EmpowerED: Enhancing Teaching Expertise Workshops
EmpowerED Workshops give practical tools and strategies for creating engaging, inclusive, and effective learning environments. Through interactive sessions, participants explore evidence-based teaching practices, develop student-centered approaches, and gain confidence in integrating technology and assessment techniques.
AI in Higher Education
In this hour-long workshop, participants will explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming higher education. The session will cover the potential of AI tools to enhance teaching, learning, and assessment, as well as the ethical considerations that come with their use. Through real-world examples and interactive discussions, participants will gain practical insights into leveraging AI to personalize learning, improve student engagement, and streamline instructional practices while critically assessing its implications for academic integrity and equity.
Schedule
TBD
Universal Design for Learning
This hour-long interactive workshop introduces Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as a framework for creating more inclusive and flexible learning environments at the college and university level. Participants will explore how to design courses that accommodate diverse learning needs by providing multiple means of engagement, representation, and action/expression. Through practical examples and discussions, attendees will leave with strategies to make their teaching more accessible, supportive, and effective for all students.
Schedule
TBD
Inclusive Teaching
This hour-long workshop focuses on fostering inclusive teaching strategies in face-to-face classroom settings. Participants will explore practical methods for creating an equitable classroom environment that respects and supports students and their learning preferences. Through discussions and activities, attendees will learn to design syllabi, facilitate discussions, and implement assessments that promote belonging and participation for all students.
Schedule
TBD
Inclusive Online Teaching
In this hour-long workshop, participants will explore strategies for creating inclusive and engaging online learning environments at the college and university level. The session will focus on practical approaches to designing accessible course materials, fostering an inclusive online community, and promoting equitable student participation. Through interactive discussions and case studies, educators will learn how to address diverse learning needs in virtual spaces, ensuring that all students feel supported and empowered to succeed in online courses.
Schedule
TBD
Rubrics and Equity-based Grading
This hour-long workshop will introduce participants to the principles of equity-based grading and the use of rubrics to promote fair and transparent assessment at the college and university level. Educators will explore how to design rubrics that align with learning goals while reducing bias and promoting student success across diverse backgrounds. Through hands-on activities and discussions, participants will gain practical tools for implementing grading practices that recognize student effort, growth, and diverse ways of demonstrating knowledge.
Schedule
TBD
Contrapower Harassment in Higher Education
This hour-long workshop will explore the concept of contrapower harassment, where individuals with less institutional power (such as students) harass those with more authority (such as faculty or staff). Participants will learn about the dynamics of contrapower harassment, its impact on college and university environments, and strategies for responding to and preventing these behaviors.
Schedule
Friday, March 20 at 10:30 am
Getting Started with the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
Curious about how to turn your classroom into a site for scholarly inquiry? This one-hour introductory workshop will help faculty explore the fundamentals of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), including how to frame meaningful research questions about student learning, identify relevant methods, and begin designing a SoTL project based on their own teaching. Participants will leave with practical resources, sample studies, and guidance for taking their first steps into SoTL.
Schedule
Wednesday, March 11 at 1:30 pm
Thursday, March 19 at 12:00 pm
Active Learning Strategies for In-Person Courses
This workshop introduces practical, research-informed techniques to increase student engagement, motivation, and retention during face-to-face class sessions. This workshop explores a range of strategies—from think-pair-share and collaborative problem-solving to structured debates and real-time polling—that can be adapted across disciplines. Participants will reflect on their current teaching practices, identify opportunities for active learning, and leave with ready-to-implement ideas. Whether teaching large lectures or small seminars, instructors will gain tools to foster deeper learning and participation.
Schedule
TBD
Active Learning Strategies for Online Courses
This workshop equips instructors with effective methods to foster student engagement and interaction in online learning environments without real-time meetings. The workshop highlights approaches such as discussion board redesign, multimedia annotations, interactive case studies, and scaffolded peer feedback to promote critical thinking and collaboration. Participants will explore how to create meaningful learning experiences that encourage active participation, even across time zones and schedules. By the end of the session, faculty will have additional strategies to make their asynchronous courses more dynamic, inclusive, and learner-centered.
Schedule
TBD
More than Passion: Crafting an Evidence-Based Teaching Statement
In this hour-long session, discover how to transform a teaching philosophy into a concise, impactful statement that resonates with committees, colleagues, and students. Learn practical techniques for reflecting on your pedagogical values and using powerful language to craft an evidence-based statement of teaching. Walk away with a strong framework for and fresh confidence in articulating what makes your teaching effective.
Schedule
Monday, March 23 at 10:30 am
Mentoring Students with Intention
In this hour-long workshop, student mentors will learn about the importance of ground rules in mentoring students – establishing rapport, confidentiality, and professional boundaries. Furthermore, participants will explore how to successfully engage in student mentorship through the lens of the GROW model, a structured approach that guides mentees from goal setting to actionable outcomes. The GROW framework highlights four key stages: identifying the mentee’s Goal, evaluating the current Reality of each goal, generating possible Options (and acknowledging Obstacles), and establishing the Will or Way forward. The session will review evidence-based practices rooted in the literature and incorporated into mentorship programs from around the country. Through real-world examples and interactive discussions, participants will gain practical insights into applying the GROW model and forging professional relationships with student mentees both inside and outside the classroom.
Schedule
Friday, April 10 at 11:00 am
Monday, April 20 at 8:30 am