As the sun shines, offering a respite from winter gloom, I find myself working to keep track of all that is going on. There’s a lot and staying focused is taking extra effort. As my Pew FTLC colleagues remind me, staying hydrated and taking stretch breaks helps. I am grateful for the gentle reminders to take care of myself; I am also finding my most raucous playlists to be of particular help. As you will see below, the Pew FTLC is offering several cool new ways to keep learning, with more to be announced soon, so I encourage you to consider which opportunities might be a good fit for you.  

I am putting the final touches on a critical AI literacy resource that I will be excited to share later this month. In the meantime, here is a short list of what I have been reading and thinking about:  

As we move toward Spring Break, please stay hydrated, breathe deeply, and move in ways that bring you joy- 

-Christine  

All sessions will take place from 11am to 12pm on Fridays. The table below provides schedule details and registration links for each session. As the schedule continues to be built, additional details will be added to the Digital Literacy Fridays website, so keep an eye out for more information soon!

Session materials are being shared via a Blackboard Organization–Digital Literacy-Faculty Professional Development–open to all faculty and staff. This organization is open for self-enrollment. Contact us at PewFTLC@gvsu.edu for access support, if needed. 

Looking to improve your teaching and engage with leading educators?

The Sponsored Teaching and Learning Event (STLE) Grant supports faculty in attending top conferences, workshops, and institutes focused on innovative teaching practices. These events offer practical strategies, fresh perspectives, and valuable networking opportunities to strengthen your impact in the classroom.

Several STLEs are currently open, but deadlines are approaching—don’t miss your chance to apply! Visit our Upcoming Sponsored Teaching and Learning Events webpage for full details.

The 2026 Landmark College Summer Institute for Educators

The Summer Institute at Landmark College has been an annual opportunity for education professionals to reboot their learning and refresh their enthusiasm for supporting students who learn differently.

June 23–25, 2026
Putney, VT
Award Amount up to $2,500
5 spots available

Application deadline: April 15, 2026
Apply for this grant via FTLC Grant System. 

Want to strengthen classroom discussions about current legal, political, and cultural issues? Interested in understanding the historical roots of inequality in America?

GVSU faculty invite you to a 9-week, reflective learning experience exploring systemic oppression through 11 online modules, paired with three facilitated Zoom discussions. Participants will examine diverse histories, engage in guided reflection, and access curated resources for deeper study.

Zoom Discussions (co-facilitated by Dr. Patty Stow Bolea and Dr. Janelle Grant Ashbaugh):

Engage with historical narratives, uncover structural and cultural forces shaping inequity, and connect insights to teaching, scholarship, and practice.

How can we ensure that students begin their GV career with a strong start? The Strong Start Teaching Institute focuses faculty attention on best practices for engaging students in first-year undergraduate courses.

Where: DeVos Center for Interprofessional Health (DCIH) 445
When: Monday, May 11 (8:30AM - 5:00PM) and Tuesday, May 12 (8:30AM - Noon)

Together, we'll explore key themes:

Whether you are teaching a course for the first time or are looking to strengthen a course to best engage students, we invite you to participate. The in-person and asynchronous components of this Institute will apply to a range of instructor experience levels and disciplines. See the Strong Start page for more details.

Limited to 40 participants. Preference given to adjunct, affiliate, and visiting faculty, and first-time attendees. 

Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates about this year's Conference Theme and renowned keynote speaker.

Can you guess who it is?

Hint #1: Their work has been published in higher education journals like International Journal for Science Education, To Improve the Academy, and The Journal of Faculty Development.

Town Hall for AI Strategy

After hearing from over 500 survey respondents, the AI Steering Team is hosting two town halls to explore key themes and priorities around AI at GVSU:

Teaching and Learning
Research and Innovation
Workforce and Regional Impact
Institutional Operations

Monday, March 16 | 1 p.m. – Seidman Center, City Campus
Thursday, March 19 | 9 a.m. – Kirkhof Center, Valley Campus

Annual Day of Giving

GVSU’s Day of Giving returns on Thursday, March 26, and it is an opportunity for our community to unite in support of the people and programs that shape Grand Valley. Community support allows the university to advance its mission and create meaningful impacts for students, and your participation is essential to that effort.

By making a gift, you can help unlock special challenge and matching opportunities that significantly increase the impact of your support. We need the entire Laker community’s help to make this day a success. You can help make a difference for Grand Valley this Day of Giving!