Rocklin Teaching and Learning Invited Speaker Series, spring events, starting the semester strong, and more in our winter newsletter!
Center for Teaching workshop

Center for Teaching Newsletter: Winter Break 24-25

Supporting excellence in teaching and learning at Iowa  

Welcome to the winter break edition of the Center for Teaching newsletter!

This issue includes information about tomorrow’s invited speaker, a full list of our spring semester events, and ideas for how to set your students up for a successful start to class this spring. 

Tomorrow is the second annual edition of our Rocklin Teaching and Learning Invited Speaker Series, a pre-semester event focused on collaborating with national experts to enhance the teaching and learning community at the University of Iowa. The 2025 Rocklin Speaker is Dr. Bryan Dewsbury, Associate Professor of Biology and Associate Director of the STEM Transformation Institute at Florida International University. Dr. Dewsbury will explore a more comprehensive view of what is possible from a high-quality education experience. While subject matter expertise will always be important, college classrooms afford us an opportunity to engage the whole student in ways that prepares them to be respectful, engaged, and open-minded members of an evolving democracy. Dr. Tom Rocklin, the Center for Teaching's founding director whom the series is named after, will be providing brief opening remarks. 

This virtual event takes place from 10:00 a.m. to noon tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 16. If you haven’t registered yet, you can find more information and RSVP for the event online.

Upcoming Events & Deadlines

The Center for Teaching invites you to register or apply for our spring 2025 events and programs:

Jan. 31 - Application Deadline for Inclusive Teaching Book Club

Feb. 7 - Belonging and Mattering in the Classroom

Feb. 12 - Cultivating Success: International Teaching
Co-sponsored by International Programs

Feb. 24 - SoTL Institute Interactive Workshop

March 4 - Ida Beam Visiting Scholar Lecture and Discussion
Co-sponsored by the College of Education and the Center for Teaching

March 12 - TILE Teaching Demo
Co-sponsored by the Office of Teaching, Learning, and Technology

March 21 - Application deadline for CIRTL Teaching as Research Series
Co-sponsored by the Graduate College

April 2 - Writing Effective Teaching Narratives
Co-sponsored by the Office of the Provost

April 25 - 26 - Connecting K12 and Higher Ed Conference (registration opens in February)
Co-facilitated by the College of Education

May 19 - 23 - Course Design Institute

Make sure you save the date for our summer events. 

Aug. 11 - Transparent Assignment Design Retreat

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 spring 2025 events and descriptions to learn more about all of our events, workshops, services, and support.

Center for Teaching Staff Spotlight – Tamar Bernfeld

Learn more about how the Center for Teaching can support you in our new staff spotlight series. Our first staff spotlight features Dr. Tamar Bernfeld, who shares more about her role in the center and at the university, her scholarly interests, and what she is looking forward to next semester.  

Starting the Semester Strong

Enjoy a successful kickoff to the spring semester by revisiting some of our most popular resources for the start of classes. 

Our article, "Seven Ideas for Setting Your First Week of Class up for Success!", offers practical advice for creating an engaging, supportive learning environment from day one of class. Our PDF guide on introducing your syllabus to your students includes a wide range of strategies and activities, arranged by time commitment, to ensure your syllabus is a tool for student success. 

2025 Course Design Institute

Unlock the potential of your courses with the 2025 Course Design Institute! This intensive, multi-day workshop from May 19 - 23 is perfect for instructors looking to craft, refine, or update their course offerings. Dive into evidence-based strategies for creating integrated and student-focused learning experiences, align learning goals with assessments, and showcase your course structure.  

Application review starts March 28, 2025 – don't miss this opportunity to transform your teaching! 
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.