Seminars for Excellence in Teaching

Since 2008, the Academy for Teaching and Learning has hosted a series of one-hour Seminars for Excellence in Teaching (SET) to help colleagues meet the historic expectations of excellence in teaching at Baylor. For new Teachers of Record (TOR), SET satisfy SACS requirements for professional development in teaching. For more experienced TOR, SET facilitate the sharing of ideas and insights about teaching and learning today and encourage participants to renew their commitments to inspirational teaching. SET are also a valuable resource in the preparation of graduate student Teachers of Record.

All members of the Baylor community are invited to attend SET in accord with our core commitments to seek learning and apply knowledge and to pursue excellence through continuous improvement.

**Online and hybrid SETs are recorded; if you cannot attend but would like to view the recording, please register, and a link to the recording will be sent to you**

Fall 2024 SETs

Socially Dependent Learning - Thursday, September 5, 12:30pm

Christopher Richmann (Academy for Teaching and Learning)

video

We often think of learning in individualist terms, but a community-rich model of teaching may be more fruitful for many reasons: students naturally learn from one another; instructors can help students develop interpersonal skills useful in professional and civic life; and “knowing” itself is a group phenomenon. This session presents efforts to design a course around “socially dependent learning,” that is, students deeply relying on each other for both learning and demonstrating learning. Following reflections on the results of this experiment and lessons learned, participants will be encouraged to imagine ways to cultivate socially dependent learning in their own courses.

Making Course Materials Affordable - Monday, September 16, 10:00am

Affordable Course Materials Summer Fellows

Monday, September 16, 10:00-11:00am

In person only: Moody 104 (Active Learning Lab)

Many instructors take for granted that a college course requires students to purchase a textbook or several smaller texts. Increasingly, however, college faculty have come to recognize the untenable costs and the pedagogical restrictions imposed by our traditional choices of course materials. This summer, several Baylor faculty participated in the Affordable Course Materials Fellows Program, exploring the possibilities for adopting, adapting, or creating no-cost and low-cost course materials that better meet course learning objectives. Participants in this session will learn how these instructors changed a range of courses from Great Texts to Music and be encouraged to explore alternatives in their own classes and apply for next year’s fellowship.

Neurodivergence and the College Classroom - Monday, September 23, 2:30pm

Tonya Davis (Educational Psychology)

Sammi Fichter (Office of Access and Learning Accommodations)

Devan Stahl (Religion)

Monday, September 23, 2:30-3:30pm

Video

Neurodiversity is increasingly a topic of interest in education. But aside from soundbites, many instructors have little familiarity with this concept or how it might impact their teaching as well as their students’ learning. This session will host a panel of experts to discuss the meaning of neurodiversity from biological, ethical, behavioral, and legal perspectives. The panel will address the relationship of neurodiversity to concepts like “disorder” and “disability,” and the roles of instructor, institution, and students in fostering learning, including inclusive and hospitable learning environments for neurodivergent students. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of this varied phenomenon as well as action steps for improved instruction and student interaction.

The Power of Compassionate Classroom Norms - Thursday, October 3, 2:00pm

David Jortner (Theatre Arts)

Sarah Mosher (Theatre Arts)

Thursday, October 3, 2:00-3:00pm

Hybrid Event
In person: Jones 200 (Dennis Campbell Flexible Learning Space)
Online: Zoom link will be sent to registrants

video

A healthy learning environment entails awareness of student experiences while also establishing reasonable expectations and boundaries. In this session, presenters will share their practices for establishing habits for both instructors and students that contribute to the benefit of all. While rooted in compassion, these habits also build trust. Such compassionate classroom norms embolden students to take risks and support each other’s learning.

Reducing Stress in Teaching - Monday, October 7, 2:30

Jane Haas Damron (Communication)

Monday, October 7, 2:30-3:30pm

Hybrid Event
In person: Moody 104 (Active Learning Lab)
Online: Zoom link will be sent to registrants

video

Faculty work presents myriad worthy causes for investing one’s time and energy. All of these are related to or in some way impact our teaching. This session will provide guidance on approaching the manifold options and responsibilities of faculty life with efficiency, integrity, and peace. Become a better colleague and teacher by aligning your “yeses” with your goals and priorities, setting and holding boundaries, simplifying and streamlining processes like hosting office hours and writing recommendation letters, and anticipating and recovering from burnout. Participants will engage in conversation about healthy shifts they could make immediately.

Learning in the Community - Friday, October 18, 2:30pm

Colbey Humphrey (Political Science)

Jodien Johnson (Sociology)

Friday, October 18, 2:30-3:30pm

Hybrid Event
In person: Moody 104 (Active Learning Lab)
Online: Zoom link will be sent to registrants

Instructors and students are accustomed to the rhythms and habits of learning in classrooms. We know, however, that this is not the only environment for learning. Like any environment, classrooms have affordances but also limitations. In this session, faculty teaching Engaged Learning courses will discuss what and how students learn when a significant portion of their experiences involve interacting with places and people of the local community. Participants will leave with ideas for expanding their own pedagogy through “learning in the community” opportunities.

AI-Conscious Teaching - Friday, November 1, 2:30pm

Jill Cornish (Modern Languages and Cultures)

Emilie Cunnigham (Medical Humanities)

Scott Cunningham (Economics)

Emily Clark (Museum Studies)

Friday, November 1, 2:30-3:30pm

Hybrid Event
In person: Moody Library 104 (Active Learning Lab)
Online: Zoom link will be sent to registrants

In many teaching situations, generative artificial intelligence can enhance learning. Activities or assignments incorporating AI can hone higher-order thinking, stimulate interest, and boost creativity. In this session, instructors will share concrete examples of how they have brought AI into their teaching in a range of courses, reflecting on its benefits and challenges. Participants will gain ideas for using AI to enrich and extend learning for their students.

Learning from Students: What Peer Instructors Can Teach Us about Effective Instruction - Thursday, November 7, 12:30pm

Thursday, November 7, 12:30-1:30pm

Hybrid Event:

In person: Moody Library 104 (Active Learning Lan)

Online: Zoom link will be sent to registrants

Instructors often have limited perspectives on how students effectively prepare for learning, study, and achieve understanding. For many Baylor courses that are high-enrollment or historically challenging, students have support in their learning through the Supplemental Instruction program. Beyond offering students assistance in learning, this program also provides distinct insight into how students learn, especially when the material is difficult. In this session, participants will hear directly from experienced student supplemental instructors about what works for student learning, how students engage with material, and what instructors can learn for helping their students—whether they have a supplemental instructor or not.