After what may have been the longest January on record, welcome to February where the sun glistens on the snow-crete all around us! Plenty is happening at the Center for Teaching–check out the events below and plan on joining us and campus partners to hear and talk about great teaching across campus.
Faculty Pedagogy Colloquium
Three presentations are scheduled for February and early March. All presenters are sharing work supported through Center for Teaching Summer Small Teaching Grants. We kindly ask that you RSVP using the single RSVP form. Please note RSVP deadlines if you wish to request a lunch during selected presentations.
“Four Short Papers on an Escape from a Round Room” with Debra Hydorn (Mathematics)
Thursday, February 19th from 12:30 – 1:30 PM in Seacobeck 105
RSVP by Thursday, February 12th at noon to request a lunch
To handle a larger-than-expected writing intensive class, Dr. Hydorn decided to divide one of the longer projects she had used in a previous non-writing intensive offering of the class into smaller projects. The project is based on a random escape from a round room where a subject is placed in the center of the room and must take one step at a time in a randomly generated angle. This model has applications in a variety of different disciplines and was simulated using R. Come and learn about the project, what students achieved, and how it may apply to your own classroom.
“Using AI to Design and Deliver Multimedia Vocabulary Instruction” with Sean McDonald (Education)
Tuesday, February 24th from 3:30 – 4:30 PM in Seacobeck 128
Coffee, tea, water, and snacks will be served to all attendees
The purpose of this scholarly teaching project is to gain initial insights on the potential benefits of generative AI tools for supporting preservice teachers’ knowledge and implementation of multimedia, evidence-based vocabulary practices. Specifically, in this project, preservice teachers will understand, design, and deliver multimedia vocabulary lessons using multiple AI-based platforms (e.g., Microsoft CoPilot, Adobe Firefly) to assist them in producing rich imagery and text with evidence-based routines for word-learning.
“Deep Research for Argumentation: Leveraging AI to Transform Evidence-Based Speaking and Learning” with Kaitlyn Haynal (Communication and Digital Studies)
Friday, March 13th from 12:00 – 1:00 PM in Seacobeck 139
RSVP by Friday, February 27th at noon to request a lunch
How can AI be harnessed to strengthen core learning objectives in the classroom? In this presentation, Dr. Kaitlyn Haynal shares her redesign of a major assignment in COMM 209: Argumentation, where the integration of AI-powered Deep Research tools enhances student learning and practice with debate. By streamlining the research process, students gain more time to focus on evaluating evidence critically, crafting stronger arguments, and practicing the art of debate. This approach re-centers the course toward its core goals, including critical thinking, persuasion, and civic engagement, while modeling innovative ways to integrate AI into the liberal arts classroom.
No Time to Read: More Than Words
We begin thinking about all things writing and the impact of AI with chapters 1-3 of John Warner’s More Than Words. Please join us for either the in-person or online discussion group. All are welcome!
Online group: Thursday, February 19th at 3:30 PM via Zoom
In-person group: Friday, February 20th at 9:00 AM in Seacobeck 128
New Series: Playful Pedagogy
Playful Pedagogy: Whole Class Discussions
Thursday, February 26th at 3:30 PM in Seacobeck 128
Looking for new ideas to tackle the same challenges? Want to infuse a bit of fun, maybe even joy, into your classes? Do YOU want to have fun teaching? CfT has a series for you–welcome to Playful Pedagogy!
The Playful Pedagogy series has three ‘rules’;
- We only focus on challenges that we can realistically address within our classrooms.
- Little or no tech involved–sometimes, you just have to unplug.
- Instructor play is as important as student play. You gotta play to learn!
Thank you to Brenta Blevins (English and Linguistics) who sent us our first challenge: I’d like to throw out a challenge I run into…I sometimes have challenges with whole class discussion. Group discussions generally go fine but getting whole class discussion can be a bit more challenging.
Brenta, challenge accepted! If this challenge is one you face, plan on coming to play (and, yes, snacks will be provided!).
CfT Group Meetings: February
New Faculty Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, February 11th at 4:00 PM in Seacobeck 128
Book Authors Group
Every Friday at 3:30 PM via Zoom. Contact Zach Whalen or Brenta Blevins for the link.
News from the Research and Creativity Collaborative
Undergraduate Research Grants
We recently awarded undergraduate research grants to 130 students from 14 departments across the arts, sciences, humanities, and social sciences. Many of these grants in the spring are for travel to conduct field research or to present at regional and national conferences this semester, including:
- 8 theatre students and 3 art history students who will travel to New York City to conduct primary research for their projects in March
- 5 chemistry students who will present at the American Chemical Society in Atlanta in March
- 1 international affairs student who will be a delegate at the Model UN in New York City in March
- 23 psychology students who will participate in the Virginia Association for Psychological Science in Staunton in April
- 14 students from English, biology, computer science, and sociology who were selected to present at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research in Richmond in April
Posters in Richmond
On January 29th, UMW students Margaret Alt (historic preservation) and Natalie Lee (history), both of whom also study GIS, presented their research projects “From Restriction to Resilience: Mapping the History of Racial Boundaries in Fredericksburg” at the Network for Undergraduate Research in Virginia “Posters in Richmond” event. Their faculty mentors were Krystyn Moon (History and American Studies), Christine Henry (Historic Preservation) and Steve Hanna (Geography). They were among 40 students from 15 Virginia universities who presented their research at the Virginia General Assembly Building.
