Welcome to the weekly UTLC Newsletter supporting teaching and learning at UNCG:
Week of April 1, 2025
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Teaching Tips: The Value of Feedback and Reflection |
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Feedback and meaningful reflection are fundamental principles of instruction that enhance learning and boost student motivation. Reflection is not just a routine we practice but a dynamic process that allows us to integrate experiential learning, theory, and technical knowledge into better understanding (Clarà, 2015; Rousseau, 2015; Shandomo, 2010;). Specific and timely feedback that can be used to plan action and reflection promotes student learning (Kluger & DeNisi, 1996; Weaver et al., 2024). Encouraging students to engage in self-reflection promotes strong learning practices. Possible strategies include:
- When returning an assignment, include a reflection prompt: “How did you approach this task?” or “What would you do differently next time based on this feedback?”
- At the midterm, invite students to write a one paragraph reflection on their growth so far, highlighting key learning moments and challenges. Use these reflections to shape discussions or adjust instructional focus.
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Engage in self-reflection yourself: instructors also gain from reflective practice. What is going well in the classroom, but what do you feel could improve?
Reflection and feedback are dynamic, research-backed practices that benefit both teaching and learning. They enhance clarity, foster motivation, and empower all learners, including faculty, to grow in meaningful ways.
Northern Illinois University and the University of South Carolina have resources on providing meaningful feedback and the University of Colorado Boulder provides guidance on encouraging student reflection. Additionally, the UTLC is available for consultation (including over the summer as you teach summer courses or plan your fall!)
Thank you to our Graduate Assistant, Faris Alshahrani (a doctoral student in Specialized Education Services) for writing this week's Teaching Tips!
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2025 AI Institute: Call for Participation
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The UTLC is happy to announce the 2025 AI Institute: Educate, Innovate, Iterate. The institute is free and open to all educators at UNCG regardless of rank, discipline, or prior experience using Generative AI tools. If you wish to know more about applications of Generative AI to support teaching and learning, you are welcome to attend. The Institute will be held 8:30 am to 4:00pm on Monday, May 12; more details may be found at this link. Lunch and snacks are provided. Space is limited so please register early! Registration for the conference may be found at the registration form.
Additionally, we invite members of the UNCG community to present in concurrent sessions about their innovations, research, and experiences with AI. Sessions will be one hour long. We encourage demonstrations, panel discussions, Q&As, and research presentations, with a preference for interactive sessions that demonstrate the application of AI technology. To submit a presentation proposal, please fill out this form. Please register for the conference even if you are also submitting a presentation proposal. The deadline for submission to present is today, April 1, and we hope to have decisions about accepted presentations and schedules by April 8.
If you have any questions, please contact us at utlc@uncg.edu.
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Are you teaching a 100/200 level course? A student’s first semester is critical to their academic success – courses that are “In the First!” inning of the academic career set up the whole game. This daylong institute on May 14 focuses on the unique teaching needs of 100/200 level courses. Participants will learn more about our incoming students, how to prepare for their unique needs, and the tools available to you for supporting them. Lunch and snacks are provided.
Space is limited so please register early!
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| Drop-In Adjunct Support Hour
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The UTLC will be offering a drop-in support hour for adjunct instructors every Tuesday from 12pm - 1pm (Teams link) starting today, March 18th, through the beginning of May. This time is meant to be drop-in for questions or just connecting with the UTLC and other adjunct instructors.
This time may not fit in your schedule! Please don't forget that consultations are available to all UNCG faculty and staff with teaching responsibilities, and we're also available at utlc@uncg.edu.
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Sustained Dialogue Facilitation Training
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The Office of Intercultural Engagement invites participation in Sustained Dialogue Facilitation Training. This opportunity is open to all faculty and staff, including professional and graduate. Participants will learn more about the art of difficult conversation and have the opportunity to facilitate their own discussion groups. Training is May 15th & 16th.
To register, go to http://go.uncg.edu/sditraining25
If you have questions, please email Marisa Gonzalez at mggonzal@uncg.edu
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Are you teaching a Civics and Community Class in Fall 2025? Are you teaching a MAC class in one of the other 10 competencies and want to share ideas and explore ways to enhance your class? Join us on May 19th for a day of MAC training and discussion. Sign up to attend the workshop on May 19th at this form: https://forms.office.com/r/eyBdii7XW7
From 9:00-12:00PM we will focus on the new Civics and Community competency. Hear from fellow faculty that have experience teaching the Foundations of American Democracy documents and work collaboratively with colleagues to finalize your plans for fall.
