Workshops and Events
Are you looking to learn new teaching practices, enhance student learning, or sharpen your teaching skills? Our events create an interactive and welcoming space where OU faculty, staff, and graduate students come together to share ideas, explore strategies, and engage in meaningful discussions. You'll find support, a sense of belonging, and a community where you can exchange teaching practices, scholarship, and ideas.
Register now or mark our events on your calendars! If you are looking for a place to share teaching practices, try out a strategy, or present scholarly teaching work join us, we welcome you to join us. Plus, don't miss the opportunity to view past events and gain insights from previous sessions.
Our events take place in 430R Kresge Library with an online attendance option, unless otherwise noted.
Click on the event title to register.
Ready to lead a session or share a workshop idea? Fill out this form, and we'll be in touch!
This series explore practical ways to support student and instructor well-being in course design and teaching practices. Led by CETL Faculty Fellow and workplace stress expert Caitlin Demsky.
Creating a Culture of Care in the Classroom
Tuesday, September 23, 3-4pm
Caring for the Whole Self: Managing Our Well-Being
Tuesday, October 28, 3-4pm
This program showcases how faculty are thoughtfully integrating and critically evaluating AI tools to help students build essential AI literacy across disciplines.
Future AI Directions at OU: An Open Discussion with Provost Fellow for AI
Facilitated by Dan Arnold (e-LIS)
Monday, September 29, 12-1pm
Designing AI-Assisted Projects: Supporting Student Research and Reasoning with Notebook LM
Facilitated by David Morrow and Claudia Grobbel (School of Nursing)
Wednesday, October 22, 12-1pm
The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) invites you to a Fireside Chat with Provost Amy Thompson — a relaxed, conversational gathering focused on teaching and learning at OU. In this informal event, the Provost will share her vision and priorities for teaching and learning - faculty are invited to bring questions, insights, and reflections from their classrooms. In-person event, held at Oakland Center, 2nd Floor Lounge by Founders Ballroom.
Fireside Chat - Provost Amy Thompson & OU Faculty in Conversation.
Monday, October 21, 1-2pm
In-person only
Teaching in Place enables faculty to use non-traditional campus locations for meaningful, engaged instruction. Held in a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces, these sessions invite faculty to reimagine where learning happens and how the physical environment can support curiosity, community, and active learning. All events are in-person only and will be held at the specified location.
The OU Biological Preserve
Facilitated by Thomas Raffel (Biological Sciences)
Tuesday, September 9, 3-4pm (Rain date: September 16, 3-4pm.)
In-person only
Campus Organic Farm (LORACS)
Facilitated by Fay Hansen (Biological Sciences)
Wednesday, September 17, 3-4pm
In-person only
Native American Heritage Site
Facilitated by Native American Advisory Committee members Megan Peiser (English), Andrea Knutson (English), and Mary Jamieson (Biological Sciences)
Wednesday, October 1, 3-4pm
In-person only
OU Art Gallery
Facilitated by Leo Barnes (Gallery Manager) and Claude Baillargeon (Art History)
Tuesday, January 20, 3:30-4:30pm
In-person only
Looking for a place to share teaching practices, try a new strategy, or present your scholarly teaching work? Be inspired by your peers—sign up to attend or lead a teaching talk by OU faculty!
Improving Students’ Reading with and without AI
Alice Horning, Professor Emerita in Writing & Rhetoric
Monday, September 15, 12-1:30pm
Teaming Up for Teamwork in STEM Classes and Beyond
Fay Hansen, Associate Professor (Biological Sciences)
Wednesday, October 8, 12-1pm
In-person only
Learn while engaging in foundational teaching practices. Essential for newer instructors but great for all faculty looking to expand their teaching skills.
The Hidden Curriculum: Demystifying the University
Facilitated by Sarah Hosch (CETL)
Wednesday, September 24, 12-1pm
In-person only
Plan for Learner Variability with Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
Facilitated by Christina Moore (CETL)
Tuesday, October 14, 12-1pm
Giving and Receiving Peer Teaching Observations with Critical Teaching Behaviors
Facilitated by Sarah Hosch and Christina Moore (CETL)
Wednesday, November 5, 3-4pm
TEACHING & LEARNING SYMPOSIUM
Welcome to our yearly event where Teaching Excellence takes root—growing ideas, building community, and advancing learning.
Find golden guidance and inspiration in a community committed to evidence-based practices that foster student success and shape the learning experience. Engage with fellow educators in meaningful discussions, explore new teaching strategies, and cultivate lasting professional connections.
2025 Teaching and Learning Symposium
Imagining Inclusive Futures through Teaching
The symposium has now concluded—thank you to everyone who participated. For those interested, the agenda remains available and includes full abstracts and detailed information about each presenter.
Missed a session or want to revisit your favorite talks? You can now watch recorded sessions on our official YouTube channel. Watch the sessions now.
Looking for slides, handouts, or other materials from the sessions? All resources provided by our speakers are available to view or download. Access the materials here.
Keynote Highlights:
- Dr. Todd D. Zakrajsek: Presented "Making Every Voice Count: Rethinking Engagement in Higher Ed," offering practical, research-informed strategies to foster inclusive participation. Emphasized the need to rethink classroom engagement by addressing barriers that prevent students—especially introverts and reflective thinkers—from contributing. Shared tools to build learning environments that support confidence, accessibility, and diverse forms of student interaction.
