to receive blank stares from your students? Learning to ask effective questions is an essential skill for every teacher, regardless of the type of classroom environment. In this workshop, participants will explore strategies and techniques for asking questions effectively to generate more student participation. We will discuss word choice, timing, types of questions, and overall presentation style.
Outcomes: After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:
-compare and contrast effective vs. ineffective questioning strategies
-apply specific tools to generate effective questions
-discuss how to address inaccurate responses
-identify different types of questions
-discuss presentation strategies to engage your audience
FIT: Establishing Credibility and Responding to Challenges of Authority
Format: In person
Length: 2 hours
Description: For new instructors and graduate teaching assistants, it can be challenging to establish credibility and authority in the classroom. In this workshop, we will discuss how instructor credibility and legitimacy is established or lost and explore ways to respond to subtle and direct challenges to your authority. We will discuss how to change an environment once this type of challenge has occurred so you and your students can refocus and re-establish stability in the classroom. Participants will need to complete a reading and a brief assignment before attending this workshop.
Outcomes: After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:
-recognize challenges to authority
-discuss techniques to respond to challenges to authority
-discuss ways to convey credibility and legitimacy
-explore strategies for readjusting the classroom climate
-develop ways to avoid and defuse a “feeding frenzy”
FIT: Evaluation and Grading
Format: Offered in person and online
Length: 2 hours
Description: The purpose of this workshop is to provide participants with an introduction to different grading and evaluation processes in teaching. Participants will explore topics such as: designing rubrics, establishing grading scales, and giving constructive feedback. Participants will practice grading example assignments and discuss the benefits and challenges of different types of grading strategies.
Outcomes: After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:
-discuss the different types of grading and evaluation processes
-compare the pros and cons of rubrics
-explore different ways to establish grading scales
-practice grading different types of assignments
-practice giving constructive feedback
FIT: Interacting with Students: How to Use Your Emotional Intelligence
Format: In person
Length: 2 hours
Description: You might know your IQ, but are you aware of emotional intelligence and what this concept comprises? This workshop will introduce you to the core elements of emotional intelligence. Information will also be provided that will help you gain an awareness of how you can use these elements of emotional intelligence to improve your interactions with your students and your competency as a teacher.
Outcomes: After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:
-describe the different dimensions and domains of emotional intelligence
-identify aspects of emotional intelligence they wish to improve
-discover how emotional intelligence can increase their competency as a teacher
FIT: Introduction to Teaching – REQUIRED for CoAT Participants
Format: Offered in person (Fall & Spring) and online (Fall)
Length: 2 hours
Description: The Introduction to Teaching workshop is designed to introduce participants to the fundamentals of effective teaching and learning in the university classroom through exploration, application, and reflection. This workshop is designed to provide basic information about a variety of teaching topics and to offer “best practices” for enhancing teaching and learning in the university classroom. All CoAT participants must complete this workshop.
Outcomes: After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:
-describe the charateristics of effective learning environments
-develop a basic lesson plan including outcomes, learning strategies, and assessment
-begin the process of self-reflection on your teaching, learning, and professional development
-apply the information learned in this workshop to your own teaching experiences
FIT: Introduction to the Teaching Portfolio
Format: Available online all year; registration not required
Length: 3-part series; each part should take approximately 2-3 hours to complete.
Description: This is self-paced online module designed to introduce graduate students to the process of creating a teaching portfolio. This workshop is part of the CoAT program, but it does not count as one of the six required workshops. Login to the online module using your Unity ID and password.
Outcomes: After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:
-describe what a teaching portfolio is (and is not)
-list reasons why a teaching portfolio is important
-explain the three main components of a teaching portfolio
-generate ideas for materials to include in their own portfolios
-explain the importance of the teaching philosophy
-analyze teaching philosophy statements
Format: Offered both in person and online
Length: 2 hours
Description: There are more than eight different learning styles, and traditional teaching methods only assist in addressing a few of them. In this workshop, we will discuss the different ways people learn and explore how you can make simple adaptations to your teaching to enhance the learning process. Participants will be asked to complete the online Learning Styles Inventory prior to attending this workshop.
Outcomes: After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:
-explore how your own learning style influences your teaching style
-identify and explain the eight different learning styles
-discuss the importance of considering different learning styles when developing lesson plans
-discuss and share practical ways to include a variety of strategies to address learning styles in your classroom
FIT: Motivational Teaching Strategies
Format: Offered both in person and online
Length: 2 hours
Description: This workshop is designed to introduce participants to the concept of motivation in teaching and learning contexts. We will discuss teaching strategies and instructional behaviors that encourage student motivation and participation, challenge and support students’ learning, and inspire students to perform to the best of their ability.
