Teaching tips:

Spaces to Thrive

Dear Colleagues,

Spring has arrived! I suspect we're all looking forward to getting outside and enjoying a well-deserved Spring Break.

Speaking of outdoor spaces, however, there are opportunities this month to consider our indoor space. Specifically, how the physical environment of our classrooms impacts teaching and learning.

Everyone is invited to the Provost's Teaching Fellows' Forward Session 2: Space to Thrive (Tuesday, March 24, 12:30-2pm in SZB 450AF). In this session, attendees will discuss: How do physical and emotional spaces affect students' ability to thrive on campus? What can instructors do to create spaces to thrive? What can the university do? The session's facilitators will be Thea Woodruff (CMHC) and Renee' Acosta (PTF, Pharmacy). Please RSVP Here.
If you are unable to attend the Forward Session or just want to learn more about this topic, check out PTF Stephanie Cawthon's excellent FIC instructional strategy page Managing the Learning Environment, and Michele Ostrow's article "Developing New Learning Spaces in the Perry-Castañeda Library."

Not many of us are at liberty to teach in the 'perfect classroom,' but there are ways to transform your existing classroom to make people feel more comfortable in the space you have. Consider the ubiquitous document that instructors do have some measure of control over: the syllabus! The "Accessible Syllabus" website reminds us that the language we use in our syllabi and in the classroom can impact the learning space and offers several easy and useful ways to optimize your syllabus.

On that topic, the Universal Design for Learning Spring Workshop Series is hosting their second session in the series, Disability Studies as Method for UDL (Tuesday, March 10, 11:30-1pm, SZB450AF). Continuing the conversation of UDL, attendees and facilitators will discuss how to incorporate DIsability Studies as critical pedagogy. Deconstructing statements related to disability in postsecondary education, participants will consider how Crip Theory and Disability Studies as method can expand their philosophy of teaching to involve inclusion within the classroom, whether online or in person. The session will be facilitated by Dr. Nick Winges-Yanez (Texas Center for Disability Studies) and Dr. Nazanin Heydarian (Steve Hicks School of Social Work). NOTE: You do not have to have attended the first workshop in the UDL Spring Series to attend this workshop. Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP Here.

Have a wonderful Spring Break!

Warmly,

Jen Moon

Chair-Elect, Provost's Teaching Fellows

Dr. Jen Moon (she/her/hers) | Associate Professor of Instruction | Department of Molecular Biosciences

Assistant Dean for Non Tenure Track Faculty | College of Natural Sciences

Provost’s Teaching Fellow | The University of Texas at Austin

NMS 2.104 | 512-232-4011

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