Past Professional Learning Opportunities – 2024 – The Teaching Center at Nashville State Community College

Friday, January 5
8 am – 8:20 am
Welcome to NEW Year, New Horizons: Empowering Educators (L)
Open Forum
Join us for an open forum to welcome you to New Year, New Horizons: Empowering Educators.
Moderators: Neely Ann Sheucraft, Associate Professor, Communication Studies and Fellow, Teaching center and Kurstin Bush, Asst. Prof. of Education and Teaching Fellow

Friday, January 5
8:30 am – 9:20 am
Just what is a CRTP, anyway? (L, E, S, CRTP, ACUE)
Presentation
This presentation will take a look at what defines a Culturally Responsive Teaching Practice, some qualities teachers can develop to enhance CRTP effectiveness, and some Communication Theory to contextualize Culturally Responsive Teaching as a meaning-making practice.
Presenter: Harlan Pease
Recording of Presentation

Friday, January 5
9:30 am – 10:20 am
How Can I Help Students Persist in Their Studies? (L, E, A, D, S, CRTP, ACUE)
Presentation
I will share how I set myself and my students up for success at the beginning of the semester using D2L News and scheduling. Let’s face it, the more I prep the course the smoother it runs and the more on top of things I appear. I will also discuss emails and how to automate emails for students who may be struggling or excelling in the course. Some emails just need to be personal but others can still be impactful as automated emails.
Presenter: Rachel Lewis, Instructor of Biology
Recording of Presentation

Friday, January 5
10:30 am – 11:20 am
Outlining Meaningful Expectations for Respectful Dialogue: A Roadway to Cultural Awareness (L, E, A, S, CRTP, ACUE)
Presentation
In this presentation, I will talk about the importance of ensuring that our Syllabi set the tone for diversity and inclusion. I will share several successful examples of times when I have clearly outlined relevant expectations for respectful dialogue before discussing difficult cultural topics in my beginning Spanish classes. Through these examples, I will demonstrate how this approach has led to respectful and fruitful conversations that promote cultural awareness. This presentation is most applicable to the School of Arts and Humanities.
Presenter: Belkis Barrios, PhD.
Recording of Presentation

Friday, January 5
11:30 am – 1 pm New Faculty Orientation January Lunch Meeting – S-208, S-Building, White Bridge Road Campus
This orientation is limited to new full-time faculty. Invited attendees received a calendar invitation from Dr. Roberts.
Coordinator: Dr. Sarah Roberts

Friday, January 5
1 pm – 1:50 pm
SCALE-ing Up: Navigating Changing Landscapes and Avoiding Blindsides for Long-Term Success (L, E, A, D, S, CRTP, ACUE)
Presentation

For higher education professionals in the ever-evolving landscape of academia, it is crucial to embrace change while staying dedicated to delivering student-centric teaching. Overlooking blindspots can have detrimental effects, including poor decision-making, reduced efficiency, and missed opportunities for growth.

To support your pursuit of excellence, let’s explore the SCALE framework—an invaluable resource for not only adapting to change but flourishing within it. Through this framework, you will gain insights into Strategic Leadership, Communication, Adaptability, Learning and Evaluation, and Endurance. By leveraging these pillars, you can become a transformative leader and cultivate a thriving educational organization.

While blindspots are inevitable, failure is not. Joining Breanna on a journey to SCALE will empower you to foster teamwork, tackle challenges, and make necessary adjustments along the way. This exceptional opportunity will inspire you to become a catalyst for change and innovation in your field, leaving you hungry for further growth and impact.
Presenter: Breanna Waller, LPN, MBA Healthcare Administration
Recording of Presentation

Friday, January 5
2 pm – 2:50 pm
Creating Choice and Student Agency in the Online Classroom (L, E, S, CRTP)
Presentation
Permitting students to actively shape their learning and prioritizing student agency fosters a sense of ownership in their courses. Moreover, it allows students the opportunity to gain a deeper investment in their own education. For students to gain this agency in a course, substantive choices have to be provided by the instructor. These choices will guide what students learn as well as outline the steps they must take to get there. This can be taken a step further by allowing students to be part of the choice making process. One way these choices can be implemented in online courses is through the Release Conditions tool in D2L. This tool allows instructors to create a type of learning pathway that focuses on creating student choice and can be used to build student agencies throughout the learning process.
Presenter: Hannah Hurdle, Instructional Designer, Office of Online Learning
Recording of Presentation

Monday, January 8
8:30 am – 8:50 am
New Year, New Horizons: Empowering Educators Virtual Coffee Break
Open Forum
Join colleagues from across Nashville State in a virtual coffee break at New Year, New Horizons: Empowering Educators.
Moderators: Neely Ann Sheucraft, Associate Professor, Communication Studies and Fellow, Teaching Center and Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies and Director, Teaching Center
Recording of session is coming soon.

