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  We are sending you a recap of the week in all things teaching and learning. These notes will share timely teaching tips, recent pedagogical scholarship, teaching events on and off campus, and Hub blog posts. Use this form to unsubscribe.

As we move into the second/third week of the semester, students are beginning to establish routines and develop expectations for your course expectations, learning environment, and teaching approach. This is a great opportunity to reinforce course routines, build classroom community, and help students connect their learning to course goals.

Creating a positive learning environment early in the semester can help students feel more connected, motivated, and confident in their ability to succeed! Consider taking a few minutes this/next week to check in with students, clarify expectations, and create opportunities for meaningful participation. Here are the strategies to consider for your class: 

Thursday, September 10th, 11am-12pm, virtual

Hosted by Carla Vecchiola

This session explores assignments where students don't rely on GenAI to do their thinking for them. If you already have assignments that are working, bring them along. After hands-on exploration time, we will have time for conversation and strategy sharing. If you attended last March, feel free to join again. The resources will be similar, but you can try a different path. It's always valuable to talk with other faculty about assignments that keep student thinking and human connection at the center.

Wednesday, September 16th, 12pm - 1pm, virtual

Hosted by Belen Garcia

Have you had challenges when your students work in groups? There are many benefits when students work together in small groups. However, it is not always easy for students to work together. Group work can be incorporated into your class in different levels from the occasional active learning activity all the way to semester-long projects. There are some strategies to help students be more effective when working in groups; for example planning is essential. Come to this session to start brainstorming about incorporating group work or bring your tips if you have successfully done it in your class.

Wednesday, Sep 23rd, 11:00am - 12:00pm, virtual

The Open Education Committee is inviting you to attend a faculty panel discussion about Open Education Resources (OER). OERs have been released under a creative open license that make them free and are usually in a digital format that allows easily sharing them with others. Join us for a conversation about the benefits of teaching with course materials that are not behind a paywall. We will explore challenges and opportunities about incorporating (OER) in your class.

UM-Dearborn has several OE grants available to all faculty and the panelists will share their experiences with these grants.

Panelists:

Join us for the in-person Digital Accessibility Day on October 26, 2026! We are excited to welcome accessibility experts and colleagues from UM-Flint, U-M Ann Arbor, and Michigan State University to share practical tools, expert insights, and best practices for building more accessible and inclusive learning environments. 

Mark your calendar, more details and information coming soon!

Wednesday, September 16, 4:10 - 4:40 p.m., virtual

Join author Sarah Silverman as she introduces key concepts from her new book, Classroom Mindscapes: An Introduction to Neurodiversity for Educators. This webinar will explore the foundations of neurodiversity, its connection to disability and inclusive education, and practical strategies educators can use to better support neurodivergent students in higher education. A live Q&A session will follow the presentation.

Friday, September 18, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., in-person. Lunch and refreshments will be provided for attendees.

Are you interested in fostering resilience, empathy, and emotional wellness in your classroom? The Center for Teaching Excellence and Innovation at Henry Ford College extends an invitation to the UM-Dearborn community for an upcoming mini-conference on Social Emotional Learning (SEL). Come to join, learn, and connect!

Our contact page includes multiple ways to reach out to us, including videoconferences, email consultations, and even a form to request support if you aren't sure who to work with.

Questions or comments? Contact Chen Wang at cwanga@umich.edu

Photo by Marjon Besteman from Pixabay; all icons by Icons8