With Fall Break in sight, we are almost to the midpoint of the semester. It’s busy in the Center for Teaching–check out opportunities and resources that are coming this month.
Faculty Spotlight: Kyle Schultz
Curious what keeps one of UMW’s 2024 award winning professors motivated and why he avoids both 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. classes? In this month’s faculty spotlight, Elizabeth interviews Dr. Kyle Schultz, Professor of Mathematics Education.
Fall 2024 Faculty Pedagogy Colloquium
Faculty Pedagogy Colloquium is a forum for faculty to share strategies and innovations in their classrooms with the larger UMW community. After presenters offer an overview of their teaching strategies or research, the audience engages in a Q&A. Due to limited seating, participants are asked to RSVP. Lunch is offered and may be requested up to two weeks before the presentations.
We are pleased to share our fall presenters–join us to hear about great teaching across campus:
“The 4Ps of Accents for Actors” with Marc Williams, Assistant Professor-Theatre & Dance
Wednesday, October 30th
12:00-1:00 PM in Seacobeck 151
Marc received a Summer 2024 Small Teaching Grant to support his attendance at the Knight-Thompson Speechwork teacher certification program in Irvine, California. In this presentation, Marc will provide an overview of traditional speech training for actors, how the Knight-Thompson approach differs from traditional practice, and share an accent analysis he created as a tool for accent coaching.
“Playing Alone: Integrating Play into Asynchronous Online Courses” with Melissa Wells, Associate Professor-College of Education
Tuesday, November 12th
12:30-1:30 PM in Seacobeck 105
Are you interested in integrating playful teaching strategies but wondering how to do so in an asynchronous online course? In this session, Melissa will share her journey of incorporating play into a recent asynchronous online course. Bring your device, questions, and ideas so we can continue to learn and play–together!
Mark your Spring 2025 calendar for these presentations–details to come later this semester:
- January 27th, 12:00 – 1:00 PM: “Minecrafting the Past: Sandbox Games and Historical Exploration” with Susan Fernsebner (History & American Studies)
- February 12th, 3:00 – 4:00 PM: “The ‘Elements’ of Success: Building Comfort and Skill in Mathematics for Future Science Courses” with Kelly Perkins (Mathematics) and Leanna Giancarlo (Chemistry and Physics)
- March 31st, 3:30 – 4:30 PM: “Creating a Sustainable Gene Editing Module for Genetics” with Ginny Morriss and April Wynn (Biological Sciences)
Grading Hour
Grading Hour is a virtual workspace for completing grading and feedback. Participants sign into Zoom, share a grading goal for the hour, and then work in two 25-minute grading sprints with a short break in between.
- Tuesday, October 8th, 3:30 PM
- Friday, October 18th, 11:00 AM
- Thursday, October 24th, 4:00 PM
- Friday, November 1st, 12:00 PM
Check your First Friday email or contact the Center for Teaching for the link.
Book Authors Group
Fridays, 3:30 – 5:00 PM via Zoom (Facilitators: Brenta Blevins and Zach Whalen)
This weekly gathering focuses on progress for any and all writing projects. Dissertations, books, grants—if it involves the need for concentrated writing, the Book Authors Group offers encouragement and accountability. This group gets results! Several books, articles, and an advance contract have developed in these weekly meetups. ALL are welcome–contact the facilitators for the Zoom link and more information.
AI Roundtable #3: Can we combat cheating with (and with) AI?
Wednesday, October 16th, 1:00 – 2:00 PM in Seacobeck 151
Join CfT and DLS for what is sure to be a spirited conversation about cheating and AI. We will consider why students cheat, the evolution and reliability of detection tools, and strategize how assignments can be designed to minimize inappropriate AI use. Teaching with AI, Chapter 6 (“Cheating and Detection”) offers one perspective on the topic and will be our common resource to jumpstart discussion.
AI Corner: Resources for Independent Exploration
- AI Roundtable Recaps are available at the UMW Learn site. Get main takeaways from AI Roundtable discussions and links to related resources. The page will be updated after each AI Roundtable.
- Curious about AI tools other than Copilot or tools that do more than generate text output? Check out this Substack post by Lance Eaton to review a ‘showcase’ and critique of newer AI tools.
- There are complex ethical issues when integrating AI into coursework. This curated set of resources from the University of Virginia’s Teaching Hub offers ideas for nuanced and purposeful AI use in classrooms. After clicking on a resource ‘bubble’, you will be taken to a page with an overview of the resource’s value and then a direct link to the article, website, or media.
October LAMW Competency: Career, Self-Development, & Professionalism
Our students demonstrate Career & Professional Development when they:
- Proactively develop themselves and their careers through continual personal and professional learning
- Have an awareness of their strengths and weaknesses
- Understand how to find and pursue career opportunities
- Network to build relationships within and beyond UMW
- Identify and demonstrate effective work habits
We can help our students develop their Career & Professional Development Skills by:
- Conducting course-related self-assessments identifying student’s strengths and weaknesses.
- Considering a “professionalism grade” to encourage students to practice important career-readiness skills (e.g., time management, preparedness, respect for classmates, participation in class discussions, etc.).
- Emphasizing skills students are using when completing assignments in your class.
- Asking students to set goals related to professionalism in your course. Revisit those goals throughout the semester and ask students to reflect on their progress.
- Showing students job boards, postings, job descriptions, and other career-related materials specific to your field.
- Assigning reflection questions during and after large class projects that focus on identifying how the skills they are using during the project can translate into experiences after graduation
- Tasking students with conducting informational interviews to learn about the culture of various organizations, the skills needed to be successful in that organization, and becoming comfortable with discussing their own experiences.
Other CfT Happenings
- New Faculty Monthly Meetup: Wednesday, October 9th at 4:00 PM in Seacobeck 151. We have a LOT to share this month, so please be on time!
- AI + Assessment Learning Community: Watch your inboxes early next week for updates and October tasks.
- NEST: Monday, October 21st at 2:00 PM in HCC 210. Contact Elizabeth with questions.
- Teaching with AI: Five copies remain and are available on a first come, first serve basis. Reach out to the Center for Teaching or stop by Seacobeck 209 to claim your copy!
- CfT Consultations: If you would like to schedule a 30-minute session (in-person or virtual) to discuss teaching solutions and ideas (AI or not–we like lots of different challenges!), use the online consult scheduler. If you can’t find a day/time that works with your schedule, reach out to CfT directly and we’ll be happy to work with you.
Look for the next First Friday post on Friday, November 1st!