Learning & Growing Webinar Series

New Explanations – The AI Teaching Method

Mathew Curtis, University of Southern California

Explanations of how things work are things we do as teachers; we give examples and provide analogies. Typically, we try to use examples we think will resonate with the class – but even if we get it right and pick a good example, the example is boring for some students because our students all have different interests. Via the use of AI, we can empower students to generate their own examples of course concepts within the areas of their interests. This presentation shows how to use AI to create your own teaching examples and then extend to ask students to generate their own examples.

Microcredentialing: Collaborating with the State of Tennessee for a More Educated Workforce

Dr. Cara Robinson, Tennessee State University

This presentation will provide an overview of the Professional Management Academy program at Tennessee State University (TSU). Through an innovative partnership between TSU and the State of Tennessee's Departments of Correction and Safety and Homeland Security, the TSU Department of Social Work and Urban Studies has created a program focused on providing a microcredential for state employees in management and leadership. The goal of the program is provide front-line bureaucrats (e.g. correctional officers, administrative assistants etc.) with on-the-job skills based on social science theory and practice. This program provides employees with six one-week accelerated online courses. During that time, faculty advisors and mentors work with the students to identify paths to earning their full degree. This session will provide lessons learned and focus on how to design an innovative partnership for adult learners.

Sick of Traditional Grading? Then it is Time to Convert to Mastery-Based

Krista O'Brien, Howard Community College

Join us for a webinar exploring the transformative power of "Ungrading" in education. Discover how research and data show that students achieve greater success with this approach, whether in face-to-face or online classes, and across various English course formats. In this session, we'll delve into understanding Ungrading, showcasing its effectiveness through compelling evidence, and providing practical guidance on converting your class or assignments to embrace this innovative grading method. Don't miss out on this opportunity to revolutionize your teaching approach and empower your students to excel like never before.

Writing Effective Questions and Tests

Shraddha Rajpal, George Mason University

Discover the power of crafting questions and tests that effectively assess student understanding and promote meaningful learning outcomes in our upcoming webinar! This involves designing clear and concise questions that align with learning objectives and encourage critical thinking, problem-solving, and application of knowledge. Additionally, it entails incorporating a variety of question formats, such as multiple-choice, short answer, and essay questions, to accommodate diverse learning styles and assess different levels of cognitive complexity. Through thoughtful question design and test construction, educators aim to provide fair and accurate assessments that measure the student mastery of course content. Ultimately, the goal is to create assessments that support student learning and drive academic achievement.

Reality TV as a Teaching Tool: Strategies for Enhancing Theoretical Application and Fostering Critical Thinking Skills

Monica Radu, Southeast Missouri State University

Reality television (TV) has emerged as a powerful educational tool, offering unique opportunities to enhance theoretical application and foster critical thinking skills in educational settings. By examining the theoretical underpinnings of reality TV programming and its portrayal of social dynamics, educators can develop engaging pedagogical approaches that encourage students to apply concepts to real-life situations depicted on screen. Through case studies, this presentation demonstrates how reality TV can serve as a catalyst for deeper classroom engagement and analytical thinking.

Livestreaming In-Person Classes: The HyFlex Option

David Baskind, Delta College

Join David Baskind for a dynamic webinar exploring HyFlex education. Discover what HyFlex classes are, why they're essential, and how to implement them effectively. Learn about the benefits and address potential concerns in this concise session. Whether you're new to HyFlex or refining your approach, this webinar offers practical insights for transforming your classroom experience. Don't miss out on this opportunity to revolutionize your teaching methods!

Using ChatGPT as a Process of Evaluation

Jeffery Jackson, Columbus State University

Join Jeffery Jackson as he models his step-by-step process for developing a source evaluation essay using ChatGPT and a scholarly journal article for an English Composition II course. He will also introduce a teaching strategy for incorporating ChatGPT or other AI-generated platforms into students' learning experiences. This webinar will highlight critical thinking, evaluation, and recognition skills essential for academic success. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your teaching approach and empower your students with advanced analytical tools!

