Center for Teaching and Learning Blog

Engaging and Educating Gen-Z: On Tuesday March 19, Gen-Z researcher, award-winning faculty member from Wright State Univeristy, and and Co-Author “of “Generation Z goes to College” will share with instructors and staff how expectations and preferences are changing for many of our incoming students.  Instructors who attend the keynote may also participate in facilitated conversation with the speaker, including ideas for how instruction can be adapted to better engage and connect with GenZ students. This event is sponsored by Michigan Tech Student Affairs.
Click here to register for the Keynote address at 8:30AM
Click here to register for the Facilitated Conversation Session at 11:00AM

Expo: Augmented and Virtual Reality in Teaching, Learning and Research:
A number of instructors are already putting Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) to work in their teaching and research.   This drop-in event provides everyone an opportunity to see this work already underway and interact with those involved!  Tuesday, March 26, 2:00-4:00 PM in the J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library, East Reading Room. No registration required. A summary of this work is also available at  here.

Lunch and Learn: Follow up to the Augmented and Virtual Reality in Teaching, Learning and Research Expo
As a follow up to the Expo, instructors are invited to a luncheon conversation on Friday March 29 at 12 noon,  about the future of instruction with AR and VR technologies.  We’ll brainstorm what facilities, technologies, and support might best enable these new teaching tools!
Click here to register for the lunch and learn.

Lunch and Learn: Teaching, Learning and the Entrepreneurial Mindset
Through a wide variety of programs like KEEN, Enterprise, I-Corps, and Design Thinking, an increasing number of instructors at Michigan Tech are exploring Entrepreneurial Minded Learning (EML).  While it might be tempting to think this applies only in business and engineering, instructors in a much broader set of disciplines are finding that EML improves classroom dynamics, motivation and learning.  In this flipped workshop, participants will be asked to watch short videos from Michigan Tech instructors from a variety of disciplines describing what EML is to them, how they got started, and how it has changed their teaching as well as their approach to research.  Participants will then be able to select those with whom they’d like to have a lunch discussion following a brief overview by Pavlis Honors College Assistant Dean Mary Raber.

Coffee Chat – Student Retention (Thursday, January 24, 2019, 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm)

The retention task force formed at the request of the President, has been charged with developing strategies to improve student retention and graduation rates.  The group has been examining data and has some insights, but the focus of this chat is to hear instructors’ perspectives.  What helps retain students early in their career, and what helps them graduate?  What things put them at risk for leaving Michigan Tech?  What can we, as a University, do better to help students graduate as Huskies?  Come and share your experience and provide important input to help the task force wrap up this important work! Refreshments will be available for those who register by Monday January 21, 2019  Click here to register.

LUNCHEON WORKSHOP –  Interpreting Student Feedback (Tuesday, January 29, 2019, Noon – 1:00 pm)

When end-of-course surveys are returned, instructors can be easily overwhelmed by the variance in ratings and comments.  When some students hated what other students loved, it can be hard to decide on a course of action, and harder still to understand students expectations.  In this luncheon session, we’ll discuss ways to productively parse student feedback and decide on a path for improvement.  Lunch will be available for those who register by Friday, January 25, 2019.   Click here to register.

LUNCHEON WORKSHOP –   Active Learning:  Places and Practice (Wednesday, December 5, 2018, Noon – 1:00 pm)

Many instructors have begun to implement a variety of active learning techniques. Though active learning can be done in almost any type of classroom, many people across campus have been working to expand the number of spaces more specifically designed for both high and low-tech active learning. In this lunchtime session, we’ll first explore a new resource to help connect instructors with the right space. We’ll then discuss a variety of active learning techniques and match the types of spaces that best facilitate your practice. Lunch will be available for those who register by Monday, December 3, 2018.   Click here to register.

COFFEE CHAT:  The Changing Textbook Market (Tuesday, November 6, 2018, 3:30-4:30 pm)

Several publishers have recently introduced new textbook purchasing models in an attempt to reduce costs and ensure student access. Especially since more and more books have an online component, adoption decisions can result in major cost differences and access challenges for students.  In this coffee chat, we’ll hear from several instructors who have used a new “inclusive access” model, consider other new models, and, with the help of the Campus Store staff, discuss ways Michigan Tech might react to this rapidly changing market.  Coffee and light refreshments will be provided to those who register by Friday, November 2, 2018.   Click here to register.