Faculty and Student Presentations:
- Forging Paths to Partnership - Exploring Ways to Deeper Faculty and Student Pedagogical Partnerships at OU - Cynthia Miree, Red Douglas, Payton Bucki, Dominique Hormillosa
- Engaging Student Learning with Public Service Announcement - Patricia Cameron
- Queering Curriculum: Integrating LGBTQ+ Perspectives into Teaching - Brie Desmond
- The Power of Stories: Transforming Composition I through Inclusive Storytelling and Creative Collaboration - Brittany Kelley
- Building Interactive Classrooms: Evidence-Based Strategies for Adaptive Learning and Real-World Skill Development - Sai Deepthi Yeddula
- Team Learning Outside and Inside: A Synergistic Approach to Student Engagement and Skill Development - Suzan Kamel-ElSayed
- Reviving Classroom Discussions with AI: Implementing Breakout Learning in ORG3310 - Hanna Kalmanovich-Cohen
- Starting College During COVID: Examining Whether Summer Bridge Programs Translate to a Remote Environment - VaNessa Thompson
- Reimagining Accreditation: Faculty-led Strategies for Moving Beyond Compliance - Virgina McMunn
- Eradicating Racism through Community-University Partnerships - Danielle Ligocki, Greg Bartley, Robert Martin, Chaunda Scott
- No Textbook Required: Converting courses to no-cost course materials - Julia Rodriguez
- From Static to Dynamic: Elevate Your Moodle Course with H5P - Nic Bongers
- Innovative Pathways to Inclusive Global Learning: Enhancing Accessibility and Intercultural Competence through COIL VE - Hana Moudallal
- Creating a Community of Learners through Reading - Greg Allar
- Data Talks: Evidence That Current Online Assessments Lack Integrity - Charlene Hayden
- Transparent Teaching in Three Simple Steps - Molly Gustafson
2024 Teaching and Learning Symposium
Cultivating Inclusion Through Connectivity
The 2024 symposium brought together teaching and research faculty, graduate students, and staff to explore strategies for fostering student connections with their community, classroom, and campus. The event featured engaging keynote presentations, insightful faculty talks, and discussions on inclusive and innovative teaching practices.
Keynote Highlights:
- Dr. Julie Dangremond Stanton: Shared research on metacognitive development and the academic experiences of underrepresented students in STEM.
- Birook Mekonnen: Discussed his work as a health services officer and contributions to public health emergency preparedness.
Faculty Presentations:
- How to Train Your Algorithm: Responsible AI in the Classroom — Dr. Bridget Kies
- Promoting College Readiness in Low-SES Learners — Dr. Kyeorda Kemp
- Interviews as a Learning Activity — Dr. Helena Riha
- Campus Farms: Teaching STEM Through Food and Farming — Dr. Fay Hansen
For recordings, session slides, and additional resources, view the Symposium Handout.
2023 Teaching and Learning Symposium
Over 70 people joined us throughout the day to reflect on teaching, learn about the engaging teaching work happening on our campus, and evaluating our assessment and grading practices. If you missed part or all of the day, or would like to revisit a talk or activity, look through our symposium handout, which includes links to a YouTube playlist of the day’s events plus resource documents and slides associated with each event.
From multi-week programs to shorter-term projects, our self-paced programs offer flexibility, variety and applicability to your teaching context, each with opportunities to work with a CETL team member to review work, teaching materials, and course plans.
Neurodiversity in the Classroom
This self-paced program offers learning activities that deepen our knowledge of the many ways the human mind works, understand the experiences of neurodivergent learners, and how to design inclusive learning environments accordingly. Activities include podcasts, discussion boards, worksheets, videos, and more. Those who complete at least five activities in the Neurodiversity in the Classroom eSpace can earn a certificate and earn a badge. For questions and to explore group facilitation options, contact Christina Moore at [email protected]. Watch the Neurodiversity in the Classroom series, featuring select videos from the program.
Data-Informed Decisions Using the Student Success and Equity Dashboard
This two-part program introduces the Student Success and Equity Dashboard to learn more about our student population and equity gaps, and navigate key features like the Faculty Dashboard and Oakland by the Numbers. Based on their Dashboard findings, you’ll use a self-paced guide to develop an action plan for their classroom or program by noting questions and goals informed by dashboard insights. A certificate is available upon submitting an action plan or booking an appointment to discuss the plan. All activities available in the Data-Informed Decisions eSpace.
The purpose of the Inclusive Teaching Academy is to strengthen the knowledge and understanding of inclusive and culturally responsive teaching, use data and self-reflection to inform teaching, and incorporate evidence-based, high-impact practices. See the Inclusive Teaching Academy Grad Showcase, listing all faculty participants and their action plan summaries.
For a full overview of the program's goals, structure, and learning outcomes, visit the Inclusive Teaching Academy program page.
CETL collaborates with and helps promote OU events related to teaching and learning. If you would like to add an upcoming event, please contact Christina Moore.
Teaching with Technology, Online Teaching, and Moodle (e-LIS)
e-Learning and Instructional Support offers one-hour Zoom workshops on best practices, teaching presence, and advanced tools in Moodle. View all upcoming e-LIS workshops.
From the Center for Excellence in Medical Education, OUWB School of Medicine
Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning
100 Library Drive
Rochester, Michigan 48309-4479
(location map)
(248) 370-2751
[email protected]
Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning
100 Library Drive
Rochester, Michigan 48309-4479
(location map)
(248) 370-2751
[email protected]