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the logistics and complexities of implementing corequisite, you’re not alone! Join us for a webinar that is dedicated to answering your questions, featuring insights from seasoned educators who have successfully navigated corequisite implementation: Professor Emily Carpenter from Seminole State College and Brandon Ford from Navarro College.

This interactive session is an opportunity to engage directly with colleagues in the field to ask questions and tap into their collective wisdom of implementation strategies, tips, and tricks for running a successful corequisite course.

Leave equipped with the knowledge, resources, and confidence you need to elevate your corequisite game and foster an environment where both you and your students can THRIVE.

Gut-Brain Axis Dysfunction among College Students: A Call on Professors and Other Academic Professionals to Become Informed

Jerrod Brown, Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota

The gut-brain axis is a complex, neurohumoral, and bidirectional communication network that occurs between various endocrine, neuronal, metabolic, and immune pathways. Although thousands of studies have been published on topics related to the gut-brain axis, one group often overlooked as it pertains to this area of study are college students. This training will examine the impact gut-brain health axis dysfunction has on college students and its implications for learning, mood, behavior, cognition, and physical health. A review of practical tips, strategies, and solutions that can be utilized when working with college students impacted by gut-brain health axis dysfunction will be discussed. A primary goal of this training is to learn why college professors and other academic professionals should become gut-brain health axis informed. Empirically based research findings will be highlighted throughout this training.

Join us for a comprehensive webinar that explores the transformative power of Hawkes Learning in developmental math education. In this session, we'll delve into the latest editions of both Developmental Mathematics and Preparation for College Mathematics, showcasing the impactful additions and changes made to these titles to enhance student learning.

Discover how Hawkes Learning's innovative approach can be seamlessly integrated into the classroom, empowering instructors to cultivate dynamic learning environments and guide students towards academic achievement in the developmental algebras. We'll also peer into the future of math education, examining the evolving pedagogy and approach to these courses, and the pivotal role of Hawkes Learning in shaping the path forward.

Don't miss this opportunity to unlock the full potential of your math education program with insights from our expert panel. Engage in a dynamic Q&A session where you can gain deeper insights and have your burning questions addressed. Join us and empower your students for success with Hawkes Learning!

A Solutions-Oriented Approach to Grammar Instruction

Caitlin Edahl, Hawkes Learning

Join us for an insightful webinar focused on finding solutions to common problems in grammar instruction. In this session, we'll delve into how the brand-new Grammar Foundations title and student software can address the obstacles faced by instructors and students and make grammar instruction truly meaningful.Led by Lead English Editor, Caitlin Edahl, this webinar will guide you through the solutions-oriented features of Grammar Foundations, from contextualized projects to thought-provoking prompts. Discover strategies to make grammar instruction more engaging and effective through student and instructor empowerment, a wealth of resources, and real-world examples that resonate with today's learners.

Join esteemed authors Dr. Paul Sisson and Dr. Tibor Szarvas as we delve into the beautiful and intricate world of single-variable calculus.

Gain valuable insights into the fundamental concepts of calculus and discover the pedagogical decisions that set their approach apart. Through an engaging conversation, explore the depths of calculus education and uncover why their expertise makes this webinar a must-attend event for educators and learners alike. Don't miss this opportunity to decode single-variable calculus and enhance your understanding with the guidance of two distinguished experts.

Independent Learning Made Easy: Harnessing Digital Resources for Engaging Biology Students

Annaleise Radchenko, Hawkes Learning

Join us for a dynamic webinar designed for educators seeking innovative strategies to empower students in their biology studies. Discover practical approaches to leverage digital tools and resources effectively, fostering a self-directed learning environment that enhances student engagement and comprehension and gives students the resources they need to take ownership of their own educational journeys. Leave equipped with valuable insights into cultivating a dynamic learning environment that nurtures curiosity and engagement.

Strategies for Fostering an Inclusive Psychology Curriculum

Talissa Nahass, Hawkes Learning

Join us for an engaging webinar aimed at empowering psychology educators to create diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning environments. We will set the stage by exploring the key concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in psychology education, followed by strategies and practical methods for enhancing DEI using Hawkes' teaching materials. Additionally, we will examine innovative teaching approaches that foster inclusivity among students. Throughout this webinar, we will highlight examples from our Introduction to Psychology 2nd Edition, providing insights and actionable steps for creating diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning experiences. Don’t miss this opportunity to transform your teaching practices and create a more enriching learning environment for all students!

