This spring, join your colleagues in the TTL “teaching garden.” Instead of plants, we’ll grow our pedagogy!

Short, optional readings are provided for each session. All will be welcome to contribute their strategies, knowledge and skills in our biweekly meetings on Thursdays at 3:30pm.

February 5: What Digital Tools Foster Collaboration Without Overwhelming Students?

We’ve probably all seen students experience some form of tech overwhelm. How do we choose digital tools that actually spark student interaction rather than just adding another login to manage? Let’s share tips and tools that help students collaborate in meaningful ways.

Reading: How to Choose the Right Digital Tools for Your Classroom (The Chronicle of Higher Education - create a free account to access)

February 19: How Can I Use Formative Assessment to Give Feedback That Actually Improves Learning?

Is it possible to give feedback that students actually read and apply without spending twenty hours a week grading? Let’s share our low-stakes "check-ins" and other methods for providing quick but meaningful feedback that helps students learn.

Reading: Combining Grading Efficiency with Effective Assessment (UC Davis)

March 5: What Role Does Metacognition Play in Student Success, and How Can I Teach It?

Many students work hard but don't see the results they expect because they haven't mastered how to learn. How can we help them move from "rote memorization" to "self-regulation"? Join us to discuss ways to bake reflection into your existing assignments.

Reading: Metacognition: The Key to Self-Directed Learning (Kennesaw State University)

March 19: How Do I Help Students Connect Course Content to Real-World Applications?

"Why does this matter?" is a fair question, but answering it for every student can be tough. Let’s brainstorm how to bring "the real world" into the classroom to help students see the professional value of our disciplines. Below, we’ve provided a link to a searchable database of activities/assignments centered around “real-world” problems and issues.

Reading: ABLConnect Database: Make Real World Connections to Course Materials (Harvard University )

April 2: How Can I Support Struggling Students Without Lowering Standards?

We want our students to succeed, but we also have a responsibility to maintain academic rigor. How are you navigating the balance between empathy and expectations? We’ll discuss Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and other ways to maintain rigor in our courses without moving the finish line.

Reading: The UDL Guidelines (CAST).

April 16: What Are the Most Effective Ways to Teach Ethical Use of AI in Student Work?

Generative AI is here to stay, so how do we move from policing it to teaching it? Let’s discuss how you’re defining ethical use in your syllabus and share ideas for assignments that encourage critical thinking and responsible uses of this technology.

Reading: AI Teaching Strategies: Having Conversations with Students (OSU Teaching & Learning Resource Center)

Download the program.

Teaching Garden: How Can I Use Formative Assessment to Give Feedback That Actually Improves Learning?