We hope you had a restful Thanksgiving break and are gearing up for the final weeks of the semester! We have some final events and resources to help you close out 2025 and look ahead to 2026. Read on for:
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- Snacks and coffee to power your end-of-semester grading
- Resources for Blackboard just in time for final grades and spring prep
- Ideas for end-of-semester reflection with students or on your own
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Deadline extended!
Apply for CDI: Semester by December 10 |
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Are you designing or redesigning a course in response to the current teaching and learning context? Consider applying to the new version of the Course Design Institute (CDI), which will run from January to March 2026. CDI: Semester is structured to spread out participants’ learning and provide a format more accessible to faculty who aren’t able to commit to the week-long institute that happens every May.
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Just as in the original CDI, which has run for 11 years and engaged over 400 GW faculty, participants in CDI: Semester will walk away with:
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- A plan for your course, including a draft syllabus, assignments, and activities
- Experiences with active learning and understanding of learning-centered design
- Access to a resource-packed Blackboard site
- A community of faculty and staff for ongoing feedback and support
- A $500 stipend upon successful completion of all program elements
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The application deadline has been extended and is now open until Wednesday, December 10, at 11:59 p.m. Interested but can’t make the scheduled times? Contact us at teaching@gwu.edu to discuss how we can support your course design work.
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| Join us for an end-of-semester grading party! |
Wednesday, December 10, 9:30–11:00 a.m., Gelman 100
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Need to power through final grading or semester wrap-up tasks? Want a change of scenery from your office? Join us for an open working session with complimentary coffee and snacks in Gelman Library. Get focused work done, connect briefly with CTE staff for quick questions, and enjoy a supportive, shared space. Finish strong with us!
We appreciate your RSVP by December 9 so so we can plan our coffee and snacks order. The event is drop-in, so feel free to show up for all or part of the time!
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Discuss with colleagues how AI has impacted your assignments |
Monday, December 8, 1:00–2:00 p.m. on Zoom
Friday, December 12, 11:00–12:00 p.m. on Zoom
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Join the final meetings of our Community of Practice: Designing for Student Learning in the Age of AI, a collaborative space for GW educators to share and receive feedback on modifications to their courses and assignments in response to AI. In these two open-ended sessions, we will discuss lessons learned from our experiences teaching this semester and changes to make for next semester. We invite attendees to share examples of assignments and bring specific artifacts they might want feedback on in preparation for future semesters.
No RSVP needed. Join using the Zoom link above. If you would like to be added to a calendar invitation, please email teaching@gwu.edu.
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Grading in Blackboard: Resources for the end of the semester |
Try a new look for 2026: Blackboard Ultra |
Blackboard Ultra makes your course look and feel more modern, intuitive, and accessible.
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Blackboard support from ITL |
The Instructional Technology Lab (ITL) can assist you in a one-on-one consultation. Visit them on the lower level of Gelman Library, call 202-994-0485, or email itl@gwu.edu.
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Creative ways to reflect on the end of the semester |
Reflecting on your teaching |
While your teaching experience is fresh, think about what worked well and what you might change in future semesters. Here are some creative ways to document your thoughts:
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"Top 3" video/voice memo: Record a brief summary naming three things that worked well and three things to overhaul next time.
- Syllabus/lesson plan annotations: Write brief notes or digital comments on your syllabus, lesson plans, or slides about what to keep, tweak, and drop.
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Student success stories & puzzles log: Document a few specific, positive student moments (successes) and a few persistent teaching challenges (puzzles) with a potential solution for the following semester.
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Supporting students’ reflection on their learning |
Student reflections on what they’ve learned can help solidify the learning experience, foster a sense of pride and confidence, and provide a sense of closure, while encouraging metacognition. Here are a few ideas to engage students in individual and collective reflection:
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"Dear Future Student" letter: Students write an anonymous letter offering advice, key concepts to prioritize, and tips for succeeding in the course, which you can share with the next cohort.
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Mind maps: In groups, ask students to collaboratively develop mind maps (sometimes called concept maps) of what they got out of the course. Mind maps visually organize information, showing relationships between concepts and ideas.
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The three-word summary & artifact: Have students choose three words that best capture their learning journey and then identify a single piece of work (an artifact) that represents their proudest moment or greatest challenge in the course.
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Register for Spring 2026 workshops! |
Our Spring 2026 workshops are now on the calendar. Register using the form below and you will receive a calendar invitation with the Zoom link.
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Have a great end to your year and
a wonderful winter break! |
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