Week Zero Schedule of Events

Teaching is about more than delivering content—it’s about creating meaningful learning experiences and discovering joy in the process. Join us as we explore ways to reconnect with what makes teaching rewarding and rethink how we assess student learning to foster deeper engagement, meaningful feedback, and student success. All sessions today will be in-person.

10:00-11:30 – Finding Joy in Academia
Guest Speaker, Michelle Deardorf

11:30-12:30 – Lunch

12:30-2:00 – Dare to transform how you assess learning  
Guest Speaker, Jordan King 

This session will provide you with a framework for rethinking your assignment design in a changing (and challenging!) time for teaching and learning. 

Discover practical ways to make learning more meaningful, engaging, and relevant for today’s students. From reimagining assignments for an AI world and moving beyond traditional discussion boards to fostering classroom engagement and experiential learning, we’ll explore creative approaches that connect students to content, to one another, and to the world around them. All sessions today will be virtual on Zoom.

10:00 –10:45 -- Rethink, Redesign, Reimagine: Assessing for Integrity
Explore ways to redesign assignments with AI in mind. This session will address tips for assigning in- and out-of-class writing, written and oral exams, and alternative assignments.  

11:00 –11:45 -- Everybody In: Strategies for Classroom Engagement
Discover practical strategies that encourage participation, spark discussion, build connection, and give students an active role in their learning.

1:00 –1:45 -- Learning Beyond Four Walls: The Power of Experiential Learning
Explore how campus spaces, community resources, real-world challenges, and hands-on experiences can turn course concepts into memorable learning opportunities. 

Explore teaching tools available to UTC faculty and discover creative ways to increase student engagement and connection. From polling and attendance tools to video platforms and game-based learning, we’ll discuss how technology can support meaningful learning and bring more joy into teaching. All sessions today will be virtual on Zoom.

10:00 –10:45 -- Polling Party: Finding the Right Fit for Your Classroom
Join us for a conversational overview of polling tools available to UTC faculty and discover how polls can check understanding, spark discussion, gather feedback, and encourage participation in online and face-to-face classes.

11:00-11:45 -- Present and Accounted For: Getting to Know aPlus+ Attendance
Explore aPlus+ Attendance, Canvas’s integrated tool for tracking and reporting attendance. We’ll highlight key features, attendance options, and ways to support student check-ins across different teaching environments.

1:00-1:45 -- Lights, Camera, Learning! Exploring Your Video Options
Video offers opportunities to explain challenging concepts, share demonstrations, connect with students, and extend learning beyond class time. But which video tools are available, and how might you use them? Join us for an overview of Canvas Studio and Kaltura as we discuss their features, potential uses, and considerations for teaching. We'll explore examples of how video can support communication, accessibility, student engagement, and learning in online and face-to-face courses.

2:00-2:45 -- Let's Play! Exploring Game-Based Learning
Explore game-based learning and gamification, discover how they differ, and discuss ways playful strategies can spark curiosity, encourage participation, and support learning across disciplines. 

Explore the value of General Education and discover practical ways to support successful recertification and assessment. Through engaging discussions, an interactive workshop, and shared strategies from colleagues, we’ll celebrate the impact of Gen Ed while exploring effective approaches to reviewing submissions and collecting and storing assessment artifacts. All sessions today are in-person.

10:00-10:45 - The Joy of Gen Ed: Connecting Ideas, Inspiring Learners  
Celebrate the joy and value of general education in shaping well-rounded, curious, and engaged learners. Explore how general education courses connect ideas across disciplines, build essential skills, and help students make meaningful connections between their coursework and the world around them.

11:00-12:15 - Preparing for Gen Ed Recertification
What does a successful General Education recertification submission look like? In this interactive workshop, participants will step into the role of committee members to review sample recertification materials, consider common challenges, and explore what makes a submission clear, complete, and effective. Gain practical insights into the review process and learn how to better prepare for Gen Ed recertification at UTC.

12:30-1:30 - Lunch  

1:30-2:30 - Making Assessment Work: Strategies for Collecting and Storing Gen Ed Artifacts
How can departments make collecting and storing General Education assessment artifacts more efficient and manageable? Join department heads and assessment coordinators to learn about successful processes, practical strategies, and lessons learned. Explore approaches to streamlining artifact collection and storage while supporting meaningful assessment across programs. 

Explore how campus and community spaces can extend learning beyond the classroom during a walk filled with ideas and conversation. Then, gather with colleagues for the fun, friendly competition, and delicious chili of our staff cook-off—all in the spirit of connection and joy!

10:00-11:30 – Step Outside! Finding Learning Opportunities All Around Us
Take a walk, share ideas, and discover how campus and community spaces can become extensions of the classroom. Explore ways to connect course concepts to real-world experiences and bring experiential learning into your teaching.

11:30-12:30— Spice Up Your Connections: A Walker Center Chili Cook-Off
Gather for good food, friendly competition, and great conversation. Celebrate the connections that make our teaching community special—one bowl of chili at a time.