Fostering safety & belonging in our teaching |
Trauma-informed approaches for grounding your classroom in care and compassion |
When the world feels heavy, the classroom can be both a refuge and a reflection of that tension. When anxiety and uncertainty are in the air, small choices in how we open class, frame discussions, and respond to students can make a big difference. This guide offers quick, concrete practices to help you and your students find steadiness and connection in the classroom when it’s needed most.
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Bring PSU Career Week into your classroom |
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Career Week starts soon! It’s the perfect time to help students see how the skills they’re building in your class—like research, writing, collaboration, and problem-solving—translate into future careers. Giovanna DiFalco from the Career Center shares additional classroom-ready ideas for integrating Career Week into your teaching.
"We’d love to see more faculty integrate career-related discussions into their classes during Career Week, whether through assignments, guest speakers, or simply encouraging attendance. Partnerships could also expand to include co-hosted panels, classroom visits by employers or alumni, or discipline-specific networking events. The goal is to create a shared ecosystem where academic learning and career development reinforce one another."
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Teaching tips & tricks for week 3 |
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| We highly recommend that you experience your Canvas course through Student View to help ensure all content, discussions, and assignments appear as expected.
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| Everything from setting up accessible quizzes to setting alternative deadlines–we show you how to do it in Canvas!
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| This article will help you collaborate with students to build a foundation of honesty and trust within your course.
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Make discussions work for you and your students |
As classroom discussions gain momentum in Week 3—whether in person or online—it’s the perfect time to make small, intentional adjustments that keep students thinking, connecting, and contributing. Try this week:
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Revisit your discussion prompts. Ask open, authentic questions that invite multiple perspectives rather than “right” answers. Try the MANIC strategy to encourage detailed explanation.
- Connect discussions to lived experience. Invite students to apply concepts to current events, campus life, or their own communities.
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Model the kind of engagement you want. A short, thoughtful instructor post or video reply can set the tone for depth and curiosity.
- Mix up the format. Use collaborative tools like Hypothesis or try small-group discussions before sharing with the whole class.
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These approaches help students move beyond “post and reply” routines or quiet group chats—building community, confidence, and deeper understanding as the term unfolds.
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InnovAIte Symposium: AI in action at PSU |
The inaugural InnovAIte Symposium will take place on Friday, October 31, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Smith Student Union ballroom. InnovAIte Academy participants will showcase their AI projects through poster sessions, lightning presentations, and table demonstrations. The event will include a panel, guest speakers, and networking with campus and community stakeholders interested in AI. Register now to attend.
Details on applying to the fall InnovAIte Academy cohort will be announced at the Symposium. Questions about the Symposium can be sent to innovaite@pdx.edu. We look forward to seeing you on October 31!
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Deepen student learning with social annotation |
Explore Hypothesis, a digital annotation tool for you and your students |
When students annotate together, reading becomes an active, collaborative process. Social annotation helps students slow down, question ideas, and learn from one another’s perspectives—turning course readings into shared conversations instead of solo tasks. Learn how Hypothesis can increase engagement, strengthen critical reading skills, and build community around your course texts.
Upcoming sessions:
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What is Community-Engaged Learning & why should you care? |
Tuesday, Oct. 14, 10:45 AM - 11:15 AM
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| Responsible AI workflows for teaching |
Thursday, Oct. 16, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
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| Faculty book club: Inclusive teaching |
Friday, Oct. 17, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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| Reading Community-Engaged Learning |
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 12:45 PM - 1:45 PM
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| Using AI for teaching and learning |
Thursday, Oct. 30,11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
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| AI integrity in the digital age |
Friday, Nov. 7,11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
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The Office of Academic Innovation
Portland State University
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