Food Insecurity among College Students: Implications for Learning, Mood, Behavior, Cognition, and Physical Health

Jerrod Brown, Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota

Food insecurity is a public health issue and has been associated with several short and long-term neurobiopsychosocial negative outcomes. One group often overlooked as it pertains to the topic of food insecurity are college students. Unfortunately, a sizable minority of college students are impacted by food insecurity, which may play a role in poor academic performance. This training will examine the impact food insecurity has on college students and its implications for learning, mood, behavior, cognition, and physical health. Empirically based research findings will be highlighted throughout this training.

Exploring soft skills development among undergraduate students attending an HBCU

Dr. Whitney Wall & Dr. Karryll Phillips, Fayetteville State University

The use of AI has magnified the value of soft skills within the workforce and has emphasized the need for students, of all majors, to develop soft skills. This session will share lessons learned from grant-funded projects, workshops, and research designed to promote the integration of soft skills development among undergraduate students. Participants will learn specific classroom activities that can be implemented immediately to support students’ development of soft skills. Supporting research from a pilot-study will be shared, including specific factors related to the HBCU experience that may support soft skills development.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) among College Students: Implications for Learning, Mood, Cognition, and Physical Health

Jerrod Brown, Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) (e.g., household dysfunction, abuse, neglect, witnessing violence in the home or community) are traumatic events occurring prior to the age of 18 and are related to long-term negative cognitive, developmental, behavioral, social, and physical health outcomes. Research has also found that elevated rates of ACEs are common among college students. Designed for education professionals, this training provides attendees with an overview of the ACEs research and its impact on college students. A review of practical tips, strategies, and solutions that can be utilized when working with college students will be discussed. Other relevant topics of interest discussed include prenatal trauma, complex and developmental trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complex PTSD (CPTSD), toxic stress, nervous system, dysfunction, rumination, attachment dysregulation, alexithymia, mentalization deficits, executive functioning limitations, sleep disturbances, self-regulation problems, theory of mind (ToM) limitations, language development issues, hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation, suicidality, shame, empathy, resilience, and trauma informed care strategies among others. All aforementioned discussions are grounded in empirical research findings.

Improving Students Academic Help-Seeking Behaviors

Keisha Lanier Brown, Perimeter College at Georgia State University

Most institutions have multiple ways of assisting students academically, including professor's office hours, supplemental instruction, and tutoring centers. The challenge that professors and tutoring centers typically face is a lack of usage from students. In this session, you will hear two-year college students' reasons for attending or not attending tutorials in mathematics along with their solutions to encourage more students to attend these valuable sessions.

That's my Jam: Enlivening Class Engagement with Google Jam Boards

Jacqueline Boals, Dalton State College

When is the last time you were able to fully engage a class of over twenty students in a meaningful, lively, and substantive discussion that involved more than the same 3-4 actively involved students? Whether this is an issue in your classroom or not, find out how using Google Jam Board can bring color, creativity, and conversation to your classes in a simple, fun way that also provides a record of your class discussions.

Academic Integrity in the AI Era: Debating the Effectiveness of AI Checkers

Chana Etengoff, Adelphi University

Join Chana Etengoff, Ph.D., Chair of Adelphi University’s Academic Integrity Committee, as she delves into the academic integrity implications of advancing artificial intelligence systems, such as ChatGPT. This presentation will explore the major policy and ethics debates of using AI checkers as the primary method of identifying students’ original work. Further expanding the scope of the debate, the webinar will additionally focus on the importance of coupling AI detection efforts with campus integrity values, faculty judgment and contextual understanding, as well as scaffolded assignments and drafts.

Food Insecurity among College Students: Implications for Learning, Mood, Behavior, Cognition, and Physical Health

Jerrod Brown, Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota

Food insecurity is a public health issue and has been associated with several short and long-term neurobiopsychosocial negative outcomes. One group often overlooked as it pertains to the topic of food insecurity are college students. Unfortunately, a sizable minority of college students are impacted by food insecurity, which may play a role in poor academic performance. This training will examine the impact food insecurity has on college students and its implications for learning, mood, behavior, cognition, and physical health. Empirically based research findings will be highlighted throughout this training.

