Students in a non-fiction writing class watching their instructor

Center for Teaching Newsletter: September 2024

Supporting excellence in teaching and learning at Iowa  

Welcome to the September edition of the Center for Teaching newsletter! This month, we delve into effective strategies for collecting mid-semester student feedback, introduce the new Scholarly Teaching Program, share a student perspective on challenging classroom conversations, and answer some questions about SoTL. Plus, a reminder to register for our upcoming Center for Teaching events! 

Why collect mid-semester feedback during your course?
Asking your students about their learning experience before the end of the semester is one of the easiest ways to enhance your teaching, support student learning, and ensure you're on the right track with your class. There are many methods for collecting student feedback, including new tools like the Midterm SPOT Check. This confidential midterm feedback survey is a feature within the new end-of-course feedback system (previously ACE) that allows instructors to ask students the same questions they will get in the end-of-term feedback survey.

Midterm feedback allows instructors to make timely adjustments while also engaging students to better understand their learning journey and create a more impactful learning environment. Check out this article from our database to learn more about some of the benefits of mid-semester feedback and how you can approach gathering feedback. 

Need help? The Center for Teaching is available to assist instructors with gathering feedback.

Scholarly Teaching Program

The Center for Teaching is launching a new Scholarly Teaching Program. The program offers the opportunity for a cohort of teaching-focused faculty to participate in an interdisciplinary learning community, explore the literature on evidence-based teaching practices, and attend a teaching conference together to help them plan, implement, and assess impactful teaching practices. 

Participants in the Spring 2025 cohort will receive financial support to travel to The Teaching Professor conference in Washington, D.C., June 6-8, 2025. There is no obligation to propose or present, but participants will receive support in developing their materials if they choose to. 

Exploring SoTL: A Q&A with Sara Nasrollahian

Sara Nasrollahian, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) expert and assistant director of the Center for Teaching, shares more information about the SoTL Institute on Oct. 18 and offers insights on the impact of SoTL on teaching practices, its vital role in academic development, and how you can get involved in SoTL. 

Student Perspectives on Difficult Dialogues and other Teaching Strategies

Did you know the Center for Teaching website has a resource section highlighting student perspectives? In a new resource on "Navigating Difficult Dialogues in the Classroom – a Student Perspective," Spring 2024 GWSS Practicum students Alie Holmes, Jenna Khan, and Nathan Walter share how “As students, we value an instructor's commitment and purposeful intentionality to address the situation with care" and offer evidence-based suggestions for instructors managing difficult dialogues in their courses.  

Center for Teaching Events

Sept. 19: Sparkshop: Leveraging Midsemester Student Feedback (noon - 12:25 p.m., via Zoom)
An interactive Sparkshop sharing how instructors can interpret students’ feedback and make effective teaching choices moving forward.

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, this roundtable is designed for instructors curious about how artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance their teaching.

Oct. 2: Leveraging Low-stakes Writing for Critical Engagement and Learning (11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., UCC 2070E)
Explore how to integrate writing into courses across disciplines using low-stakes writing activities that allow students to engage critically.

Oct. 11: Designing Aligned Course Assignments (noon - 1 p.m., via Zoom)
This interactive workshop will show instructors how to apply strategies to create well-designed assignments that contribute to student engagement, motivation, and learning outcomes.

Oct. 18: Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Institute (1 - 4:30 p.m., IMU International Ballroom)
The inaugural Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Institute, which is co-sponsored by the Division of Student Life, will allow attendees to learn more about the impact and potential of SoTL to improve teaching and learning. 

Center for Teaching Practicum Student Featured in Iowa Now

Alison Holmes, one of the Center for Teaching's practicum students during the Spring 2024 semester, published a blog post for the Well-Being at Iowa website that was featured in the Sept. 5 Iowa Now newsletter. The post, "Well-Being is Essential to Success in College" was written as part of her senior practicum experience. Alison shared more about her experience in a recent LinkedIn post. 
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.