Workshops and Professional Development

Feedback Fruit Workshop Series

Date, Time, and Location: Every Wednesday, February 12 – February 26, 2025, 10:00am – 11:00am, Online

Facilitators: Megan Linos, Director of Digital and Online Teaching, DTEI, and Samuele Ceppi, Implementation Manager, Feedback Fruits

Workshop 1: Improving group work with FeedbackFruits

In this session, we introduced Group Formation, Group Member Evaluation, and Team-Based Learning available in FeedbackFruits to help instructors create a fair, structured, and engaging group work assignment.

Workshop 2: Increasing feedback touchpoints with FeedbackFruits

In this session, we showcased how Peer Review and Automated Feedback features in FeedbackFruits can streamline assessment, improving feedback quality and supporting student growth without adding to your workload.

Workshop 3: Designing learning assets with FeedbackFruits to enhance student engagement

In this session, we demonstrated how to turn course material into an interactive learning experience by using FeedbackFruits’ Interactive Document, Video, Audio, and Comprehension features to encourage active reading and improve comprehension.

Mobile Drop-In Hours

Date, Time, and Location: Various 1030

Facilitators: Matt Mahavongtrakul, Megan Linos, Fanny Tsai, Alex Bower, Bo Choi, Theresa Duong
Several folks from DTEI will be traveling around campus for informal drop-in hours! Come and bring your questions or ideas, say hello or hang out for a bit.

Pedagogical Workshop: Pedagogy of Kindness

Date, Time, and Location: Thursday, December 5th, from 10:30-12:00pm, AIRB 1030

Facilitators: Cate Denial

Cate Denial is the Bright Distinguished Professor of American History at Knox College. Her innovative, student-centered pedagogy and classroom engagement was recognized by the American Historical Association with the 2018 Eugene Asher Distinguished Teaching award. Her new book, A Pedagogy of Kindness, argues that academia needs to get relentlessly kind, a practice that has nothing to do with simply “being nice.” Kindness requires a commitment to justice be front and center in our teaching in order for us to co-create learning opportunities with our students.

Please join Cate for a workshop on strategies for justice and equity in teaching rooted in a pedagogy of kindness.

Digital Learning Workshop: Designing Effective Peer Review Assignments: Leveraging Digital Tools to Enhance Feedback, Collaboration, and Engagement

Date, Time, and Location: Thursday, November 21st, from 12:30-1:50pm, AIRB 1030

Facilitators: Jennifer Hite (Business), Debbie Letourneau (Business), Megan Linos (DTEI) and Reina Mizrahi (DTEI)

Peer review assignments foster collaboration and deeper learning, but implementing them can come with challenges. In this interactive workshop, we will discuss the impact of peer review on student learning and explore how digital tools like Feedbackfruits, Canvas, Perusall, and Gradescope can help create and grade peer review assignments. Through reflecting on your own teaching experiences, reviewing existing research, discussing best practices, and examining common challenges, you’ll gain insights into creating meaningful peer review activities. Whether you’re new to creating a peer review assignment or looking to enhance your approach, this session will equip you with practical tools and strategies to design and implement effective peer review assignments. Lunch and beverages will be provided.

Pedagogical Workshop: Building a Supportive Learning Community in Your Classroom

Date, Time, and Location: Monday, November 18th, from 11:00 am-12:30pm, AIRB 1030

Facilitators: Brandon Golob (Social Ecology), Matt Mahavongtrakul (Biological Sciences), Bo Choi (DTEI)

How can fostering a supportive learning community transform your classroom environment and enhance student success? Join us for an engaging discussion where we will identify the key elements and impacts of creating a supportive learning community. We will also discuss how to engage students with their peers, learning support teams (Learning Assistants and Teaching Assistants, etc.), and instructors to foster both academic and social success. Participants will also receive help planning an activity that cultivates a sense of community and belonging among students. Come prepared to explore innovative strategies and exchange ideas with fellow faculty members on building a classroom community that thrives! Lunch and beverages will be provided.

Digital Learning Workshop: Generative AI in Education: Friend or Foe?

Date, Time, and Location:Thursday, November 7th, from 12:00pm-1:00pm, AIRB 1030

Facilitator: Beth Harnick-Shapiro (Engineering), Dominic Slauson (OIT), and Fanny Tsai (DTEI)

Join us for a discussion exploring the role of Generative AI in higher education. You’ll hear from faculty and instructional designers about how Generative AI tools are being used in courses and the challenges they bring. We will also discuss whether Generative AI is a “friend or foe” and talk about related ethical matters for teaching and learning. Guest speakers will share their strategies for integrating Generative AI in teaching responsively. Templates and tools like ZotGPT and PapyrusAI will also be demonstrated. Bring your laptop or smart device to engage with the content, and enjoy the refreshments provided during the event!

Pedagogical Workshop: Why Aren’t Students Coming? Student Voices on Barriers to Office Hours Engagement and Solutions to Overcome Them

Date, Time, and Location:Monday, October 14th, from 12:00pm-2:00pm, AIRB 1030

Facilitator: Rachael Barry (Biological Sciences), Eduardo Gonzalez (Biology, UCSB), Vanessa Woods (UCSB), Jeremy Hsu (Chapman U), and the DTEI Digital and Online Teaching Team

Join us for this workshop where faculty across campus will explore the real reasons students may hesitate to attend office hours and discover actionable strategies to increase engagement. Using insights gathered directly from student feedback and data, we will reflect on the common barriers students face—whether it’s discomfort, scheduling conflicts, or unclear expectations—and work together to identify solutions. Participants will leave with practical ideas for making office hours more accessible, welcoming, and effective, ensuring that students get the support they need outside of class. Join us in creating a more inclusive learning environment where office hours become a valuable resource for all students. Lunch and beverages will be provided

Active Learning Institute

Date, Time, and Location:Wednesdays during Fall ’24, from 12:00pm-1:20pm, AIRB 1030

Facilitator: Matt Mahavongtrakul (mmahavon@uci.edu), Program Director of Educational Development

The Active Learning Institute (ALI) is a series of 8 sessions that support faculty in integrating active learning strategies into their courses. The ALI covers course goals, active learning activities and assignments, use of technology, and more. These interactive sessions give faculty the opportunity to practice techniques and design strategies that work best in their own courses. It is also an opportunity to discuss teaching and gain insights from faculty across the disciplines. Please note that the ALI is currently open to faculty only.

Successful completion of the ALI earns faculty the Certificate in Course Design. Passing the optional COPUS observations earns faculty the Certificate of Engaged Instruction as well as placement on the preferential scheduling list for reserving Active Learning Classrooms.