Outcomes: After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:
-define motivation in educational contexts
-explain the importance of motivation in the college classroom
-discuss the concept of “challenge and support”
-discuss a framework for understanding student motivation
-design and share teaching strategies to encourage student motivation
FIT: Putting Your Teaching Portfolio Online
Format: In Person
Length: 2 hours
Description:
It is becoming increasingly common for teaching portfolios to be designed in electronic or online formats. In this workshop, members of the DELTA staff will demonstrate how to use Wordpress to create an online teaching portfolio. Participants will view examples of other online portfolios and have opportunities to practice uploading content to begin building their electronic portfolio. Prior web design experience is not necessary. Note: Priority registration is given to students in the Preparing the Professoriate program, participants in the Certificate of Accomplishment in Teaching program, and postdocs in the Certificate in Teaching Techniques program. If seats are available, this workshop will be open to the campus community.
Pre-requisite: Participants should have completed modules 1, 2 and 3 of the "Introduction to the Teaching Portfolio" online workshop before attending this workshop.
Outcomes: After participating in this workshop, participants will be able to:
-Build an online teaching portfolio
-Compare different portfolio layouts
-Guide a reader through the portfolios by creating navigation structures
FIT: Teaching in the Lab
Format: In person
Length: 2 hours
Description: For those who teach in lab settings, you know there are many challenges that can impact the teaching and learning process. In this workshop, participants will explore these challenges and address ways to effectively teach in the laboratory setting. NOTE: You must have completed the Introduction to Teaching workshop prior to attending the Teaching in the Lab workshop.
Outcomes: After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:
-discuss classroom management issues specific to the laboratory setting
-explore questioning techniques in creating more effective lab sessions
-discuss organization for teaching in laboratory settings
-explain ways to check for understanding during lab work and experiments
-design active learning laboratory activities
FIT: Teaching Millennial Students
Format: In person
Length: 2 hours
Description: For the first time, we are seeing a mixture of generations everywhere. This includes the freeways and highways, the workplace, even our classrooms. Knowing how different generations work together, as well as learn and lead each other makes a remarkable difference in how we all get along. Each generation has differing attitudes related to their work, leading, following, managing as well as how they are lead and managed. Each generation has differing beliefs regarding pay, pay raises, time off, benefits and other employment opportunities. Each generation has differing educational expectations. As our culture combines different generations into the same environments, there are going to be complications (Hammill, 2005). As leaders, it is important to gain an understanding of how each generation leads and learns in order to maximize their potential and the potential of people around them.
Outcomes: After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:
-recognize the challenges of working with diverse generations in the classroom
-define and recognize millennial students
-explore the expectations of each generation
-discuss ways to adapt educational and leadership experiences for these audiences
FIT: Teaching Philosophy Peer Review
Format: In person
Length: 1 hour
Description: Writing your teaching philosophy is one of the most challenging tasks you will do when developing your portfolio. After you have completed Parts 1 and 2 of the Introduction to the Teaching Portfolio online module, bring your teaching philosophy draft to this informal session to work with a peer to develop your best teaching philosophy statement. This is the perfect opportunity to “field test” your philosophy, receive comments on your draft, and offer constructive feedback to one of your peers. This workshop does not count as one of the six required workshops for the CoAT program.
Outcomes: After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:
-apply feedback from peers to edit and revise their teaching philosophy statement
-offer constructive feedback to others who are writing their teaching philosophy statement
-apply the rubric and guidelines to evaluate the quality of teaching philosophy statements
Format: Offered both in person and online
Length: 2 hours
Description: This workshop is designed to introduce participants to the process of writing effective learning outcomes. As the basis for structured teaching and instruction, learning outcomes help to define teacher expectations for students within the curriculum, and writing learning outcomes is one of the most important steps to take before entering the classroom. In this workshop, we will discuss the importance of learning outcomes in the classroom and learn how to design successful learning outcomes.
Outcomes: After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:
-define and explain the importance of learning outcomes in teaching and learning.
-define and apply the three domains of learning outcomes
-compare the content-centered method to the learning-centered method as planning tools.
-describe the ABCD method for writing learning outcomes.
-construct a learning outcomes grid that can be used as a tool for planning.