FACULTY BREAKFAST WITH WELBY ALTIDOR (Wednesday, November 7, 2018, 8:00-9:00 am)

Welby Altidor, former Executive Creative Director for Cirque du Soleil, will be available on Wednesday morning after Tuesday night’s lecture at the Rozsa to meet with Faculty in a breakfast Q&A session. He hopes to dive into defining the failure process and discuss how to preserve opportunities to be creative in the classroom and encourage students to have a relationship with failure instead of avoiding it. He’ll offer suggestions on how to stimulate both risk-taking and reflection in a learning process. Don’t miss this opportunity for cross disciplinary insight from an expert in managing the creative process! Breakfast will be provided to those who register by Friday, November 2, 2018.   Click here to register.

CTL INSTRUCTIONAL AWARD PRESENTATION SERIES:  ROMAN SIDORTSOV, 2018 LARGE CLASS TEACHING AWARD (Thursday, November 8, 2018, 3:30-4:30 pm)

From Global [T]issues to Global Information Literacy: Training Professionals While Educating Citizens in the Post-Truth World

In the third and final presentation of our fall award series, Roman Sidortsov, Assistant Professor of Energy Policy, will discuss his approach to teaching a mandatory large undergraduate course that covers a number of politically and socially controversial issues. His methods of engaging students in topics and concepts that are not always directly related to their areas of study can be applied throughout large and medium-size courses, which was recognized as part of the Dean’s Teaching Showcase. Formal recognition of this award will follow his presentation. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how you might innovate your own teaching, and recognize Roman’s success! Coffee and light refreshments will be provided to those who register by Tuesday, November 6, 2018.  Click here to register.

CTL INSTRUCTIONAL AWARD PRESENTATION SERIES – Cécile Piret:  “3D Printing for Mathematics Education” (Thursday, October 11, 2018, 3:30-4:30 pm)

In the second presentation of our fall award series, Cécile Piret, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, will discuss her use of 3-D printing techniques to visualize multivariable functions in teaching Calculus 3.  Her innovative approach has illustrated mathematical concepts that can be studied in unique and practical ways and was recognized as part of the Dean’s Teaching Showcase. Formal recognition of this award for Innovative and Out of Class Teaching will follow her presentation. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how you might innovate your own teaching, and recognize Cécile’s success!  Coffee and light refreshments will be provided to those who register by Monday, October 8, 2018.   Click here to register.

LUNCH AND LEARN – FASTER FEEDBACK:  ESCAPE THE GRADING GRIND WITH STUDENT PEER REVIEW  (Tuesday, October 16, 2018, Noon-1:00 pm)

Buried in grading? While students can’t grade each other, one possible way to reduce your grading load is to separate formative feedback from grading. When provided with the right resources, there’s evidence that students can provide excellent feedback and simultaneously deepen their own learning too. This “peer review” technique isn’t just limited to papers and reports, but can be used for homework of virtually all types. In this luncheon workshop, we’ll explore when peer review can work well, when it should be avoided, and how to optimize learning. Lunch will be available for those who register by Friday, October 12, 2018.  Click here to register.

FEATURED WORKSHOP – TEACHING DESIGN THINKING:  THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION (Leticia Britos Cavagnaro and Humera Fasihuddin, Stanford’s d.school)  (Friday, October 19, 2018, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm)

New technologies like blockchain, artificial intelligence and augmented and virtual reality are changing our lives — in positive, negative and often unanticipated ways — at a pace far greater than previous technological revolutions. Stanford’s “d.school” focuses on teaching “design-abilities” that help students (and all of us!) to be active participants in the challenges and opportunities ahead with the advancement of these new – and still to come – technologies.

In this interactive session, you will have an opportunity to learn some of the design skills and mindsets taught by Leticia Britos Cavaagnaro and Humera Fasihuddin, educational innovators from the “d.school”.

This workshop is sponsored by the Pavlis Honors College, the William G. Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning, and the Visiting Professor Lecturer/Scholar Series (VPLSS) which is funded by a grant to the Provost’s Office from the State of Michigan’s King-Chavez-Parks Initiative. Coffee and light refreshments will be provided to those who register by Tuesday, October 16, 2018.   Click here to register.

