CRTLE NEWSLETTER

NEWS 140, October 22, 2026

Faculty Voices 💠Practical Teaching Ideas 💠Professional Learning Opportunities

Helping UTA Faculty Teach, Innovate, and Thrive!

There’s a lot worth exploring in this issue from CRTLE! You’ll find new teaching ideas, AI and course redesign opportunities, ACUE updates, upcoming events, and resources you can use right away. My challenge to you: find one idea, resource, or opportunity that sparks your interest and give it a try. We’d love to hear what you’re working on and how CRTLE can help (CRTLE@uta.edu).- Peggy Semingson, Ph.D., Interim Director of CRTLE

What an accomplishment! On Tuesday, October 20, 2026, UTA proudly celebrated faculty achievement at the ACUE Pinning Ceremony & Recognition Luncheon, honoring educators who have demonstrated a strong commitment to effective teaching, professional growth, and student success.

The celebration was made even more special with national ACUE representatives in attendance, joining UTA in recognizing our outstanding faculty and their achievements. Congratulations to all of our honorees! Your dedication to teaching excellence continues to make an impact across the UTA community.

✨ See highlights from the celebration and learn more about the 2026 ACUE Pinning Ceremony

Hear from UTA faculty about how ACUE has transformed their teaching! In this short video, faculty share their experiences, insights, and the impact ACUE has had on their teaching practice and student learning.

Start the new year by investing in your teaching! Spring 2027 ACUE courses at UTA offer faculty an opportunity to strengthen learner-centered teaching practices through flexible, fully online learning alongside a facilitator and cohort of colleagues. Stackable courses are designed to fit into busy faculty schedules and can build toward an ACUE certificate.

 Explore Spring 2027 ACUE offerings 

Shared with CRTLE by Dr. Andrew Hippisley, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, this open-source collection offers 400+ faculty-created syllabi, assignments, and activities for integrating democracy, civic engagement, voting rights, and real-world issues into courses across disciplines. The materials are available for non-commercial use under a CC BY-NC license.

Difficult or controversial conversations can emerge in any classroom, but with thoughtful preparation, those moments can also become meaningful opportunities for learning. In the Pedagogy NEXT post, Fostering Meaningful Dialogue on Controversial Topics (and What to do if Things Get Heated), faculty will find practical strategies for creating an environment where students can engage with different perspectives while keeping conversations connected to course goals and learning objectives. 

The post explores ways to set clear discussion expectations, establish classroom norms, encourage active listening, and structure conversations before difficult topics arise. It also offers practical de-escalation strategies for moments when discussions become emotionally charged, along with guidance on responding to more serious classroom situations.

 Read the full post and add these strategies to your teaching toolkit →

Exploring the Future of Learning and Online Education with Peggy Semingson 

Worth another listen: CRTLE Interim Director Peggy Semingson joined the Faculty Factory podcast (hosted by University of Texas Medical Branch) to discuss online learning, educational technology, and creating engaging digital learning experiences. 

Want to create course videos but not sure where to start? Join this hands-on session to explore practical tools and strategies for recording, editing, and sharing videos that engage students and support learning. You'll discover tips for instructional videos, screen recordings, captions, and accessibility while creating content you can use in your own course right away.

Wednesday, October 28

TWO SESSIONS - SAME GREAT CONTENT! 

Session 1: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Session 2: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Sessions are held in Trinity Hall, Room 105, and run approximately 30–45 minutes, followed by additional time for hands-on practice and exploration. 

Thursday, October 29

12:00 PM - 12:50 PM

Trinity Hall 105 and Microsoft Teams

Led by the Student Experience Project

Help faculty & staff recognize and strengthen everyday signals that communicate welcome, belonging, clarity, and confidence in students’ ability to succeed.

Friday, October 30

9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Microsoft Teams Only

Designing for AI Literacy, Career Readiness, and Confident Practice. This institute is designed for instructors who want time to explore, try, redesign, and leave with something tangible and not just a “sit and get” experience. 

Get the Agenda for the institute HERE. 

👉 Visit Ask a Maverick to read the latest student quotes and stories: Ask a Maverick

Thank you to the many UTA instructors who continue to inspire, challenge, and support our students. 

The newest collection of Ask a Maverick reflections is now available. Shared with student permission, these stories recognize faculty members and courses that have made a difference in students' academic journeys while offering insight into the teaching and learning experiences that contribute to student success at UTA. Yard signs are going up soon around campus near the Central Library and other high-traffic area. 

A little something for our newsletter readers...
If you spotted this message, email crtle@uta.edu with the subject line “Innovation” by 10/29  to be entered in a drawing for a copy of Teaching with AI (2nd edition) by José Antonio Bowen and C. Edward Watson. And shhh...let your colleagues discover this one for themselves. 😉

Visit the CRTLE EVENTS page to learn more about upcoming sessions and workshops!

Stay ahead of the curve with AI in higher education!

Subscribe to The all new CRTLE AI Teaching Brief for bi-weekly practical teaching tips on AI, AI teaching approaches, faculty spotlights, and curated resources delivered straight to your inbox. 

Sign up today: https://common.forms.uta.edu/view.php?id=3094669

How can CRTLE support you?

The CRTLE team is here to support and inspire your teaching—from exploring new strategies and redesigning courses to integrating AI and digital tools. Share your questions, ideas, or requests using the form below, and a member of our team will follow up to connect you with the support you need. We look forward to working with you!

Did you miss a CRTLE Session? 

Don't worry! We have recaps of all CRTLE Sessions on our blog!

PEDAGOGY NEXT

Visit the CRTLE website for Updates on Event and Access to Our Many Teaching Resources: https://www.uta.edu/administration/crtle 

OFFICE OF THE PROVOST - CENTER FOR RESEARCH ON TEACHING AND LEARNING EXCELLENCE
PEGGY SEMINGSON, PH.D., ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND INTERIM DIRECTOR
BETH FLEENER, PH.D., SENIOR TEACHING INNOVATION RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
NAKESHA BROWN, M.ED., COORDINATOR II, SPECIAL PROGRAMS