Adaptive Support: The Power of Empathy and Flexibility for Non-Traditional Students

Dr. Monica Radu, Southeast Missouri State University

This presentation explores the critical role of empathy and flexibility in supporting non-traditional students as they navigate the intricate balance between academia and family responsibilities. Through insightful strategies and practical approaches, this presentation will explore how cultivating empathy for the unique challenges these students face can foster a more inclusive and supportive learning environment. Additionally, in this presentation we will examine the value of adaptability in instructional methodologies and policies, aiming to accommodate the diverse needs and schedules of non-traditional students, ultimately enhancing their academic success and overall well-being.

AI Assisted Syllabus Creation

Mathew Curtis, University of Southern California

AI, such as ChatGPT, provides an opportunity to improve a syllabus - as well as making a syllabus easier to create. While there is usually some institutionally required wording on a syllabus there is also a lot of opportunity to create a syllabus how we want. Too often it is easier to simply reuse a syllabus with minor updates as necessary. The syllabus though is usually our first contact with students and we can make this first contact more effective via using AI. AI allows us to make edits in a way that is a lot easier than it was in the recent past.

Supporting College Students with Executive Functioning Impairments

Jerrod Brown, Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota

Executive function is a set of higher-order cognitive abilities that enable an individual to identify and pursue goals and has significant implications for learning and academic performance. The cognitive skills that compose executive function are typically thought to include attentional control, flexibility to switch between tasks, inhibition, and working memory to name a few. Intended for academic professionals, this training will examine the red flag indicators, consequences, and implications executive functioning impairments have on college students. Special emphasis is placed on the impact executive dysfunction symptoms and deficits have on attention, learning, memory, and cognition. Other related topics discussed throughout this training include adaptive functioning, inhibition, working memory, cognitive flexibility, abstract reasoning, time management, planning and organizational abilities, theory of mind (ToM), choice making deficits, communication and language challenges, information processing deficits, sleep-related disturbances, self-regulation issues, and sensory processing problems to name a few. Empirically based research findings will be highlighted throughout this training.

Cultivating LGBTQ+ Inclusive Learning Environments

Chana Etengoff, Adelphi University

In this session, we will explore the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ students and outline inclusive teaching strategies to effectively foster a diverse learning landscape. From affirming language and inclusive educational materials to supportive policies and allyship, this webinar will provide practical advice and actionable steps to promote acceptance, respect, and understanding. Be part of the movement towards a more inclusive and equitable education system for LGBTQ+ students.

Thriving on Challenge: Unlocking Student Potential Through Risk-Tolerant Learning Environments

Mandie Mauldin, M.Ed

This workshop offers educators practical strategies to foster a risk-tolerant learning environment that supports all students learning journeys. Participants will learn how to create a safe and inclusive learning space that addresses the needs of all students, regardless of their background or learning needs. The workshop will explore the challenges that students bring with them into the classroom and the impact that these challenges have on their ability to learn.

Mastering Thinking, Fast & Slow: Applying Principles to Enhance Learning

Drew Denbaum, Housatonic Community College

Discover the fascinating world of "Thinking, Fast & Slow" by Daniel Kahneman in this engaging webinar. Join us as we unravel the principles that govern our decision-making processes and explore how to effectively incorporate these concepts into lesson plans and personal life. Gain valuable insights into the intricacies of cognitive biases, heuristics, and the interplay between our intuitive and deliberate thinking systems. Acquire practical strategies and techniques to foster critical thinking, improve problem-solving skills, and optimize learning outcomes. Don't miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding of human cognition and revolutionize your approach to teaching and personal growth.

Failure Can Be an Option

Shywanda Moore, Shelton State Community College

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” -Thomas Edison

As math instructors, we know that everything we teach has a process. When we are teaching, we start with step 1 and work our way to the solution. Then we check the work. While doing this, we often get the question, “why do I need this?” or “why do I have to take this?” We often hear how some have always struggled and will never understand. But do we ever teach students that sometimes failure is part of the process? This session will discuss the benefit of failure in the classroom setting and the incorporation of personal experience with failure into the teaching process.