Monday, January 8
9 am – 9:50 am
Engagement in Asynchronous Courses: Can AI save our online students? (L, E, A, D, S, CRTP, ACUE)
Presentation
Combining ACUE Principles from LE3 (Ensuring Equitable Access to Learning) and LL2 (Providing Clear Directions and Explanations) of the ACUE certification, this presentation will focus on the early implementation of announcements and intelligent agents to keep and promote student engagement; we will compare two courses that ran simultaneously to demonstrate to argue for how effective automated news announcements and intelligent agents help ensure students retention and engagement from week to week.
Presenters: Kristen Bradley and Robert Ladd
Recording of session is coming soon.

Monday, January 8
10 am – 10:50 am
Save Time and Engage Your Students Using “Smart” Tools in D2L (E, A, S)
Workshop
This workshop will review Intelligent Agents, a powerful tool inside D2L that can both save you time and personalize course communications for your students. Intelligent Agents can automatically identify students who meet certain criteria in your course and send them a message tailored to their current learning needs in the course. For instance, you can set an IA to identify students who scored below a particular threshold on an assignment. It will then automatically send a message with helpful resources or reminders about course grading policies to students who meet those criteria. You can even set up IAs to send messages of praise for a job well done! While writing each of these emails on your own would normally take hours, IAs allow you to add a greater sense of personal care and connection to your online course, with minimal time invested.
Presenter: Dr. James Edwards, Director of Online Learning
Recording of session is coming soon.

Monday, January 8
11 am – 11:50 am
From At-Risk to Retention: Improving Outcomes & Experience for First-Year Students (L, E, A, D, S, CRTP, ACUE)
Presentation
A survey was conducted to gather information from 150+ students across Learning Support (Writing) sections. Based on interesting findings, whereby new students self-reported roadblocks, this session offers ACUE-based strategies to help guide and retain our most vulnerable yet promising students as they navigate their way through their Gen Ed courses.
Presenters: Amy Blum, Michele Singletary, and Laura Burridge
Recording of session is coming soon.

Monday, January 8
12 pm – 12:50 pm
Setting up your Online Gradebook in D2L (D)
Workshop
Grades are important to students not only because they measure their progress in a course, but they can also provide guidance on how to improve their performance / learning going forward. Because of this, it is important to set up your gradebook in a well-designed and easily accessible way. To ensure that the instructor’s gradebooks are ready to go from the very start of the semester, this presentation will cover the basics of gradebooks including how to set up grades and rubrics for assessments as well as cover common issues that tend to happen inside the gradebook.
Presenter: Hannah Hurdle, Instructional Designer, Office of Online Learning
Recording of session is coming soon.

Monday, January 8, 2024
1 pm – 1:50 pm
Pedagogy of the Oppressed Professional Learning Community Introduction
Seminar
This spring, join us on a journey through Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed. In this first session of the PLC, we will discuss the impact that Pedagogy of the Oppressed has had on our approach to teaching and provide an overview of the book. PLC Sessions will be held throughout the spring semester, and a limited number of books are available for participants.
Presenters: Dr. Michael Sundblad, Dean, School of Arts and Humanities, and Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director, The Teaching Center
Recording of session is coming soon.

Monday, January 8
2 pm – 2:50 pm
Navigate Course Design with Mindset GPS (G-Growth, P-Purpose, S-Social Belonging) (L, E, S, CRTP, ACUE)
Presentation
The University of Virginia’s Motivate Lab has helped me navigate Mindset GPS and incorporate it into class assessments, policies, and feedback. I’ll share what I have learned and there will be time for you to share too.
Presenter: Jessica Rabb, Professor
Recording of session is coming soon.

Tuesday, January 9
8 am – 8:50 am
Make an Impact at NSCC – Become an Impact Player (L, A, D, S)
Seminar
We count on them. We know they will deliver. When it is tough, we turn to them. Impact players engage differently and make a tremendous positive impact on the work, their colleagues, and the organization. This spring, join us as we explore Liz Wiseman’s book, Impact Players: How to take the Lead, Play Bigger, and Multiply Your Impact. In this first session, we will learn about impact players, what makes impact players different, and how we can build impact player skills.
Presenter: Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director, The Teaching Center
Recording of session is coming soon.

Tuesday, January 9
9 am – 9:50 am
The Stats Behind our Stats Classes (L, E, D, S, ACUE)
Presentation
Math faculty were interested in learning more about the differences in student success and retention for 7-week versus traditional 15-week sections of Introductory Statistics. Hoping to find information that could lead to effective advising for 7-week classes and increase success of our students in all sections of this highly enrolled course, they collected the data and analyzed the results. They’ll share what they discovered as well as ideas they have about the different delivery methods that might help others developing 7-week classes and then open up for Q&A.
Presenter: Eli Nettles, Professor of Mathematics, and James Needham, Assistant Professor of Mathematics
Recording of session is coming soon.