LUNCH AND LEARN – From Extrinsic to Intrinsic Motivation (Tuesday, September 18, Noon-1:00 pm)

Michigan Tech students are busier than ever before, and instructors often feel compelled to grade homework or other items to make sure students do them. But some worry that this kind of extrinsic motivation can promote “routine expertise” and actually reduce self-motivation and interest. Please join us for this luncheon workshop as we explore ways to carefully use extrinsic motivators to develop “adaptive expertise” and a sense of connection to build students’ intrinsic motivation. Lunch will be available to those who register by Friday, September 14, 2018.   Click here to register.

CTL INSTRUCTIONAL AWARD PRESENTATION SERIES – John Irwin:  “Assessment, and Testing, and Grading… Oh My!” (Thursday, September 20, 2018, 3:30-4:30 pm)

In the first presentation of our new fall award series, Dr. John Irwin, Program Chair in Mechanical Engineering Technology, will share his experience improving student learning through evaluation and assessment methods used in the classroom, leading accreditation efforts within his discipline, and as a leader in advancing University Assessment. Following his presentation, he’ll be recognized with the 2018 CTL Instructional Award for Curriculum Development and Assessment. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from and recognize his success! Coffee and light refreshments will be provided to those who register by Monday, September 17, 2018.  Click here to register.

STEM Education Research Workshop by Dr. Karl Smith  (Thursday, September 27, 2018, 10:00 am – Noon)

Karl Smith, one of the people who helped start the Engineering Education PhD program at Purdue University, will be on site to be inducted into the new Academy for Engineering Education Leadership. He has graciously agreed to offer a workshop for those at Michigan Tech interested in educational research in STEM fields. The session is designed both for those who have some experience and those just looking to get started. He brings over 30 years’ experience working with faculty to redesign courses to improve student learning, with a focus on cooperative learning, problem formulation, modeling, and knowledge engineering. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from his vast expertise! Coffee and light refreshments will be provided to those who register by Monday, September 24, 2018.  Click here to register.

LUNCH AND LEARN – Large Classes, New Models  (Tuesday, April 17, 2018, Noon-1:00 pm)

As students expect increasingly interactive classrooms, the traditional large lecture is being challenged by several new large-class models, some of which have already been implemented at Tech. In this flipped faculty-development workshop, participants will be asked to watch video summaries of three such innovations, then choose one or more for further discussion with the facilitators and instructors involved. The session will also include a very brief introduction to some of the technologies available for those considering new models. Lunch will be available for those who register by Friday, April 13, 2018.   Click here to register.

COFFEE CHAT – Classroom Technology  (Thursday, March 1, 2018, 3:30-4:30 pm)

Results on Michigan Tech’s annual IT satisfaction survey have climbed in recent years in almost all areas.  One notable exception is instructors’ persistently “meh” ratings with regard to classroom technology.  In this Coffee Chat, we would like to develop an understanding of the reasons for those ratings, and the expectations of instructors.  Members of IT and a new task force being formed by the Provost charged to better connect instructors with teaching spaces that work for them will be in attendance.  Come and share your thoughts about how classrooms should evolve! Coffee and light refreshments will be available to those who register by Monday, February 26th. Click here to register.

LUNCH AND LEARN – “Yes, And…” Thinking: Can Improv Inform the Learner-Centered Classroom?  (Tuesday, March 27, 2018, Noon-1:00 pm)

The seminal work in improvisational theater by Viola Spolin in the 1960’s is now being used in educational consulting by groups like The Second City.  In this workshop, participants, led by Trish Helsel from Visual and Performing Arts with the help of Mike Meyer, will consider how some of the same ideas can be applied in the higher-ed classroom.  We’ll explore how teachers and students can use techniques from improve to “co-create” lessons.  We’ll also practice some improvisational games that will stretch your creativity, improve your ability to react spontaneously, and almost certainly make you laugh! Lunch will be available to those who register by Friday, March 23rd.  Click here to register.

COFFEE CHAT – Goal 3 Global Literacy Grant Award Presentation (Thursday, March 29, 2018, 3:30-4:30 pm)

Last spring, faculty were invited to submit proposals for a grant to enhance global literacy in undergraduate courses. The grant was made available to support faculty efforts to introduce or edify global literacy content in innovative, effective, and measurable ways. Grant recipients Alex Mayer and John Gierke (GMES) will present their approach for introducing and assessing global literacy in an upper-level engineering course.  We hope you will join us! Coffee and light refreshments will be available to those who register by Monday, March 26th. Click here to register.