Threats to Academic Performance among College Students

Jerrod Brown, Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota

College students face several stressors that may negatively impact academic performance. Intended for college professors, this training will examine the causes and consequences associated with poor academic performance. Participants will also learn about supports and interventions aimed at promoting improved academic performance. Other related topics discussed throughout this training include fast food consumption, excessive sugar consumption, food insecurity, blood sugar dysregulation, digestive head issues, chronic pain problems, self-regulation deficits, metacognition deficits, executive dysfunction, excessive screen time exposure, task initiation issues, planning, organization, and time management problems, problematic coping strategies, fatigue, sleep disturbances, low self-efficacy, self-esteem issues, rumination, social anxiety, perfectionism, academic procrastination, attentional deficits, low self-awareness, psychological distress, alexithymia, self-monitoring deficits, motivational deficits, sluggish cognitive tempo, lower socioeconomic status, and adverse life experiences to name a few. Empirically based research findings will be highlighted throughout this training.

Active Learning for Sensation Perception

Timothy Barnes, Central Carolina Community college

The learning activity allows students to experience various concepts and theories for sensation perception. The Sensation Stations course isolates sensation and allows students to focus on one sensation at a time. They experience theories such as Gestalt, opponent processing, phantom limb, and top-down and bottom-up processing. They experience why eyewitnesses make poor witnesses in court.
The entire course from the introductory lectures and activities takes 40 - 50 minutes.

Understanding Intersectionality: Creating a Holistic Approach to Inclusive Teaching

Chana Etengoff, Adelphi University

How can we create a truly inclusive and equitable learning environment in higher education? In this session, we will delve into the concept of intersectionality and its significance in fostering inclusive classrooms. Together, we will explore how different social identities, such as race, gender, sexuality, and class, intersect and influence individuals' experiences and social dynamics. By understanding these intersections, we can develop a comprehensive framework for teaching that honors the complexity of our students' lives and identities.

Using AI to Improve Writing Prompts

Mathew Curtis, University of Southern California

AI, such as ChatGPT, provides an opportunity to improve writing assignments. Creating writing prompts for students is work and prompts are often recycled and reflect biases of the professor. Two approaches are discussed:

1) How ChatGPT can be used by the teacher to generate new writing prompts.

2) How ChatGPT can be used by the student to generate new writing prompts.

Teacher use of ChatGPT to create prompts allows fine tuning of ChatGPT responses and correction of problematic ChatGPT responses. Student use of ChatGPT to create prompts allows greater student agency in the creative process.

Student-Athletes and the Stress Crisis

Hope Cate, Cape Fear Community College

If we teach our student-athletes ways to proactively manage stress – as high schoolers and eventually equipping them in college and beyond – we can help them avoid a whole host of other health concerns, like digestive issues, sleep problems, and even stroke and heart disease.
It goes without saying that chronic stress affects a student-athletes’ performance. This is true not only on the court, but in the classroom, with their friends, and in their interactions with family, too.

Unique Needs for Students who are Veterans

Cailyn Green, SUNY Empire State University

This webinar will go through some of the special and unique needs our students who are veterans have. There are many services available for our veterans, but often our students are not aware of them or how to access them. This presentation will go through some common resources and some not so common resources. The presentation will also educate instructors on best practices when interacting with this unique population of students.

Engaged Learning Practices for Student Success

Dr. Alaina Desjardin, Kean University

The webinar will explore effective strategies for improving student retention through high-impact practices, vital for academic success, institutional reputation, and student outcomes. The presenter will delve into factors influencing retention rates and highlight the significance of high-impact practices in fostering engagement, persistence, and success. Gain valuable insights through engaging discussions, case studies, and real-world examples, covering the importance of retention, challenges identification, effective strategies implementation, fostering engagement and success, and assessing initiatives. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance retention rates and create a supportive environment for student success while exploring the transformative potential of high-impact practices in fostering academic excellence.