From 1:00-3:00PM you can join facilitated breakout groups discussing different competencies in MAC and providing a space for discussion and community development.
Feel free to attend part or all of the day!
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On Saturday, April 5, 2025, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm, UNCG will host the Science Everywhere festival. This event aims to inspire future scientists and excite learners of all ages about the sciences. Interactive activities will be available across campus, showcasing how science is applied every day in fields such as science, arts, esports, healthcare, nursing, education, and technology. Please bring your kids for a fun filled day at UNCG.
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Course Accessibility Checklists and Support
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Updates to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires that all campus digital content (public facing websites, digital course materials, digital campus resources – including campus trainings) meet the WCAG 2.1 (level A and level AA) standards for accessibility by spring 2026.
UNCG has several campus resources that you can utilize now to make the transition easier, with more tools and resources on the way.
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FACULTY ENGAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT
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Upcoming Events, Trainings, and Workshops
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Workshop: Teaching Effectiveness: Beyond Teaching Evaluations
This Workshop focuses on alternative inputs for evaluating teaching effectiveness (e.g., student work products, course reviews, mid-semester student feedback, etc.). Using national models created by decades-long, multi-institutional studies on the evaluation of teaching and learning, this workshop will assist in the development of unit-level processes as part of the UNCG Teaching Effectiveness Policy (pending final approval by the UNC System) and was developed by an institutional work group. RSVP at the link above!
In the Faculty Center
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Spring 2025 UTLC Biergarten
The UTLC holds Biergartens at the end of each semester to celebrate instructors’ dedication to teaching, learning, and student success. This is an opportunity to gather with colleagues and relax with hors d’oeuvres and beverages (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic).
Weatherspoon Art Museum
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2025 AI Conference: Educate, Innovate, Iterate
UNCG’s second AI event will be held in-person on May 12, 2025 and offers the campus community an opportunity to come together to engage in critical dialogues, learn from one another, and explore emerging concepts for AI literacy. Register at the link above!
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In the First Institute
Are you teaching a 100/200 level course? A student’s first semester is critical to their academic success – courses that are “In the First!” inning of the academic career set up the whole game. This daylong Institute focuses on the unique teaching needs of 100/200 level courses. Participants will learn more about our incoming students, how to prepare for their unique needs, and the tools available to you for supporting them. Register at the link above!
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MAC Institute
Are you teaching a Civics and Community Class in Fall 2025? Are you teaching a MAC class in one of the other 10 competencies and want to share ideas and explore ways to enhance your class? Join us on May 19th for a day of MAC training and discussion. Sign up to attend the workshop on May 19th at this form: https://forms.office.com/r/eyBdii7XW7
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Accessibility Incubator Day 1
The UTLC and campus partners will offer a Course Retrofit Incubator May 22 -23, 2025. As a one-stop option for instructors, this event will provide guidance and support as you retrofit your current courses to meet accessibility guidelines. Bring your course and we will bring the technical support (and snacks!!). Register at the link above! Location and precise times TBD.
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Accessibility Incubator Day 2
The UTLC and campus partners will offer a Course Retrofit Incubator May 22 -23, 2025. As a one-stop option for instructors, this event will provide guidance and support as you retrofit your current courses to meet accessibility guidelines. Bring your course and we will bring the technical support (and snacks!!). Register at the link above! Location and precise times TBD.
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TEACHING EVALUATION PILOT
UNCG is administering a pilot of a new teaching evaluation system. The pilot and the current system (Class Climate) will run in parallel for two years; when the Class Climate contract expires, administration will make a decision about which or neither system to keep.
Anthology uses research validated common questions, along with offering units the chance to add custom questions. It’s mobile friendly, which may increase response rates. You can see more information here: Evaluation of Teaching Pilot Project.pptx
If you are interested in participating in the Summer or Fall 2025 or Spring 2026 Cohorts, please click the button below to fill out the interest form.
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