Fundamentals

Fall 2020 Fundamentals Workshop Schedule

The Fundamentals Workshop Series covers the indispensable skills for effective classroom teaching and is part of the Certificate in University Teaching and Learning program, but all are welcome to participate! In an effort to accommodate your schedules, we offer two identical sessions on different dates for each workshop.

Due to COVID-19 and the move to remote work and learning, the workshops are set to be facilitated via Zoom. 

To register for a workshop, click on the session you want to attend. After you register, we will send you a calendar invite with the Zoom link.

Transparency to Enhance Student Success

Transparency in teaching is the practice of explicitly sharing with students the how and why of course assignments. Research suggests that being more transparent with students can significantly increase their motivation to learn, academic confidence, sense of belonging and learning, especially in underserved students. In this workshop, we will explore and practice using the evidence-based transparency guide created for developing, explaining, and discussing assignments in any course, in any modality. NOTE: To help you practice applying transparent design principles, please bring with you the description of an existing or future course assignment.

Facilitated by Ileana Hernandez, Assistant Director, Center for the Advancement of Teaching

Fulfills Certificate Requirement: Syllabus and Course Design or Elective

Tuesday, September 22, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, September 23rd, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Employing the Three-Staged Approach to
Effective Backward Course Design

Backward Design is a course-planning framework that creates meaningful learning experiences by carefully aligning learning objectives, assessments, and learning activities so they support and reinforce each other. During this interactive workshop, participants will learn about and practice using the three-staged approach to Backward Design, a process that helps educators teach in a more goal-focused and effective way while better engaging students and increasing learning and success.

Facilitated by Shenira Perez, Assistant Director, Center for the Advancement of Teaching

Fulfills Certificate Requirement: Syllabus and Course Design or Elective

Wednesday, October 7th, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 8th, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Equity Gaps in FIU Classes and Inclusive
Practices to Address Them

Why do we find persistent differences in course passing rates by race, gender, or other characteristics? How can we change these patterns and support equity in our classes? More than 40,000 students have responded to Student Perceptions & Behaviors surveys in FIU courses. These data reveal that students experience their courses differently in ways that can contribute to disparate outcomes. In this workshop, we'll explore survey data that identifies some of the significant differences and introduce inclusive practices that can help to close these equity gaps.

Facilitated by Tekla Nicholas, Senior Statistical Researcher, Analysis & Information Management

Fulfills Certificate Requirement: Culturally Responsive Teaching or Elective

Wednesday, November 4th, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Thursday, November 5th, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.