A pop-up event in April, information about Students as Partners, faculty experiences in the Course Design Institute, and other upcoming events
Center for Teaching workshop

Center for Teaching Newsletter: March 2024

Supporting excellence in teaching and learning at Iowa  

Welcome back to the Center for Teaching newsletter, a monthly collection of topics for anyone who wants to advance teaching and learning excellence. 

This March, we're excited to share resources and insights on student-faculty partnerships, the benefits of participating in the Course Design Institute, and upcoming events and workshops hosted by the Center for Teaching. 

We are excited to announce a pop-up event from Noon to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, April 12 with Dr. Alison Cook-Sather. This interactive virtual event, The Multiple Possibilities of Pedagogical Partnership, will explore the power and potential of faculty-student partnerships. Dr. Cook-Sather, a renowned expert on pedagogical partnerships, will offer insights into and examples of curriculum- and pedagogy-focused partnerships at multiple levels, as well as examples of partnerships in Scholarship in Teaching and Learning (SoTL) work. Participants will engage with each other in breakout sessions and have the opportunity to ask Dr. Cook-Sather questions about how they can integrate partnerships into curriculum, pedagogy, and/or SoTL. 

The event, hosted in collaboration with Xavier University, is made possible thanks to funding from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). Please register online to take advantage of this excellent opportunity to hear from a leading expert who has developed internationally recognized programs that position students and teachers as pedagogical partners.

Student-Faculty Partnerships

The University of Iowa's Students as Partners program, led by the Center for Teaching, brings together instructors and students for collaborative partnerships to foster more inclusive, engaging, and equitable learning environments. The program, which launched as a pilot at Iowa in 2023, allows students to gain unique insights and contribute to course development and delivery.

Faculty Experiences in Course Design Institute

Applications are now being accepted for the 2024 Course Design Institute. 

Learn more about the program and hear from previous Course Design Institute participants who used their experience to connect with others, refine their course design strategies, and refresh their teaching practices. 

Applications for Graduate Teaching Fellows Program

As a reminder, applications for the Graduate Teaching Fellows program are due Friday, April 19. 

The program will welcome six participants for the 2024-2025 academic year. The year-long, paid fellowship allows terminal degree students the opportunity to develop their teaching skills and portfolio by collaborating with TAs from across the university on a range of pedagogical issues while gaining practical experience in the field of educational development through collaboration with Center for Teaching staff.

Upcoming Events

Sparkshop: Efficient and Impactful Approaches to Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
April 3, Noon - 12:25 p.m. via Zoom
How do you prioritize what's truly important for your students’ learning? Join us for a 25-minute sparkshop about choosing the most impactful intervention to make your course more accessible and inclusive.

Graduate Student Experiences with Equitable Grading
April 19, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. via Zoom
This event, co-sponsored by the Center for Teaching’s Assessing Assessment Faculty Learning Community and the Graduate Teaching Fellows Program, will allow participants to engage in conversation with current Iowa graduate students and faculty about their experiences trying alternative assessment and grading practices.

Anastasia Williams featured by Staff Council

Anastasia Williams, assistant director at the Center for Teaching, was recently featured by University of Iowa Staff Council for her work raising awareness about mental health. In addition to her exceptional work supporting teaching practice and course design for faculty, staff, and students, Anastasia also founded and co-leads the Obermann Working Group "Reconceptualizing the Mental Health Crisis in Higher Education: A Mindful Journey." 

 
The University of Iowa

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa–sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact the Center for Teaching in advance at 319-335-6048.