Tuesday, March 25
2 pm
Community College Consortium for OER (CCCOER) presents: Defying Gravity or Flying Monkeys? A Librarian Panel About the Challenges and Opportunities of AI in OER
AI is transforming Open Education, but is it leading us toward progress or chaos? This librarian-led panel will question the opportunities, challenges, and impact AI presents for the Open community, tackling the overarching question, where does AI fit into OER? Join us for a discussion on the evolving role of AI in Open Education and what it means for the future of teaching and learning.
Moderator: Kathy Essmiller, Ph.D., Coordinator of OKState and OER Librarian, Oklahoma State University, Edmond, OK
Panelists: Frances Alvarado Albertorio, Ph.D. – Graduate Initiatives and Engagement Librarian, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK; Cristina Colquhoun, MS – Instructional Design and Online Learning Librarian, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK; Melissa Mallon, MLIS – Associate University Librarian for Teaching and Learning, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN; and Matthew Pierce, MLS – Lead Instruction Librarian, Germanna Community College, Fredericksburg, VA
Zoom Registration Link

Thursday, March 27
11 am
The Power of Collaboration: Integrating On-ground and Online Techniques
Webinar
Join Sage Publications for an insightful webinar where we delve into the essence of collaboration. We will explore the motivations behind why we collaborate, identify common obstacles, and highlight the numerous benefits of working together. Additionally, we will showcase real-world examples of classroom collaboration and discuss strategies to effectively replicate in-person collaboration in an online environment.
Presenters: Dr. Charlie Gonzalez and Dr. Regina Durante, Sage Faculty Partners
Register for this free webinar

Friday, March 28
9 am – 9:50 am
Teaching in 7-week Terms – Strategies for Success
Panel Discussion
Panelists: Doug Godwin, Jesmin Akther, Zach Mills, Michelle Bowen
Register for this panel discussion
Zoom Passcode: Spring2025

Friday, March 28
9 am
TBR Accessibility Training Series
Effective Alternate Text
Presenter: Amie Nephew, TBR Director of Accessibility
Teams

Friday, March 28
10:30 am – 12 pm
From Blank Page to Masterpiece: AI-Powered Creative Exploration (writing, research, and creativity) – Zoom
AI is transforming the way we approach writing, research, and creative projects.  This session dives deep into the world of AI writing assistants, research tools, and creative generators to support and supplement writing skills. You’ll learn how AI can enhance your writing, accelerate research, and spark new artistic ideas.  Prepare to experiment with popular platforms and unleash your creativity with AI-powered tools.
Register to attend this session virtually
Zoom Passcode:  AISession4

Friday, March 28
12 pm – 12:50 pm
The Importance of Mental Health (L,E,S,CRTP)
Presentation
This workshop is designed to spread awareness or mental health issues out students experience. The workshop also includes steps for supporting students’ mental health.
Presenter: Courtney Woodard, Student Resource Coordinator
Register for this presentation
Zoom Passcode: Spring2025

Friday, March 28
1 – 1:50 pm
Hidden Potential: Brainwriting Workshop (L,E,S)
Workshop
This workshop explores how structured brainwriting can enhance student engagement, creativity, and assignment participation. Educators will learn to apply this technique in discussions, project planning, and essay development to encourage diverse thinking and reduce conformity bias in idea generation.
Presenters: Kurstin Bush, Asst. Prof. of Education and Teaching Center Fellow, and Robert Ladd, Asst. Professor and Teaching Center Fellow
Register for this workshop
Zoom Passcode: Spring2025

Friday, April 4
9 am
TBR Accessibility Office Hours for TCATS and Community Colleges
Presenter: Amie Nephews, TBR Director of Accessibility
Teams

Friday, April 4
11:30 am
Unleash Panorama: How to Recognize and Remediate Accessibility Issues in D2L 
Workshop
Improve the accessibility scores and design engaging content for all students by unlocking the powerful accessibility tools in your D2L Prime Courses. This workshop will review best practices for accessibility related to Microsoft products, as well as how to access Yuja Panorama in D2L, review your course accessibility score, identify how to use the alternative formats menu to enhance your options, and walk you through the common errors and quick fixes. With the guidance of our instructional designers, we will help you address the lowest rated documents in your course during this session to improve your overall accessibility score. 
Who should attend?  Course Leads, Maintainers, Faculty Leadership, and anyone motivated to learn more about accessibility in D2L. 
Presenters: Dr. Jamie Edwards, Maryellen Nash, and Hannah Hurdle
Register for this workshop
Zoom Passcode: Spring2025

