Our official website launch, finishing your course strong, New TA Orientation, and more!
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Center for Teaching Newsletter: April 2024

Supporting excellence in teaching and learning at Iowa  

Welcome to the April edition of the Center for Teaching newsletter! This month includes information about our upcoming graduate fellow workshop, guidance on how you can end your teaching for the semester on a high note, a pair of exciting opportunities for graduate students, and information about our new ArtInfuse Teaching Program.

But first, we are thrilled to announce that we have launched the new Center for Teaching website at teaching.center.uiowa.edu. The site is designed with you in mind, offering easy-to-find resources, programs, events, and opportunities to connect with other members of the campus community who care about excellence in teaching and learning.

We encourage you to share the site with anyone you know looking for teaching support and programs or advice on teaching topics like course design, student engagement, and more.

As you explore the website, please let us know what you think. Email us at teaching@uiowa.edu to provide feedback, suggestions, or let us know about any issues you encounter. We want to provide you with the best experience possible.

The Experience and Impact of Alternative Grading

Join Center for Teaching Graduate Fellows and Faculty Learning Community members from 11 a.m. - noon on Friday, April 19 for a virtual session discussing alternative assessment and grading practices. Graduate Student Experiences with Equitable Grading will examine the benefits of these approaches and explore the support that a TA may need to foster equitable assessment in their teaching practice. 

Ending on a High Note: The Last Week of Class

Elevate your course's final week with engaging strategies to deepen student reflection and enhance learning outcomes. This article offers insightful tips on revisiting core course concepts, helping students prepare for final exams or projects, and gathering constructive feedback on the course. Using these concepts can help you finish strong and build momentum for future terms.

Become a NTAO Graduate Student Facilitator

The Center for Teaching is hiring graduate students to facilitate workshop sessions at New TA Orientation (NTAO) on August 22, 2024. NTAO reaches hundreds of incoming graduate students every year and impacts their campus experience in significant ways. Graduate student instructors with at least two semesters of UI teaching experience are eligible to apply. Applications are due Monday, May 15. 

Graduate Student Course Design Institute

The Transforming Your Research Into Teaching (TYRIT) Workshop Series introduces graduate students to an evidence-based course design framework and helps them design a course based on their current area of research interest or one they may need to teach in their future careers. TYRIT is open to all graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. The workshops run June 17 - July 8, 2024. The deadline to register is May 24, 2024.

Introducing the ArtInfuse Teaching Program

The Stanley Museum of Art and Center for Teaching are excited to partner on an innovative new teaching program for faculty from all disciplines interested in learning how they can integrate art into their course to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. Participants selected for this interdisciplinary cohort will receive expert support as they design art-enhanced assignments, lessons, or other components for a spring 2025 course. 

A special invitation from the Excellence in Teaching and Learning P3 Project.

Stop by the ETL P3 Project Showcase tomorrow

Participants in the Excellence in Teaching and Learning (ETL) P3 project will host an open house event tomorrow, Thursday, April 18 from 2 - 4 p.m. in the Iowa Memorial Union's Black Box Theater. The event will celebrate the impactful work of UI faculty and staff in enhancing student learning through evidence-based strategies. All members of the university community are welcome to stop by to engage in conversation and gain insights into effective teaching practices.
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.