20th Annual Research and Creativity Day
We are preparing already for the annual UMW Research and Creativity Day Symposium, April 24, 2026, celebrating our 20th year of this important recognition of student achievement. Look for more announcements to come of the special ways we will be commemorating this important milestone, and for ways for you and your students to get involved!
See your students featured on the Beyond the Classroom blog
Recent posts include:
- The “history wars”
- A medical humanities poetry podcast
- An AI bot to cool our political climate
Submit a brief blurb and some photos of your research students in action today!
And as always, browse the RCC website for more news, resources for faculty and students, as well as important announcements, dates, and deadlines. Contact Betsy Lewis (elewis@umw.edu) to answer your questions and share your ideas!
Public Square Attendance Prep: Join the CCE Brainstorm on Feb 10th
The Public Square Debate on March 11th offers our students an opportunity to see civil discourse in action by stepping out of the classroom and into the real-world of civic engagement. We all know, though, that a line in a syllabus is rarely enough to get students through the door. To ensure our students don’t just attend, but actually engage, let’s be intentional about how we bridge the gap between curriculum and this event.
What is the Public Square Debate?
In coordination with SCHEV and as part of VA250’s commemorations of U.S. independence, Public Square debates bring together students from high schools, 2-year and 4-year colleges, and members of the broader community for a respectful exchange of ideas on timely civic questions. Using the Braver Angels format, these events invite diverse voices into a shared space—where the goal isn’t to win, but to understand. Developed by Braver Angels, a national nonprofit dedicated to reducing political polarization in the United States, Public Square debates are non-competitive and invite participation by all attendees. They use a light parliamentary format, led by a chair, to engage attendees in a respectful exchange of ideas.
The Office of Community Relations and Compliance (OCRC), in partnership with the Center for Community Engagement (CCE) and Germanna Community College, will host a “Public Square” debate on the UMW campus on March 11. The event will run from approximately 6:00-8:30pm, and participants are invited to register.
Let’s Share Ideas
Tuesday, February 10th at 3:00 PM via Zoom (registration form)
Sarah Dewees and Elizabeth Johnson-Young are hosting a Zoom session to brainstorm practical ways to encourage student attendance connect engagement to our diverse courses. The Zoom link will be sent to registered participants before the meeting.
Life After Mary Washington News
Faculty continue to play a critical role in preparing students for Life after Mary Washington, and it has been exciting to see so many instructors intentionally integrating professional development into their courses. In January, the Center for Career and Professional Development hosted the interactive workshop “Integrating Career Tools for Life After Mary Washington into Your Courses,” where faculty explored a suite of high-impact resources designed to support students’ career readiness. The workshop emphasized practical, classroom-ready strategies for embedding these tools into assignments, reflections, and experiential learning activities. If you were unable to attend—or would like to revisit the materials—you can learn more about the tools on the Center for Career and Professional Development’s Tools and Resources page.
Building on this momentum, February programming shifts to individualized faculty support. If you are looking for tailored guidance on integrating Life After Mary Washington competencies into your courses, one-on-one consultations are available. Whether you are revising an assignment, identifying competencies, incorporating tools like Big Interview, designing reflection activities, reinforcing interview preparation with the STAR Method, or planning future course updates, you are encouraged to schedule a one-on-one session with Alex Dunn, the LAMW QEP Faculty Co-Director (adunn4@umw.edu). Consider reaching out this month to secure a time and get your LAMW questions answered before she goes on maternity leave in March!
As you plan the weeks ahead, now is also an ideal time to encourage student participation in the Spring 2026 Career & Internship Fair, taking place Thursday, February 19 (with March 19 reserved as an inclement weather date), from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. in the Chandler Ballroom. This event is a powerful professional development opportunity, and faculty are strongly encouraged to promote attendance and consider building it into their courses. Pairing the fair with a brief reflection or applied assignment can help students translate the experience into meaningful career learning. Additionally, please encourage students to attend Life After Mary Washington Week, a series of events leading up to the fair that includes speed résumé reviews, elevator pitch preparation, and a professional dress pop-up boutique. More information is available at the CCPD’s Events page.
February Digital Accessibility Focus: Audio & Video
This month Digital Learning Support will focus on audio and video digital accessibility. Each week they will share tips, tools, and best practices for creating accessible media. Learn more and explore the weekly posts: Digital Accessibility Updates & Tips.
We will back on Friday, March 6th with all kinds of March Madness, including AI conference registration details and applications for Summer Small Teaching Grants.