Penn State University

Events

How to Plan a Class Session
Facilitated by Chas Brua, Associate Research Professor and Alia Shalaby, Graduate Instructional Consultant
Wednesday, 9/3/2025, 10:10 a.m. - 11:25 a.m.
Via Zoom

Chas (portrait)

In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore practical strategies for planning individual class sessions, with special attention to the alignment of learning objectives, assessments, and learning activities.

Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 45 minutes before the workshop begins.

Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the access provided, please contact the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence at SITE@psu.edu or call 814-863-2599 at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the program to allow sufficient time to effectively meet your access needs.

Making Sure Disruptions Don't Derail Students' Learning
Facilitated by John Elia, Graduate Instructional Consultant
Thursday, 9/4/2025, 10:35 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.
Via Zoom

Portrait John Elia

Disruptive situations can occur in any course. In this interactive workshop, we’ll discuss ways to create a climate where disruptive behavior is less likely to occur--and to get the learning back on track when it does.

Registration will close one hour before the workshop begins. Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 45 minutes before the event begins.

Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the access provided, please contact the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence at SITE@psu.edu or call 814-863-2599 at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the program to allow sufficient time to effectively meet your access needs.

Making Sure Disruptions Don't Derail Students' Learning
Facilitated by John Elia, Graduate Instructional Consultant and Alia Shalaby, Graduate Instructional Consultant
Tuesday, 9/9/2025, 10:35 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.
Via Zoom

John Elia (Portrait)

Disruptive situations can occur in any course. In this interactive workshop, we’ll discuss ways to create a climate where disruptive behavior is less likely to occur--and to get the learning back on track when it does.

Registration will close one hour before the workshop begins. Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 45 minutes before the event begins.

Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the access provided, please contact the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence at SITE@psu.edu or call 814-863-2599 at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the program to allow sufficient time to effectively meet your access needs.

An Introduction to Active Learning
Facilitated by John Elia, Graduate Instructional Consultant
Wednesday, 9/10/2025, 10:10 a.m. - 11:25 a.m.
Via Zoom

Portrait John Elia

This interactive workshop offers participants a first look at active learning and how active learning can be used in the classroom. Participants will build their understanding of what active learning is, how to effectively use active learning, and methods and techniques to leverage active learning in their own teaching/TAing.

Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 45 minutes before the workshop begins.

Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the access provided, please contact the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence at SITE@psu.edu or call 814-863-2599 at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the program to allow sufficient time to effectively meet your access needs.

Course in College Teaching (Fall 2025)
Facilitated by Chas Brua, Associate Research Professor and John Elia Graduate Instructional Consultant
Thursday, 9/11/2025 to Sunday, 11/30/2025, 01:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Via Zoom

Portrait Chas BruaPortrait John Elia

The Course in College Teaching (CCT) provides an opportunity for faculty, graduate students, and postdoc instructors from all disciplines to collaboratively explore effective teaching and learning. This free, non-credit course includes discussion and practice based on information drawn from the teaching-and-learning literature, as well as from the teaching experiences of individual participants.

The Fall 2025 Course in College Teaching will be held remotely from September 11 through October 30. Five of the sessions will be held synchronously in Zoom on Thursdays from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Three other sessions will be asynchronous in Canvas.

In order to receive the course completion certificate, participants must attend at least four of the synchronous sessions and complete all assignments and activities, including asynchronous work.
   
Assignments include the following:

-- Leading 2 synchronous "micro-teaches" (each is a 10-minute teaching session) and writing brief reflections on those experiences
-- Completing weekly assigned, brief readings
-- Participating in asynchronous discussions and other activities online

To apply: https://tinyurl.com/CCT-Fall-2025
   
The application deadline is September 1, 2025. Space is limited.

Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the access provided, please contact the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence at SITE@psu.edu or call 814-863-2599 at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the program to allow sufficient time to effectively meet your access needs.

How CIRTL Can Benefit Grad Students and Postdocs
Facilitated by Chas Brua, Associate Research Professor
Friday, 9/12/2025, 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 pm
Via Zoom

Portrait Chas Brua

Penn State is part of the international CIRTL Network, which focuses on preparing the next generation of faculty to teach effectively. Join us for this brief overview of how CIRTL programming—both at Penn State and through the 45-university network—can help grad students and postdocs to 1) strengthen their teaching skills and 2) document their professional development through CIRTL certification.

Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the access provided, please contact the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence at SITE@psu.edu or call 814-863-2599 at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the program to allow sufficient time to effectively meet your access needs.