Academic Procrastination among College Students: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions

Jerrod Brown, Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota

Academic procrastination is a complex and universal phenomenon impacting a sizable percentage of college students. The reasons for such behaviors are many and varied and likely influenced by several neurological, social, family, behavioral, and psychological factors. Regardless of its causes, academic procrastination can contribute to several short and long-term consequences that can negatively impact the health and well-being of the impacted student. Intended for academic professionals, this training will examine the causes and consequences of academic procrastination and its impact on college students. A section of this training will also discuss strategies and interventions aimed at reducing academic procrastination in college settings. Other related topics discussed throughout this training include self-regulation deficits, metacognition, executive dysfunction, excessive screen time exposure, task initiation issues, planning, organization, and time management problems, avoidant coping strategies, sleep disturbances, self-efficacy, self-esteem, rumination, fear, goal planning, social anxiety, perfectionism, grit, attentional deficits, low self-awareness, psychological distress, alexithymia, self-monitoring, motivational deficits, phubbing, sluggish cognitive tempo, and adverse life experiences to name a few. Empirically based research findings will be highlighted throughout this training.

Supporting College Students on the Autism Spectrum

Jerrod Brown, Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex and multifaceted neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social-emotional challenges, communication deficits, and repetitive and fixated behaviors. Many individuals with ASD also experience co-occurring problems with physical health, mental health, and learning. Intended for academic professionals, this training will examine the red flag indicators, consequences, and implications autism has on college students. Special emphasis is placed on the impact autism symptoms and deficits have on attention, learning, memory, and cognition. Other related topics discussed throughout this training include adaptive functioning, executive function, theory of mind (ToM), weak central coherence, choice making deficits, communication challenges, hyper-arousal problems, information processing deficits, fear, sleep-related disturbances, digestive health issues, disruptive behavioral problems, self-regulation issues, and sensory processing problems to name a few. Empirically based research findings will be highlighted throughout this training.

Educators' Identity in the Classroom

Christina Herbin, Washtenaw Community College

Learn more about how the identities we bring into our classrooms can impact our students’ experience. Our identities inform the way we understand and interact with the world, and how we are perceived by others. An important component of developing our teaching practice is being aware of how one’s own identity impacts how we teach and how our students learn. A classroom is an environment where everyone can be their authentic selves – even educators. We will take inventory of our affiliations and identities and how they may shape our perceptions or connections with others. Reflecting on our own personal identities will amplify our self-awareness and commitment to inclusion in our teaching practices.

Improving Student Help-Seeking through Connection and Belonging

April Crenshaw, Chattanooga State Community College

Have you ever sat in your office during office hours wondering “Why aren’t my students here for help?” If so, join us for this interactive virtual session exploring the help-seeking dilemma for community college students.

The session speaker, Associate Professor April Crenshaw, will highlight the results of a 2019 study on the help-seeking behavior of College Algebra students. She will then share strategies she has since implemented to encourage her math students to reach out for support.

As an attendee, you can expect to leave this session with a better understanding of the factors that influence student help-seeking as well as practical, research-based strategies to foster a greater sense of connection and belonging in your classroom.

Effective Engagement Strategies to Increase Student Learning Outcomes

Dr. Daryl Green, Oklahoma Baptist University

How can today’s educational institutions produce greater learning outcomes for this generation of students? In this entertaining session, participants will learn more about Gen Z students and how to leverage business simulations to produce greater learner outcomes. Most students can benefit from practical application of theory. Some of these active learning tactics include question-and-answer sessions, team led-discussions, experiential learning, and hand-on activities.

7 Steps to Social Justice Education: Integrating DEIB into the College Classroom
Chana Etengoff, Adelphi University

Building on the agentive pedagogical theories of Freire, Kegan and Stetsenko, I aim to outline the importance of integrating DEIB into college courses and identify seven accessible ways in which to do so. Teachers will find a comprehensive review of the theory and research related to seven DEIB teaching practices: (1) Diverse Representation/Visibility, (2) Modeling Inclusive Language/Practices, (3) Addressing Social Issues and Inequities, (4) Broadening the Applied Topical Scope, (5) Meaning-Making, (6) Teaching from a Strengths-Based Perspective, and (7) Promoting Students’ Agency.

