Welcome to the Weekly UTLC Newsletter |
Week of September 30, 2025
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Teaching Tips: Mid-Semester Feedback |
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Now that you’ve provided midterm grades and feedback to students, this week we’d like to discuss the importance of midterm evaluations for you as an instructor. Waiting until the end of the semester to hear from students means missing the chance to make improvements that could help them (and make your life easier) right now.
Mid-semester course feedback and evaluations create space for meaningful conversations. This process allows students to reflect on what supports their learning, gives you insight into what is working (and what is not), and builds trust by showing students that their voices matter.
Small adjustments, clarifying expectations, pacing content differently, or tweaking assignment structures can have a big impact on student engagement and success. As UCLA’s Leveraging Mid-Quarter Student Feedback guide notes, formative feedback enables instructors to adjust strategies, close learning gaps, and strengthen trust with students. Similarly, Elon University’s Gathering Mid-Semester Feedback resource offers concrete questions and approaches to engage students in reflecting on their learning experience. Most importantly, inviting feedback mid-course signals that teaching and learning are a shared responsibility, and that you are committed to growing alongside your students.
5 Key Takeaways & Actionable Tips
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- Keep it Formative – Position feedback as a way to improve the course while it is still in progress, not as an evaluation of you or the students.
- Ask Focused Questions – Use 2 to 3 simple prompts such as What helps you learn? What could be improved? What should I keep doing?
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Protect Anonymity & Spot Patterns – Gather responses anonymously and pay attention to recurring themes rather than one-off comments.
- Close the Loop – Share back what you learned, explain which changes you’ll make (and why some may not be possible), and thank students for their input.
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Reflect for the Future – Document the feedback and your adjustments so you can refine your teaching practices in this and future courses.
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By taking time to gather and respond to mid-semester feedback, you show students that their perspectives matter and that you are invested in their success. You don’t have to change everything (for example, students still have to read even if they ask not to) but explaining why some parts of the class can’t change is also part of learning about your field (and helps you know what to proactively address next semester). These small conversations can strengthen classroom community, enhance engagement, and create culture where both teaching and learning are continually refined.
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In October, ITS is collaborating on two special trainings with the Dean of Students Office.
October 8, 11 AM - 12 PM (virtual): Using Canvas and CARE to Support Students Experiencing Distress
This session gives instructors actionable steps to connect students with care and manage academic flexibilities in Canvas.
October 27, 12 - 1 PM (EUC Azalea): Lunch and Learn: Addressing and Reducing Grading Bias
This session shares information about DOS resources and highlight and demonstrate features within Canvas that reduce the risk of bias in grading, such as how to turn on anonymized and randomized grading, and how to build a rubric in Canvas and grade with rubrics in Speed Grader.
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Open Office Hours with ITS |
Open Office Hours with ITS: Learning Technology’s Instructional Design Team: Tuesdays 10am–12pm, starting 10/7
Drop in for a conversation with an instructional designer! We can assist with course and assessment design, discuss teaching questions, and help with Canvas, Teams, and other learning technology.
No registration is needed, just click on the go link to join: go.uncg.edu/id-office-hours
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Join the UNCG GTA Network |
The GTA Network is open to all graduate teaching associates and is a space to connect, learn from colleagues, and receive collaborative support.
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Introducing a new resource for Graduate Teaching Associates (GTAs) - the GTA Network.
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What can you expect at GTA Network Events: |
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Fresh Ideas & Teaching Tips – Explore new strategies, tools, and approaches to elevate your teaching practice.
- Real-Time Demos – Get walk-throughs on essential processes like submitting grades, using Canvas tools, and more.
- Timely Updates – Stay informed about important UNCG events, deadlines, and teaching-related resources.
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Safe Space for Sharing – Bring your questions, wins, and challenges. This is a judgment-free zone where your voice matters.
- Campus Connections – Learn how to collaborate with key support offices and student services across campus.
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Save the DATE for upcoming meetings (2pm-3pm on Teams): |
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- October 6
- October 20
- November 3
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| The flu vaccine is now available at Student Health Services.
Dedicated Flu Clinic for Students: Runs from September 29 to October 9
Dedicated Flu Clinic for Faculty & Staff: Week of October 6
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Don’t wait — students, faculty, and staff are welcome to get their flu shot anytime!
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Free Subscription to The Teaching Professor from Magna Publications |
Magna Publications has a weekly newsletter with teaching tips, strategies, and the latest best practices of teaching offering approaches on a wide range of teaching topics, such as:
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- Planning and designing courses
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Promoting academic integrity
- Increasing student engagement
- Responding to course evaluations and feedback
- Developing effective activities and assignments
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| Access to Quick Teaching Workshops with Magna Publications |
Magna Publications offers a series of 20-minute and 40-minute workshops on teaching and learning topics from national experts in teaching and learning.
The UTLC has secured campus access to over 20 trainings on topics such as teaching effectiveness, generative AI, student engagement, course design, and much more.
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Teaching Evaluation Pilot |
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UNCG is pleased to be administering a pilot of a new teaching evaluation system, Anthology Evaluate. Much of our feedback during the 2024/25 academic year was favorable, with users finding the system easy to use and the reporting to be accessible.
Anthology uses research validated common questions; units can also add custom questions. The system mobile friendly and can be used in the classroom, which raised response rates for instructors who opted to do so this past year. Instructors and their heads have access to reporting one to two days after the close of the administration and can access their reports anytime they like online.
We are recruiting more pilot participants for this academic year! If you are interested in participating in the Spring 2026 Cohort, please click the button below to fill out the interest form.
If you have questions, please email the UTLC at utlc@uncg.edu.
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Faculty Engagement & Development Opportunities |
Check out these upcoming opportunities from the UTLC and other partners on campus. Additionally, the university workshop calendar has opportunities.
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- Self-Paced Training Options| Online, research-based workshops cover a range of essential topics.
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UNCG Libraries Webinars | Research and Application Webinar Series (Spring 2024 recordings) | Zotero Webinar Series (recordings)
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New to Teaching | Access this Canvas site to learn about how students learn, preparing for class, grading, office hours, engagement, active learning, and more.
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Safe and Trans Zone Training on Canvas | Enroll in this self-paced online course to complete Safe Zone 1.0, 2.0, and Trans Zone if you cannot attend an in-person workshop.
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Web Accessibility 101 | This asynchronous, self-paced course focuses on the fundamentals of making online content accessible.
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