Piedmont Region Teaching & Learning Hub

How To Utilize Community as Context

• Date: February 8, 2023
• Time: 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
• Description: Community is defined here as the social context of students within the learning environment; we will explore the importance of building community within the learning environment to support STEM-focused courses and programs. When designed well, learning communities have been shown to be powerful levers for supporting motivation and learning. With community, we go beyond learning facts and skills; instead, we collectively devise and make meaning, enriching the learning experience for all, including faculty. It requires community members to interact meaningfully and with the intention to deepen understanding. This workshop will provide best practices and strategies for designing, developing, and supporting community with a specific focus on STEM as a catalyst for student engagement and success.
• Register: How to Utilize Community as Context

Building an Empathic Classroom

• Date: February 13, 2023
• Time: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
• Description: We live in a hyper-polarized society. If you teach humanities, religion, political science, or even history, you may think considerate conversations are a thing of the past. Students bring bias and baggage and are not afraid to share them. Such personalities make conversations and learning difficult. Join us for a session devoted to teaching students the value of empathy. Leave rejuvenated and ready to tackle even the toughest topics in your classroom.
• Register: Building an Empathic Classroom

Becoming Trauma Informed

• Date: March 2, 2023
• Time: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
• Description: Trauma is widespread. It is an important topic for professionals in higher education because a student’s history of trauma influences their learning capacity. The negative effects of trauma can interfere with a student’s persistence and completion. Trauma also results in fear, mistrust, and inflexibility. Faculty and staff who are aware of trauma and its effects can better recognize them among their students and create a safer environment.
• Register: Becoming Trauma Informed

Equitizing the Syllabus II

Managing “Controversial” and “Hot” Topics in Discussions

• Date: March 21, 2023
• Time: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
• Description: This workshop will provide best practices in effective and engaging online and in-person discussions. Topics will include best practices in crafting and implementing engaging discussions, as well as how to lead and moderate controversial and hot discussion topics through an equity-minded and trauma-informed lens. This session will model an interactive and engaging environment for attendees, offering key takeaways for technology-enhanced discussions.
• Register: Managing Controversial and Hot Topics in Discussions

10 Ways to Help Alternative Learners Succeed in Your Classroom

• Date: March 29, 2023
• Time: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
• Description: Do you have students who struggle with anxiety, focus and attention, and executive function? Wonder how to motivate students who seem unmotivated or shut down when assignments get tough? Celebrate Calm Founder Kirk Martin will give you 10 practical ways to help students overcome anxiety, spark their internal motivation, learn how to follow through and push through tough assignments, including writing projects. Come learn how their brains work differently and how you can help these students.
• Register: 10 Ways

Holistic Student Supports (for faculty & staff)

• Date: April 12, 2023
• Time: 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
• Description: Cultivating a culture of academic excellence requires that we simultaneously cultivate a culture of caring and mattering as leaders and educators for equity. In this session, you will engage in key evidence-based practices and data-informed decision-making to foster equity in holistic student support. Key student development theories will be applied to practice to help faculty and staff embrace the 2nd cornerstone of teaching and learning excellence, which promotes strong, collaborative partnerships through “shared efforts to cultivate learning and support student success”. Please join us for cross-collaborative training that will help your team break down silos and bring Academic Affairs Faculty and Student Success/Affairs/Services teams together to enhance teaching and learning excellence while promoting holistic student support and success for your students.
• Register: Holistic Student Supports