Creating an Inclusive Classroom with Course Climate
Christina Herbin, Washtenaw Community College

Inclusion is about creating classrooms where all identities, experiences, and backgrounds are valued. Equity acknowledges that we're all different. These differences make us each unique. We can create inclusive classrooms where everyone, despite their identities, can feel appreciated and valued. The course climate is a key aspect of creating an inclusive classroom. The instructor-to-student and student-to-student interactions set the tone of the classroom. Creating inclusive spaces is the responsibility of everyone. Learn strategies to create a classroom climate that embraces students’ varied identities, experiences, and backgrounds. We will discuss practical strategies for how to build an inclusive course climate for all students to learn.

Excessive Sugar Sweetened Beverage Consumption among College Students: Implications for Mood, Behavior, Learning, and Cognition
Jerrod Brown, Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are commonly consumed by college students. Common examples of SSBs can come in the form of hot or cold drinks and include soda, sweetened mineral water, sweetened coffees, sweetened energy drinks, sweetened teas, and sports drinks. These types of drinks are a significant source of added sugars in a person’s diet and typically provide little to no nutritional value. Over-consumption of SSBs is associated with an array of physical, psychological, behavioral, and learning consequences. Intended for academic professionals, this training will examine the causes, consequences, and implications excessive sugar sweetened beverage consumption has on college students. Empirically based research findings will be highlighted throughout this training.

Discussing Mental Health Topics Appropriately in College Settings

Cailyn Green, SUNY Empire State College

This webinar is designed to show instructors how to properly and appropriately discuss sensitive topics in mental health. It can be a fuzzy line as to how in depth we go in our mental health conversations, depending on our clinical experience or credentials. It can also be a stick situation when a student wants to go in depth on a mental health topic or a panel. How much leeway do we grant them?

Assignments Design for General Education Courses

Dr. Ying Zhen, Wesleyan College

This presentation shares the examples of assignments design for three general education economics courses under three different domains at Wesleyan College: ECO 102 Issues in Macroeconomics (Domain 1: Historical Events), ECO 104 Issues in Microeconomics (Domain 3: Individuals and Communities), and ECO 210 Women and Economic Development (Domain 5: Women's Experiences). It shows how such assignments would help satisfy the various student learning outcomes, along with the reporting of data and response to the data.

Using Diagnostics to Meet Underprepared Writing Students Where They Are
Caitlin Edahl, Hawkes Learning

Discover effective strategies for implementing a co-requisite English composition course that caters to the diverse learning needs of today's students.

Learn how to utilize our unique diagnostic assessment to support students entering first-year writing courses with targeted remediation and a contextualized review of study skills, grammar, reading, writing, and research. Stick around for a Q&A with Caitlin Edahl, Lead English Editor, to discuss how English Composition with Integrated Review can be tailored to meet your co-requisite classroom’s needs and improve learning outcomes.

An Exploration of Tools for Business Student Success: Comparison of On-Line Post-Covid-19 Vs. On-Ground Pre-pandemic Course Delivery

Dr. Marc Aguilera, American College of Education

Due to an increasing need to reach students at all levels in the online classroom, educators can use a wide variety of tools involving technology and online discussion tools. Few will dispute the importance of differentiated instruction. As student populations become increasingly diverse, importance must be placed on diversity and inclusion practices. Regardless of the environment where one chooses to learn, differentiated instruction celebrates the unique gifts of all learners, while not forgetting stronger students to answer questions with more complex nuances. With recent advances in technology and education, it is important to explore programs, applications, and elements which assist in differentiated instruction. American College of Education has explored the increasing availability of educational technology useful for differentiating instruction in the classroom.

Developing a Social Justice OER

Cailyn Green, SUNY Empire State College

This webinar is going to introduce the process for developing a social justice OER. SUNY ESC is instating a social justice gen ed requirement starting in the fall 2023 term. I am working on creating a free Open Education Resource which will be used for a new social justice in the human service professions course (currently in development). This presentation will introduce other academic professionals to the importance of this social justice gen ed requirement, the process of getting a small grant to create the OER and how the OER development is going thus far.

