LEARN Center - summer opportunities
Whew! We’ve almost made it. I know you’ve all worked hard this semester to provide the best opportunities for student learning in this extremely unusual and trying year. From the pandemic to protests over police force and racial inequalities to an increasing political divide, we’ve all dealt with disruptions and stress and found ways to carry on. I appreciate all that you’ve done. As we move into this summer, I hope you all find time to relax and reconnect with joy. To help you reconnect with the joy of teaching, we have several opportunities for you to engage with your colleagues this summer to reflect on the past year and look ahead to a fuller return to campus.
Upcoming summer opportunities
- UW-Whitewater’s Celebrating Teaching and Learning Conference is back this year in a digital format on May 19 starting at 10 a.m. with a workshop led by our Equity Ambassadors. Then join in the afternoon for sessions with this year’s finalists for the 2021 Cisco/Presidio Teaching with Technology Innovator award.
- UW System’s Faculty College is also back this year in a digital format and is open to all UW educators (despite what the name implies!). Join your System colleagues for discussions on equity-minded wellness and pedagogy on May 24-27. The sessions on May 24 and 25 will focus on equity-minded wellness with keynote and sessions led by speakers from the Steve Fund, the nation’s leading organization focused on supporting the mental health and emotional well-being of young people of color. May 26 and 27 will focus on equity-minded pedagogy with a keynote and discussions led by Dr. Stephen Brookfield. Dr. Brookfield is a professor at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota and the author of nineteen books on teaching and learning.
- More information and link to register: https://www.wisconsin.edu/opid/faculty-college-2021/
- The LEARN Center and the LTC are partnering up for a couple of opportunities to learn (or learn more) about HyFlex teaching.
- The first session (May 25 at 1 p.m.) will feature UW-W instructors sharing their experiences with HyFlex instruction this past year. More information and registration here: https://my.uww.edu/SignUp/Registration/Details?id=16798
- The second event is a two day workshop on HyFlex course design. On the first day (May 26 at 1 p.m.), you’ll learn about HyFlex course design and discuss example lesson plans from UW-W instructors and other schools to help you design your own HyFlex lesson plan for a day, week, module, or whatever length you choose. On the second day (June 3rd at 1pm), you’ll engage in a peer review process to get feedback on your lesson plan and see what other instructors have created. More information and registration here: https://my.uww.edu/SignUp/Registration/Details?id=16805
- After last year’s inaugural attempt, we will once again be forming some faculty and staff summer writing groups. Based on the feedback from last summer, these groups will primarily focus on accountability. If you’re looking for a like-minded group of people to help you meet your summer writing goals, sign up here - https://forms.gle/w6TjRX6dBa4wAR899
- Following the success of last summer’s book group, we’ll be offering a new discussion group this summer. Rather than using a single book, we’ll be using a combination of articles, podcasts, and webinars to focus on the topic of “Moving ahead - leaning into the transition back to campus”. Join us to reflect on what we've learned from the last year that could help as we transition back to more in-person instruction and interactions. We'll also discuss the new challenges that we (and our students) will face as we try to adjust once again to a new learning environment. The group will meet every Tuesday at 10am, from June 15 through July 20. Registration - http://my.uww.edu/SignUp/Registration/Details/16806
Looking ahead to Fall
- I’m in need of some book group facilitators! Do you enjoy engaging conversations with your colleagues? Do you like to read (or need a reason to start that book that’s been sitting on your reading list)? If so, this is your opportunity to join the ranks of LEARN Center book group facilitators! I have book options in mind (see list below) but I’d also love to hear your suggestions. Facilitators choose the day and time of the sessions, communicate with participants, and guide the discussions. The LEARN Center takes care of the rest! We’re hoping to offer hybrid sessions this fall with participants able to join in-person or remotely.
- Distracted: Why Students Can’t Focus and What You Can Do About It - James Lang
- Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice that Shapes What We See, Think, and Do - Jennifer Eberhardt
- The Undergraduate Experience: Focusing Institutions on What Matters Most - Peter Felten et al
- Fact vs Fiction: Teaching Critical Thinking Skills in the Age of Fake News - Jennifer LaGarde and Darren Hudgins
- SoTL in Action: Illuminating Critical Moments of Practice - Nancy Chick, ed.
Watch for more opportunities to engage with our UW-W teaching community this summer and fall, including more workshops, book groups, and thematic discussion groups. If you have ideas for additional programming or any questions, please reach out through email (pelzelh@uww.edu) or our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/uwwlearn). I love to hear from you!
Heather
Heather R. Pelzel, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Biology
Director, UW-Whitewater LEARN Center
Co-director, Wisconsin Teaching Fellows and Scholars Program
262-472-5134
Pronouns: she, her, hers