AI Decision Points: Especially for Grad Students and Postdocs Who Teach
Facilitated by Chas Brua, Associate Research Professor
Wednesday, 9/17/2025 to Friday, 10/17/2025, 10:10 p.m. - 11:25 a.m.
Via Zoom

Portrait Chas Brua

In this interactive workshop especially for graduate students and postdocs, we'll explore decisions that instructors confront in relation to AI: when (or whether) to encourage students to use AI in a course; when (or whether) to constrain students from using AI; and how to communicate clear guidance and rationales to students.

Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 45 minutes before the presentation begins.

Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the access provided, please contact the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence at SITE@psu.edu or call 814-863-2599 at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the program to allow sufficient time to effectively meet your access needs.

Feeling Confident and Comfortable in a U.S. Classroom (Especially for International TAs)
Facilitated by Alia Shalaby, Graduate Instructional Consultant, Jose Sandoval-Llanos, Graduate Instructional Consultant and Meredith Doran, Director of EPPIC and Associate Teaching Professor of Applied Linguistics
Tuesday, 9/23/2025, 10:35 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.
Via Zoom

Meredith Doran (Portrait)

International instructors and TAs might sometimes find it challenging to navigate the attitudes and values inherent in U.S. undergraduate education. In this interactive workshop, we'll explore practical strategies that international instructors/TAs can implement.

Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 45 minutes before the workshop begins.

Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the access provided, please contact the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence at SITE@psu.edu or call 814-863-2599 at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the program to allow sufficient time to effectively meet your access needs.
   

Identities We Inspire in Our Students
Facilitated by John Elia, Graduate Instructional Consultant
Wednesday, 9/24/2025, 10:10 a.m. - 11:25 a.m.
Via Zoom

Portrait John Elia

Do you view the people in your classroom as students ... or as learners? As those there for the grade ... or as those who will become future colleagues? In this workshop, we will discuss and investigate the ways we can nurture positive, productive identities in our students. We will explore topics such as identities, their effect on students’ experience in the classroom, and ways that we as teachers can play a role in identity development.   

Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 45 minutes before the workshop begins.

Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the access provided, please contact the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence at SITE@psu.edu or call 814-863-2599 at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the program to allow sufficient time to effectively meet your access needs.

Getting Started with Teaching and Learning Scholarship
Facilitated by Laura Cruz, Research Professor
Thursday, 9/25/2025, 10:35 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.
Via Zoom

Portrait Laura Cruz

Have you ever considered publishing on your teaching and learning practice? In this interactive workshop, you will learn more about what Teaching and Learning Scholarship (also called SoTL) is, how you can integrate it into your scholarly work, and reasons why you might want to. During the session, you will have the opportunity to explore new and existing research in your discipline while also getting a head start on potential projects of your own.

Registration will close one hour before the event starts. Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 45 minutes before the event.

Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the access provided, please contact the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence at SITE@psu.edu or call 814-863-2599 at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the program to allow sufficient time to effectively meet your access needs.

How CIRTL Can Benefit Grad Students and Postdocs
Facilitated by Chas Brua, Associate Research Professor
Friday, 9/26/2025, 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Via Zoom

Portrait Chas Brua

Penn State is part of the international CIRTL Network, which focuses on preparing the next generation of faculty to teach effectively. Join us for this brief overview of how CIRTL programming—both at Penn State and through the 45-university network—can help grad students and postdocs to 1) strengthen their teaching skills and 2) document their professional development through CIRTL certification.

Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 45 minutes before the presentation begins.

Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the access provided, please contact the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence at SITE@psu.edu or call 814-863-2599 at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the program to allow sufficient time to effectively meet your access needs.

Teach to Reach with Universal Design for Learning
Facilitated by Mary Ann Tobin, Associate Research Professor and Lauraine Hawkins, Assistant Professor of Biology, Penn State Mont Alto
Monday, 9/29/2025 to Friday, 10/31/2025, 08:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Canvas - Teach to Reach with Universal Design for Learning

Portrait Mary Ann Tobin

In this four-week, entirely asynchronous online course, participants draw upon their own teaching or learning design experience and their existing, basic understanding of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to generate and respond to discussions, create an instructional activity inspired by UDL, and provide feedback on their peers’ activities.

The course is open to faculty of any rank or status, teaching assistants, post-doctoral instructors, and members of the learning design community with existing teaching or learning design experience and a basic understanding of UDL. 

Visit https://www.schreyerinstitute.psu.edu/teachtoreach for eligibility requirements.

To register, complete our enrollment survey at https://tinyurl.com/RegisterTTR. Participants will be notified via email approximately one week prior to the start of the course.

Penn State University