Fall workshops and events, an article on teaching STEM, a new resource on motivation, icebreakers for the first day of class, and our inclusive teaching book club
Students walking during the first day of classes

Center for Teaching Newsletter: August 2024

Supporting excellence in teaching and learning at Iowa  

Welcome to the August edition of the Center for Teaching newsletter! We hope you had a great summer. Our newsletter this month is designed to help you get ready for the start of the semester, with information about our upcoming events and workshops, icebreakers for the first day of class, information about our Inclusive Teaching Book Club, a reflective essay from a former graduate teaching fellow about teaching nonmajors, and a new resource on student motivation. 

Registration is now open for all of our fall events! We encourage you to sign up online and add them to your calendars:

Aug. 26: Sparkshop: Setting the Tone for the Semester (noon - 12:25 p.m., via Zoom)

Sept. 19: Sparkshop: Leveraging Midsemester Student Feedback (noon - 12:25 p.m., via Zoom)

Sept. 27: AIxIA: Artificial Intelligence and Instructional Approaches Innovation Roundtable (9 a.m. - noon, UCC 2520D)
Co-sponsored by the Office of Teaching, Learning, and Technology

Oct. 2: Leveraging Low-stakes Writing for Critical Engagement and Learning (11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., UCC 2070E)

Oct. 11: Designing Aligned Course Assignments (noon - 1 p.m., via Zoom)

Oct. 18: Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Institute (1 - 4:30 p.m., IMU International Ballroom)
Co-sponsored by the Division of Student Life. Funding provided by the P3 Strategic Initiatives Fund.

Jan. 16: Rocklin Teaching and Learning Speaker Series: Dr. Bryan Dewsbury (10 a.m. - noon, via Zoom)

On-demand Sparkshop: Navigating Burnout in Teaching and Learning 

All instructors regardless of appointment or experience level are invited to participate in Center for Teaching events.

Download our digital poster featuring a complete list of fall 2024 events and descriptions to learn more about all of our events, workshops, services, and support.

First day of class resources and Sparkshop

Ready to kick off the semester with confidence? Dive into our student-created guide on "Creating Community in the Classroom Through Inclusive Icebreakers" for engaging ways to welcome students. Then, make sure you register for our Setting the Tone for the Semester Sparkshop on Monday, Aug. 26 to explore effective strategies to connect with students, build a strong classroom community, and create an engaging learning environment from day one of class.

Fall 2024 Inclusive Teaching Book Club

This interdisciplinary group will read A Pedagogy of Kindness by Cate Denial, which examines evidence-based strategies to humanize our classrooms by nurturing trust, support, and student belonging. The book club is a space for members to share insights, experiences, and innovative teaching strategies, while fostering a community of inclusivity across disciplines. Join us to contribute to a vibrant discussion on making instruction and course design more inclusive.

We are meeting four times per semester in a hybrid format: feel free to join us in person or via Zoom on Sept. 13 and 27, as well as Oct. 11 and 25, from 2 to 3 p.m.

Reconsidering STEM teaching practices for non-majors

In this reflective essay, which previews ideas he will share in a scholarly journal article he is in the process of writing, 2023-24 Graduate Teaching Fellow Vinay Bapu Ramesh reflects on the value of general education and how it is shaping his approach to teaching science to non-majors.

Unlocking student motivation with course structures

Dive into strategies that energize and engage your students! Our resource on creating motivating course structures provides practical tips to inspire enthusiasm and deepen learning. This resource page can help you think about ways to foster student motivation no matter what your learning environment looks like. 
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.