Join us for CTL Teach Week, June 1-5, 2026, where we'll start to question our default assumptions about what we can and cannot do in our course design or instructional practices.
Whether you're rethinking your assessments, planning for accessibility, or curious about whether GenAI could assist in inclusive teaching, Teach Week offers meaningful insights to fuel your pedagogical innovation long after the sessions end and into the summer.
WORKSHOPS
"Transforming Assessments into Authentic Experiences"
Date: Monday, June 1, 10:00 to 11:30 am via Zoom
Facilitators: Sara Cavallo and Beth Lisi (CTL)
How can we design assessments that students remember (fondly) years later? In this workshop you will learn what makes an assessment memorable, explore different authentic learning tasks across disciplines, and begin to draft an authentic assessment for your own course that you can continue to refine throughout the summer.
"Building for an Accessible Future: First Steps"
Date: Tuesday, June 2, 10:00 to 11:30 am via Zoom
Facilitators: Erica Foley (IDEAS) and Brian Baldi (CTL)
Interested in making your course accessible, but not sure where to begin? Encountering dilemmas in the process? During this session, we will think deliberately and collectively about what it means to truly teach accessibly, and how we can use the Title II deadline extension to experiment and learn so we can build toward an accessible future.
"GenAI as Your Partner in Inclusive Learning Design"
Date: Wednesday, June 3, 10:00 to 11:30 am via Zoom
Facilitators: Kirsten Helmer and Colleen Kuusinen (CTL)
What if GenAI could help you design for every student? In this workshop, we'll use evidence-based prompting to explore four approaches: auditing materials for bias, developing case studies that reflect student diversity, generating alternative assignment formats, and supporting teamwork. You'll leave with hands-on practice in the UMass GenAI platform and a springboard for fall course prep.
Course Design Consultation Clinic
Dates: Multiple slots on Thursday, June 4, and Friday, June 5
Facilitators: CTL consultants
Whether you want to reflect on a course you just taught or create a plan for the upcoming semester’s courses, take a moment to go through your plans with a CTL consultant as your “thought partner.” Through these one-on-one consultations, you’ll leave with design ideas for your course that you can return to when you are ready to prepare to teach your course.