Workshops and Seminars at the Schreyer Institute (PSU)

I have developed and conducted workshops on a variety of topics. The following is a list of interactive workshops, most of them were developed and presented in collaboration, presented at The Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence, at conferences, and at Wofford College.

Mentorship (LEAP/Schreyer Institute, 2011)

This workshop for LEAP instructors and mentors (Penn State’s Learning Edge Academic Program for first-year students), presented with Kathy Jackson, focused on attributes of effective communication and successful collaboration. Participants created their own agreements of collaboration, discussed their expectations, and reflected on their own experiences with effective and successful collaborative relationships.

Course in College Teaching (2011)

This eight-week course provided an opportunity for faculty and graduate student instructors from all disciplines to share ideas and strategies for successful teaching (led by Crystal Ramsay, co-taught by Destiny Aman and me). The course included discussion and practice sessions based on information drawn from the teaching and learning literature, as well as from the experiences of each individual participant. The course was designed to allow participants to explore successful teaching and learning as a collaborative group.

Student-Centered Discussion Training Series (2011)

This annual four-week workshop series (developed and led by Cindy Decker Raynak, co-taught by me) focuses on a discussion technique that helps students to develop reading strategies, communication skills, as well as collaborative skills. The workshop focuses on creating a positive classroom climate, developing skills needed for collaboration and critical thinking; it teaches skills needed for effective classroom discussions, and provides students with tools to manage their discussions. Instructors will practice this teaching and learning teachnique and will have time to experience and reflect on it.

Active Learning Technique to Engage Students Across Disciplines (2011)

This interactive workshop focused on teaching strategies that promote student engagement. Andria Andiliou and I introduced a variety of strategies that allow instructors from different disciplines to design engaging learning activities that align with their learning objectives. Taking into consideration different teaching methods (e.g., lecture, discussion, group work) and class variables (e.g., class size, type of course), the goal of this workshop centered on enabling participants to select strategies they can apply to engage students in deep learning.

Student Evaluations: Q&A for Graduate Students (2011)

This workshop provided an opportunity for graduate students to ask questions and discuss concerns related to students’ quantitative and qualitative evaluations of their teaching. The workshop provides ideas on how to increase the response rate and how to make sense of evaluations. In addition, mid-semester feedback, peer feedback, and CATS were discussed.

International Teaching Assistant Training/Survive and Thrive ( 2010, 2011)

This workshop was developed for international graduate students. The goal was to provide international graduate students who have little experience in the US university system with more information on expectations that students may have, but also to make them aware of the ways in which they can interact with colleagues and professor in their department. In addition, we (Andria Andiliou, Chas Brua,  I) provided instructional input concerning principles of good teaching, grading,  and classroom management. Most of all, we wanted to provide a space for international graduate students to share questions, concerns, and experiences.

Getting through the Stack: Effective Grading (2010, 2011)

This workshop presents grading as a component of integrated course design and as a tool for learning and communication. As a group, we discuss commenting strategies, advantages and disadvantages of different types of rubrics, as well as ideas for proactive policies.When we (Destiny Aman and I) conducted the workshop for the second time in the spring of 2011, we offered simultaneously face-to-face and through the video system.

Professional Development for Graduate Students who Teach: E-Portfolios (2010, 2011)

This workshop presented e-portfolios as a tool for graduate students to document their development as professionals, to demonstrate their learning, and to reflect on their growth in research and teaching.  Andria Andiliou and I provided an introduction to e-portfolios as a tool to document your development, reflect on your role, and to present yourself to your field. The workshop prompted attendees to consider potential content materials in areas such as curricular development and assessment, to reflect on their teaching philosophy, and to think about evidence they can collect to demonstrate teaching effectiveness.

Planning your Course without loosing your Mind (2010, 2011)

An interactive workshop, presented with Andria Andiliou, focused on how to plan a course, write a syllabus, identify learning objectives, and create assignments that target those objectives and assess how well students have learned. The session also left room to discuss how to prepare for the first day of class.

Beyond the Basics of Course Design (2010, 2011)

A follow-up workshop to “Planning your course.” This workshop, presented with Andria Andiliou focused on lesson planning. It addressed topics such as developing a lesson plan, engaging teaching methods, classroom assessment techniques, classroom management, and gathering mid-semester feedback from students to create better learning opportunities.