Workshops & Presentations
From spring 2013 through spring 2016 I led a number of presentations, most delivered at a workshop series I organized for the University of Wisconsin (Madison) College of Letters & Science Learning Support Services. These workshops were based on my research into instructional design and experience as an instructor. Topics included: grad-student professional development, digital humanities research strategies, teaching best-practices in face-to-face, blended, and online courses, and student-instructor communication strategies. I rebuilt many of these workshops into digital instructional guides that are now available online.
Developing Your Professional Web Presence
This workshop introduced participants to the tools needed to create a professional academic web portfolio. In addition, the session illustrated how to use a personal website or professional social media accounts to help secure future employment, to foster academic collaboration, and to innovate pedagogically.
Delivered: 2013-2016
Incorporated into online instructional e-text, Developing Your Web Presence.
Workshop also presented at the Teaching Academy's Teaching and Learning Symposium (2013), Madison, WI
Teaching with Learn@UW
This hands-on workshop introduced attendees to essential Learn@UW pedagogical tips for improving student outcomes. It covered course organization, class communications, grading, and discussions. Participants left with a better understanding of how to; organize their course in such a way that students could easily and quickly access course information and complete assignments; provide course updates to students that they’d read and that would encourage them to come to class prepared; upload interactive and engaging course materials (Media Space); facilitate engaging classroom conversations outside of class hours.
Delivered: 2014
Incorporated into online instructional e-text, Teaching in Desire 2 Learn.
Beyond Office Hours
This workshop provided tips and suggestions for how to use technology aids - such as Learn@UW, Moodle, Google Apps, and Twitter -effectively . This workshop also served as a forum where attendees shared ideas with each other ideas concerning student-instructor communication best-practices.
Delivered: 2014
Now an online self-guided text, Essentials of Course Communication.
Workshop also presented at the Teaching Academy's Teaching and Learning Symposium (2014), UW - Madison
Strategies Towards Improving Student Outcomes in Blended Learning Courses
This workshop offered participants strategies and practical suggestions for improving student learning outcomes in a blended course. Participants learned how to improve student engagement and interaction through thoughtful course planning, the effective employment of new digital education tools, the personalizing of course learning objectives, and increased student input into assignment design.
Workshop presented at the Distance Teaching & Learning Conference (2015), Madison, WI
Lessons on the Use of Webquests to Improve Student Engagement and Learning Outcomes
This presentation introduced attendees to three webquest assignments my students completed earlier that year and the pedagogical insight I gained from the experience. I examined my goals for the assignments: improve students' sense of ownership over their work, facilitate group collaboration, and encourage greater student creativity. I explored the assignments strengths and weaknesses; significant improvement in student interest and buy-in, but (in one assignment) not enough guidance from me as instructor. I concluded my presentation emphasizing the importance of post-project in-class discussion to help both students and I learn from our mistakes.
Workshop presented at the Active Teaching Lab (2015), UW - Madison
Blending Your Course
This workshop focused on one week of my blended 200 level humanities course to explore and discuss best practices in blended learning and to provide a forum wherein instructors could discuss their own experiences and ideas. Participants left with a better understanding as to the practicalities of creating and structuring a blended learning course, and gained an opportunity to work through the common problems of blending.
Delivered: 2014-2015
Incorporated into online instructional e-text, Teaching in Desire 2 Learn.
Best Teaching Practices
In 2014 and 2015 I organized two grad-student symposiums exploring teaching best-practices. The spring 2015 symposium, highlighted here, featured a panel of three experienced teaching assistants who each shared their own impactful methods of instruction. Ashley Hink (Communication Arts) showcased the powerful digital tools she employed to enhance her own teaching. Melissa Miller (Slavic Languages and Literature) demonstrated proven techniques for overcoming the dreaded sound of classroom silence. And finally, Scott Gerard Prinster (History of Science) explained how TA's could better establish their authority and trustworthiness as an educator to students -- all the while establishing student-instructor relationships conducive to a healthy classroom and productive semester.
Symposium Held: 2014-2015
Campus Pedagogical Resources
This workshop introduced attendees to the many university resources and support units across campus available to faculty, graduate students, and staff. Likewise, it challenged participants to rethink at least one aspect of their teaching, highlight practical ways in which the support resources covered could be used, and provided examples of how instructors have used them in the past.
Delivered: 2013-2015, Online Version Available
Promotional poster I created for workshop. Built using: Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Publisher
Research & Digital Resources
This workshop introduced participants to academic research using digital technology, focusing on the digital humanities. The workshop explored best methods in digital duplication, online digital research, data storage, and the latest in data mining.
Delivered: 2013
Now an online self-guided text, Research in a Digital Age.