Just-in-Time Teaching Conference

Although fall course planning has already begun, we recognize many instructors are still making course design and implementation decisions right up to the wire. To support your efforts, AdvancED is offering a variety of teaching workshops for Vanderbilt instructors right before the first day of the fall semester.

Program Details

Join our team for one or more of our Just-in-Time Teaching workshops, designed to support your course design and implementation needs.

August 21, 2023

  • Identifying Learning Goals, Objectives, and Outcomes

    Backward Design is a curriculum development approach that prioritizes student learning outcomes over content coverage. The process involves starting with the end goals in mind and working backward to design course strategies, activities, assignments and assessment criteria. Integrating student learning goals and outcomes for a course serves various purposes, including increasing student awareness of their learning and providing frameworks for course assignments and assessments. This course-design workshop will discuss how learning outcomes differ from learning goals or objectives and how to implement backward design principles and techniques into your current or future course design.

    Time | 9 - 10am CT
    Location | 1114 19th Ave South, Room #319
    Facilitator | Brian DeLevie, Associate Director

    Registration

  • An Introduction to Brightspace, Vanderbilt’s Course Management System

    In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn about Vanderbilt’s course management system, Brightspace. Bring your own laptop computer so you can explore and build content in our test course! By the end of the session, users will be able to:

    • Confidently navigate the different areas of a Brightspace course
    • Post, edit, and copy content for students using a variety of tools
    • Communicate with students about important Brightspace tools

    Time | 10:30 - 11:30am CT
    Location | 1114 19th Ave S., Classroom #319
    Facilitator | Paige Snay, Educational Technology Manager & Brittany Griffin, Instructional Design Assistant

    Registration

  • Writing in the Age of AI

    When we teach with writing, we can promote deep, transformational learning. But what challenges do ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots pose for writing’s place in our courses and assignments? In what ways might AI change how students learn to write and learn through writing? How might we adapt our educational strategies? This session with the director of the Writing Studio will tackle these questions and open a dialogue about the future of teaching writing in the age of AI.

    Time | 1 - 2pm CT
    Location | 1101 19th Ave S., Room 200
    Facilitator | John Bradley, Director of the Writing Studio

    Registration

  • Leading Classroom Discussions

    Research has found that student engagement is critical to their academic success. Effective classroom discussions can enhance student learning, foster critical thinking, and promote active participation. This interactive workshop will equip instructors with the skills and strategies necessary to effectively lead and facilitate engaging classroom discussions. Participants will explore techniques to initiate and guide discussions that promote critical thinking, reflection, and active engagement. Through hands-on activities and discussions, participants will develop practical skills to lead effective classroom discussions, manage group dynamics, address controversial topics, and encourage respectful dialogue.

    Time | 2:30 - 3:30pm CT
    Location | 1114 19th Ave S., Classroom #319
    Facilitator | Ransford Pinto, Assistant Director

    Registration

August 22, 2023

  • Improving Student Research Skills with Embedded Librarians

    Throughout the curriculum students are increasingly engaged in scholarly research with faculty, for example in first-year seminars, online courses, capstone classes, graduate courses, or in fulfilling credit for Immersion Vanderbilt. In all of these settings students benefit immensely from their opportunities to develop (multi-)disciplinary knowledge and fundamental skills of scholarly research, especially information and data literacy. In this vital work, embedded librarians can assist you by providing relevant guidance and personalized assistance for your students, ensuring greater engagement and success. This session will discuss the educational opportunities students may achieve through scholarly research in your courses, and how embedded librarians can enhance student learning.

    Time | 9 - 10am CT
    Location | 1114 19th Ave South, Classroom #319
    Facilitator | Melissa Mallon, Associate University Librarian for Teaching and Learning & Joe Bandy, Interim Director

    Registration

  • Creative Assignments for Deep Learning

    Research from a variety of disciplines suggests that creative assignments—especially multimodal assignments that feature combinations of text, video, audio, movement, or other means of communicating a message— can promote students’ deeper engagement with course content. These sorts of assignments can also promote educational equity by providing diverse students with opportunities to leverage their strengths, explore their passions, and adapt to their needs. How might instructors begin to integrate more creative, collaborative, and multimodal assignments into their syllabi? Through hands-on activities and cooperative planning sessions, workshop participants will explore how to design multimodal assignments that lean on students’ areas of expertise and interest in alignment with instructional goals. We will also discuss how to scaffold students’ ability to feel successful with creative work by structuring in small scale, low-stakes assignments over the course of the semester. Participants will be provided with resources and contacts to support them as they continue to explore innovative instructional strategies following the conclusion of the workshop.

    Time | 10:30 - 11:30am CT
    Location | 1114 19th Ave S., Classroom #319
    Facilitator | Laura Carter-Stone, Postdoctoral Fellow

    Registration

  • Inclusive Teaching

    In our increasingly diverse classrooms, it is important to support the development of every student and to structure equal opportunities for learning. Unfortunately, our teaching practices may fall short in their attempts to do this, particularly for underrepresented or more marginal student groups who may face difficulties finding belonging and engagement. Based on existing research and the experiences of Vanderbilt faculty, this workshop will discuss common challenges to inclusive teaching and strategies for creating more dynamic, participatory, and diverse learning environments. Particular attention will be given to discussion leading and leveraging student differences for more engaged and productive learning.

    Time | 12:30 - 2pm CT
    Location | 1114 19th Ave S., Classroom #319
    Facilitator | Joe Bandy, Interim Director

    Registration

Eligibility

All Vanderbilt faculty instructors are welcome to join our workshops.

Questions?

email: advanced-teaching-learning@vanderbilt.edu

call: 615-322-7290