Upcoming Teaching Workshops!

OPD supports graduate students and postdocs teaching right now and helps prepare them for careers as teachers in higher education.

Teaching Controversial Topics in Contentious Times
Thursday, September 18th - 9:30-11:00am (Campus Center TBA)
In the current political moment, several topics we teach (such as climate change, gender ideology, critical race theory, and so on) might be deemed "controversial." How do we engage with topics that might generate strong emotions in students? In this workshop, UMass grad student Debadatta Chakraborty draws on contemplative pedagogies and pedagogies of hope to offer strategies for navigating emotionally-charged subjects with care and confidence. Part of the Teaching Academy and the UMass JEDI conference!

Engage Students with Active Learning
Friday, September 19th - 12:30-1:45pm (515 Goodell)
Looking to make your class more interactive? UMass grad student Victoria Vizzini will share practical strategies for designing engaging activities that help students connect with course content in new, creative ways. Whether you're adapting existing ideas or starting from scratch, this workshop will equip you with strategies to turn lecture-based material into collaborative activities that help students engage with content and with each other in order to build confidence and self-reliance skills. Part of the Teaching Academy!
 
Teaching “Boring” Required Courses Without Giving Up
Friday, September 26th - 12:20-1:35pm (515 Goodell)
This workshop is for anyone who has been tasked with teaching a required, “boring” class and is struggling to engage students who expect boredom. UMass grad student Busra Karkili shares what happened when her vision of lively classroom discussions met the reality of teaching a required course. Join our workshop to explore ideas for building relevance and participation, with empathy and flexibility. Pizza lunch will be provided. Part of the Teaching Academy!
 
“So, Any Thoughts?”: Translating the Awkward Silence in Class Discussions
Friday, September 26th - 2:00-3:15pm (515 Goodell)
Discussions invite all participants to engage with one another’s ideas. Yet too often, these sessions are met with silent pauses, off-topic comments, or rushed attempts to keep the conversation going. This interactive workshop with UMass grad student Yan Wu will offer strategies for reading the room and facilitating meaningful discussions in a supportive and inclusive atmosphere. Part of the Teaching Academy!

Five Things to Do on the Last Day of Class
Friday, November 21st - 12:30-1:45pm (515 Goodell)
By the end of the semester, we are all exhausted and overworked. How can we end the semester with the same enthusiasm that we had at the beginning? This workshop will present five things that you can do on the last day of class to help students reflect on their learning, the course content, and their successes.