Friday, April 4
12 pm 
ATD Spring Webinar Series: Harnessing AI & OER for Authentic Learning – Webinar 1
Foundations: Exploring the Illusion of Learning with AI and Open Education as Pedagogy
Join your Tennessee colleagues as we kick off the webinar series by uncovering the critical role Generative AI tools and Open Educational Resources (OER) can play in promoting authentic student engagement and how to avoid common pitfalls such as superficial “illusions of learning.” In this foundational session, you’ll discover core capabilities (and limitations) of tools like ChatGPT and explore ways AI and OER can complement each other in meaningful ways. Together with peers, you’ll exchange practical insights, share real-world examples, and discuss how best to guide students beyond simply accessing information to truly processing and internalizing their learning.
Registration Link: https://achievingthedream-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_oRri0UQNTi-ZshXW9Q-iw

Friday, April 4 
1 – 1:50 pm
Hidden Potential: Using a Decision Matrix (L,S)
Workshop
This session introduces decision matrices to improve student problem-solving and critical thinking. Participants will explore traditional point-based matrices and interactive H5P branching scenarios, helping students make more informed choices in assignments such as thesis selection and project planning.
Presenters: Kurstin Bush, Asst. Prof. of Education and Teaching Center Fellow, and Robert Ladd, Asst. Professor and Teaching Center Fellow
Register for this workshop
Zoom Passcode: Spring2025

Tuesday, April 8
11 am
TBR High Impact Practices Connection Call
HIPs 501: Communicating About HIPs to Students, Staff, and External Partners
Presenters: Stuart Lenig (CoSCC), Sergei Markov (APSU), Angie Wood (ChSCC), Sharon Grigsby (CoSCC), and Iris Johnson (TSU)
Zoom

Friday, April 11
9 am -9:25 am
Follow-up Session for Implementing Old School Techniques into the Classroom
Open Forum
In this follow-up session, we will share our experiences implementing these strategies, discuss challenges, and explore ways to enhance effectiveness.
Moderators: Jessica Rabb, PhD, Professor of Biology and Piper Sesnan, OTD, OTR, Assistant Professor and NSCC OTA Program Director, Fellow Teaching Center
Register for this open forum
Zoom Passcode: Spring2025

Friday, April 11
9 am
TBR Accessibility Office Hours for TCATS and Community Colleges
Presenter: Amie Nephews, TBR Director of Accessibility
Teams

Friday, April 11
10 am – 10:50 am
How We CARE for Our Students (L,S,CRTP)
Presentation
The workshop will cover the CARE referral process and provide examples of when to put in a referral.
Presenter: Courtney Woodard-Student Resource CoordinatorRegister for this presentation
Zoom Passcode: Spring2025

Friday, April 11
11 am
TBR High Impact Practices Connection Call
HIPs 601: Implementing Technology Tools Across the Curriculum
Presenters: Parish Akin (SWTCC), Maria Smith (TCAT Dickson), and Brooks Ziegler (PSTCC)
Teams

Friday, April 11
12 – 12:50 pm
Hidden Potential: Imperfections and Discomfort Workshop (L,E,S)
Workshop
This workshop focuses on designing assignments that push students to embrace failure, take risks, and move beyond their comfort zones. Educators will learn how to integrate “productive discomfort” into coursework, fostering resilience and confidence in students’ learning processes.
Presenters: Kurstin Bush, Asst. Prof. of Education and Teaching Center Fellow, and Robert Ladd, Asst. Professor and Teaching Center Fellow
Register for this workshop
Zoom Passcode: Spring2025

Mindset Resources

TBR is excited to announce the new Mindset Resource Repository! This repository provides resources, handouts, and templates that any course instructor can use to add mindset-supportive activities, language, and best practices to their course. All resources are based on research for promoting growth mindset, purpose & relevance, and sense of belonging on campus.

The repository can always be found through TBR’s Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning webpage, in the “Resource Repositories” section.  

All resources are ready to use and quick to implement! Explore the available materials and check back regularly for new additions.

Are you using TILT?

If yes, please have your students complete the TILT Transparent Instruction Survey during the semester. Click here for instructions for how to give the survey.