Supports for Note Taking to Increase Student Success
Shawna Hudson, Iowa Wesleyan University

We all want students to succeed but how do we make that happen? Many students, especially those with Dyslexia or executive functioning deficits, cannot access the material when a teacher presents it in lecture form. How can you help students access the material? In this presentation you will learn 5 alternatives to note taking, including technology and traditional means, that you can implement immediately to increase student success.

Trauma and Neuroscience-Informed Education

Jerrod Brown and Janina Cich, Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota

A history of exposure to trauma and other life adversities is common among student populations. As such, it is imperative for educators to understand the topic of trauma-informed care. Trauma Informed Care (TIC) is an overarching philosophy, biopsychosocial framework, and organizational structure that draws from diverse fields, including trauma, attachment, and neurobiology. TIC is designed to help organizations better understand and recognize the impact of trauma on the individual through a strengths-based perspective. Because trauma can also negatively impact brain functioning and academic performance, becoming neuroscience-informed is of great importance.

Designed for professionals working in academic settings, this one-hour training provides attendees with a working understanding of the core principles of trauma-informed care and why incorporating neuroscience-informed approaches into this approach within academic settings will likely lead to improved student outcomes.

Other topics discussed in this training will include trauma symptoms and triggers, shame, empathy, self-regulation deficits, sensory processing limitations, alexithymia, attachment issues, executive dysfunction, metacognitive skills, motivational deficits, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction, neuroplasticity, performance issues, resilience, gratitude, optimism, sleep disturbances, theory of mind, and time management and organizational issues to name a few. Empirically-based research findings will be highlighted throughout this training.

Training Objectives:

Define trauma and other related concepts (e.g., toxic stress, adverse childhood experiences, and complex trauma)
Describe the fundamental principles of trauma-informed care
Examine how trauma and its associated deficits can impact brain functioning and overall academic performance
Describe and implement appropriate educational approaches through a trauma and neuroscience-informed lens

Make Workshopping Work: Writing Feedback for Growth in Asynchronous Classes

Megan Kuyatt, Anne Arundel Community College

Workshopping as a method of feedback has been under pedagogical scrutiny as of late--and for good reason. While workshopping can be an effective method of introducing students to new perspectives on their work, and introduce them to the reality of their work under reader interpretation, it is easy for the workshop to become a discouraging--and even detrimental--structure. In this webinar, we'll discuss critical elements for making workshop work--especially in an asynchronous environment. We'll explore establishing tone and structure of the workshop model, creating workshop groups for engagement, as well as ideas for how to have students engage and check in post-workshop.

Zooming in to Better Engagement

Dr. Laura Garrett, Tulsa Community College

Numerous techniques to increase student participation via Zoom will be discussed in various situations, including live class supplementation and synchronous teaching. Dr Garrett will discuss successful methods to enrich Zoom classrooms and outline the pitfalls. Techniques using active learning and collaboration tools that make classes more interactive will be demonstrated. Dr. Garrett finds these methods allow students to participate in more engaging ways, sometimes more than in a live classroom. Often there is immediate personal engagement between students and instructors, which may create greater feelings of community and lessen feelings of isolation. More responsive exchanges between students and instructors can prevent miscommunication or misunderstanding. She will present the research regarding the effectiveness of Zoom sessions and demonstrate the techniques she has found to keep students engaged. Proper online etiquette will be discussed. There can be advantages especially for students who have difficulty with work, school and family challenges.

Everyone's a Writer: Empowering Students to Unleash Their Inner Writing Genius

David Von Schlichten, Seton Hill University

In a world of emails, texts, and social media, all of our students will do a great deal of writing in their careers, yet students often struggle with confidence and basic writing concepts. Drawing from Hawkes's "Foundations of English," award-winning instructor Dr. David von Schlichten will enthusiastically use humor, stories, and clear, practical steps to debunk writing myths and to show how instructors can liberate each student's unique writing voice so that they can be clearer, more efficient, and more effective communicators. Writing better means living better. Let's unleash the writing genius within!

Recordings

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