We are all busy at this time in the semester, students and faculty alike. Teaching may start to feel like a slog but you can spark a little energy with these ideas.

Make it Your Own: Creative Projects as Agency in Language and Literature Classes, Hub blog by Affiliate Wessam Elmeligi which might inspire, even in other kinds of classes, a creative option for a final project

Using Physical Movement to Increase Student Engagement and Learning Getting your students to move around the room, when able, makes this time of the semester easier to manage and also helps learning stick, for example with a Four Corners activity

Small changes that you can make to your teaching today James Lang's ideas about small teaching, with big impacts, are always useful to revisit

Five Tips for Engaged Lecturing You might find yourself racing to cover content but it's not enough to just say it to the students; use these tips to help them learn from lecture

Bonus Tip: If you are teaching this summer, you may be wondering about best practices for offering an accelerated course over 7 weeks. Check out this list of guidelines and research articles, Resources for Accelerated Courses, or if you are pressed for time just go straight to this worksheet from Iowa State. 

We know you are working hard in the classroom, putting together amazingly thoughtful material and fostering student engagement. Wouldn’t it be great to share your expertise either locally with your colleagues or more broadly, at a conference or in a publication? Designed to complement and enrich the mentoring around this topic already present on campus, this Zoom meeting will include:

Friday March 22nd from 12 noon to 1pm

Learn how to create accessible learning environments for first generation students. There will be opportunities for reflection on learning needs of students with disabilities and Q&A.

Zoom meeting with Hala Alazzawi -Master of Social Work candidate and DAS intern.

Wednesday March 27th from 10am-11am 

Scan QR Code to register or email disabilityservices@umich.edu

Want insights on how to approach outcomes assessment right now? Have questions about assessing your learning goals? Need a refresher on the Program Assessment template? Join the Assessment Subcommittee for the 6th Annual Assessment Week: 

March 26 - 29, 2024

Visit the Assessment Week 2024 webpage to register for the live sessions. After March 26 you can access on demand materials.

Do you want to improve your course? Join the Hub to learn about small changes that can make big impacts in your class. This invitation is for online or in-person courses.

Faculty will receive $1000 upon completion of 4 deliverables (aprox 25-40 hrs). Apply  by Mon April 8th for priority consideration.

May 6th to May 17th, 2024

This year the Hub has funds to cover registration and travel up to $750 each for 4 people for the Midwest Conference on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning [SoTL] in South Bend, Indiana on Friday, April 12th. You can read the program here - the presentations are diverse and the keynote will be excellent. We know this is a busy time but if you can fit this into your schedule, it is a chance to experience a SoTL conference and think about future presentations you might give! The conference registration is $100; the rest of the funds should be enough to cover mileage and two nights lodging. If you are interested, please apply on this short form before Monday, April 1st.

You can schedule a 30-minute or 60-minute meeting with a Hub instructional designer using our Calendly scheduler:

Questions or comments? Carla Vecchiola, cvecchio@umich.edu

Photo by Fabiano Rodrigues, other images used with permission; Teaching Tips, calendar and other icons by Icons8