UCITE Fridays
Each Friday, UCITE offers CWRU teachers--faculty, staff, post docs, and graduate student teaching assistants--opportunities to gather in an interdisciplinary space for conversations of pedagogical discovery and for the exchange of ideas. Register to reserve your spot at our pizza lunch table!
Fall 2024
UCITE Fridays take place from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Please check the location, as it will change mid-semester. Download a PDF of the dates and topics here!
September 6, 2024 | 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM | Collaboration Commons in the Freedman Center, Kelvin Smith Library
Starting the Semester Successfully: Syllabus and Course/Class Sequence
Matthew Garrett, Professor and UCITE Director
Jenny Hadingham, Instructor and UCITE Associate Director
Join UCITE to explore the role(s) of a course syllabus in helping students to learn. What is a syllabus, anyway? Do you want to create syllabi that are more useful for, and used by, your students? Do you want your syllabus to reflect your student-centered or active learning teaching approach? Are you beginning to feel like the central purpose and goals of your course are getting lost in a growing list of policies and minor details? Does your work involve supporting instructors with designing or redesigning their courses or syllabi? We'll also consider a class "template" to help students better organize taught knowledge and skills in the context of one class period.
September 13, 2024 | 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM | Collaboration Commons in the Freedman Center, Kelvin Smith Library
Civil Discourse: Part 1, Planning Ahead
Matthew Garrett, Professor and UCITE Director
Jenny Hadingham, Instructor and UCITE Associate Director
UCITE presents a series of three Friday seminars to explore strategies for constructive class conversations and civil discourse. In the opening session, we’ll walk through planning strategies for constructive conversations including identifying connections between course learning objectives and discussion activities as well as exploring ideas for establishing ground rules. Participants who complete all three Civil Discourse seminars will receive a free resource to use in planning and facilitating discussion-based classes.
September 20, 2024 | 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM | Collaboration Commons in the Freedman Center, Kelvin Smith Library
Who and What? GenAI in Teaching and Learning
Razan Badran, Teaching and Learning Designer, [U]Tech TLT
Indra Wangsawiredja, Instructional Designer/Technologist, [U]Tech TLT
UCITE collaborates with campus partners to present a series of three Friday seminars on GenAI tools in teaching and learning. [U]Tech Teaching and Learning Technologies staff members facilitate our opening session intended for those new to Generative AI. Participants will gain a general overview of generative AI technology, practice the art and science of "prompting" generative AI Chatbots (i.e., Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, etc.), and consider ethical questions around using generative AI. Participants are encouraged to share tools and ideas that have been meaningful to them and to students.
UCITE staff are away at conferences to bring more resources back to the CWRU community, so there will be no Friday programming on 9/27. In the meantime, we encourage you to take time with one, two, or more colleagues to inquire how the semester is going so far and to talk about your teaching and your students' learning. We'll see you again on October 4!
October 4, 2024 | 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM | Collaboration Commons in the Freedman Center, Kelvin Smith Library
Student Feedback: Collecting, Acknowledging, and Learning from Student Perceptions
Jenny Hadingham, Instructor and UCITE Associate Director
UCITE provides suggestions about the most effective way of soliciting student insights and feedback about their experiences of learning in your class. Our key aim in this session is to remind instructors that checking in with students at about the halfway mark of the semester can yield some constructive commentary about the course, and your teaching of it.
October 11, 2024 | 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM | Herrick Room, First Floor, Allen Memorial Library
Civil Discourse: Part 2, Facilitating Student Conversations
Matthew Garrett, Professor and UCITE Director
Jenny Hadingham, Instructor and UCITE Associate Director
UCITE continues with its series of three Friday seminars to explore strategies for constructive class conversations and civil discourse. In the second session, we'll identify specific tools that might be helpful in establishing and maintaining a respectful environment during class discussions.
October 18, 2024 | 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM | Herrick Room, First Floor, Allen Memorial Library
When and How? Assessing Student Writing in the Age of AI
Martha Schaffer, Instructor and Associate Director of Composition
UCITE collaborates with College of Arts and Sciences English faculty to explore academic writing assignments and assessments in the age of generative AI technology. Participants are encouraged to share assignments and assessment ideas that have been received well by students.
October 25, 2024 | 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM | Herrick Room, First Floor, Allen Memorial Library
Context Matters: What You Need to Know Before You Start Teaching a Course
Jenny Hadingham, Instructor and UCITE Associate Director
Jenna Bagley, Graduate Teaching Assistant, UNIV401
Context matters. Rarely is this more true than when you start your teaching career in higher education, from what you will teach, to the type of institution at which you will be teaching, to the number of students in your classes and their year of study, and so much more. Join us for an interactive session aimed at unearthing some of the fundamental knowledge that will help you to navigate the start of your teaching career.
November 1, 2024 | 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM | Herrick Room, First Floor, Allen Memorial Library
Civil Discourse: Part 3, Managing Discourse in Crisis
Matthew Garrett, Professor and UCITE Director
Jenny Hadingham, Instructor and UCITE Associate Director
UCITE concludes its series of three Friday seminars to explore strategies for constructive class conversations and civil discourse. In the third session, we'll focus on strategies to manage discussions that spin out of control or that threaten democratic learning.
November 8, 2024 | Time TBA | Herrick Room, First Floor, Allen Memorial Library
Faculty Peer Teaching Observations: Celebrating TOTEs Participants and Considering What's Next
Matthew Garrett, Professor and UCITE Director
Jenny Hadingham, Instructor and UCITE Associate Director
TOTEs Hosts, Fall 2024
UCITE invites TOTEs Week hosts and faculty observers to meet and share experiences over coffee, tea, and snacks.
November 15, 2024 | 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM | Herrick Room, First Floor, Allen Memorial Library
Why and How? Why Engage with AI and How Will AI Tools Continue to Impact Higher Education?
Matthew Garrett, Professor and UCITE Director
Jeff Capadona, Professor and Vice Provost for Innovation
UCITE collaborates with campus leadership and faculty to facilitate a final session intended for those planning to use Generative AI tools or already using Generative AI tools in their learning spaces. Participants consider the current and potential future landscape of GenAI in higher education.
November 22, 2024 | 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM | Herrick Room, First Floor, Allen Memorial Library
Teaching Matters: Start Writing Your Teaching Philosophy Statement
Jenny Hadingham, Instructor and UCITE Associate Director
Join us for an engaging conversation designed specifically for graduate students about to enter the academic job market. Aimed at developing a compelling teaching philosophy, this session will explore the key elements of a strong teaching philosophy, including how to reflect on your teaching beliefs, methods, and goals in such a way that you stand out from other job applicants. You will learn strategies to help you to articulate your pedagogical approach clearly and convincingly, with practical tips for integrating your personal experiences and academic insights. Be sure to come with questions!
December 6, 2024 | 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM | Herrick Room, First Floor, Allen Memorial Library
Reunion and Reception in the New Herrick Room
Matthew Garrett, Professor and UCITE Director
Jenny Hadingham, Instructor and UCITE Associate Director
Have you participated in a UCITE program? Do you want to collaborate with colleagues from around campus? Come to the UCITE reunion for lunch, conversation, and to admire our newly remodeled Herrick Room!