Tuesday, January 9
10 am – 10:50 am
Learning in Half the Time: The 7-Week Semester Experiment in English (L, A, D, S, CRTP)
Presentation
Dickson found out in April that it was the guinea pig campus for the 7-week semester experiment for Gen Ed classes that Fall. We scrambled to quickly prep classes for that unexpected shift, including developing support sections ahead of the planned schedule for their development. In this session Michelle Bowen, who has 36 years of experience teaching writing (24 years at Nashville State), will share the Tips, Tricks & Timing lessons she learned and discuss the implications of Learning in Half the Time.
Presenter: Michelle Bowen, Associate Professor
Recording of session is coming soon.

Tuesday, January 9
11 am – 11:50 am
YuJa Video Platform Training (L, S)
Presentation
In this presentation, we will dive into how to access the Video Platform, as well as how to upload/ create content, how to edit your videos using the video editor tools as well as sharing your content within the Video Platform and in the D2L courses.
Presenter: Diana Hernandez, Customer Success Manager
Recording of session is coming soon.

Tuesday, January 9
12 pm – 12:50 pm
The 7-Week Experiment in Dickson: Fall 2023 (CRTP, L, E, A, D, S, ACUE)
Panel Discussion
The panelists will share their experiences teaching 7-week Gen Ed classes in Dickson in Fall 2023, where all classes taught were 7-week. Most of the panelists also taught 15-week classes at the same time and will speak to that experience of teaching both, as well.
Panelists: Michelle Bowen, Assoc. Prof., English, Amy Bryant, Assoc. Prof., Communication Studies, and Robert Ladd, Assoc. Prof., English
Recording of session is coming soon.

Tuesday, January 9
1 pm – 1:50 pm
Universal Principles of Teaching (L, E, S, CRTP, ACUE)
Presentation
How can I be an effective instructor? What are some core principles that can guide my decision making in the classroom? The field of education brings together the latest in cognitive science and psychology to apply effective teaching and learning strategies (aka general pedagogical knowledge to any classroom).
Presenter: Kurstin Bush Teaching Center Fellow and Asst. Prof. of Education and Program Coordinator
Recording of session is coming soon.

Tuesday, January 9
2 pm – 2:50 pm
Use of avatars in learning: Shadow Health (L, D, S)
Presentation
This session is for anyone interested in learning about avatars in learning. While this product is used for Nursing assessment , similar programs are used for the teaching of hands on skills. This tool allows us to explore high risk activities in a no risk environment. Come see what your colleagues in nursing are using to teach our nurses of tomorrow. This presentation is most applicable to the School of Health Sciences and the School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
Presenters: Audrey Humphries, Laura Reid, and Beth Youngblood
Recording of session is coming soon.

Wednesday, January 10
8 am – 8:50 am
Introduction to TILT (L, E, A, D, S, CRTP, ACUE)
Presentation
If you have never attended a TILT workshop, join The Teaching Center for the Introduction to TILT workshop. Research indicates that transparent assignment design significantly enhances students’ success, with even greater gains for historically underserved students. This presentation will cover the key principles underlying the Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TILT) framework and provide evidence for its efficacy.
Presenters: Neely Ann Sheucraft, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, Fellow, The Teaching Center; and Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director, The Teaching Center
Recording of session is coming soon.

Wednesday, January 10
9 am – 9:50 am
Social Media Inspired Teaching Strategies (L, S)
Open Forum
Come hear about and discuss innovative teaching methods influenced by social trends aimed to engage students.
Presenter: Piper Sesnan, OTD, OTR/L Program Director/Assistant Professor NSCC OTA Program, Teaching Center Fellow
Recording of session is coming soon.

Wednesday, January 10
10 am – 10:50 am
Building Community with Student Life (L, E, S)
Presentation
Collaborate with Student Life! Help us build community by hosting a speaker or discussion, advising a club, or improving campus spaces. Student Life is available and eager to welcome faculty and staff expertise as we seek to create community and extracurricular opportunities for Nashville State faculty, staff, and students to connect. There are also funds available from Student Life to support these endeavors.
Presenter: Kelsey Johansen, Director of Student Life
Recording of session is coming soon.

Wednesday, January 10
11 am YuJa Inc. | Nashville State CC – Faculty Panorama Overview (L, S)
Presentation
Panorama Faculty Overview highlighting the accessibility reports to improve your files, alternative formats, and course reporting.
Presenter: Jerrick Boun, Customer Success Analyst
Recording of session is coming soon.

Wednesday, January 10
1 pm – 1:50 pm
ATMAE Accreditation- New Self Study Guidelines (A, D)
Workshop
Previous accreditation materials and any new documentation gathered for the next cycle. This workshop is most applicable to the School of Business and Professional Studies and the School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
Presenter: Peter Ortner

Wednesday, January 10
2 pm – 2:50 pm
ACUE of ACUE (L, E, A, D, S, CRTP, ACUE)
PresentationThis presentation will cover the key elements of ACUE that I’ve grasped and put into practice in my classroom.
Presenter: Dr. Bir Bohara, Assistant Professor of Physics and course lead of Physics and Astronomy

Thursday, January 11
8:00 am – 8:50 am
What is Education, anyway? The Science of Flow and Education (CRTP, L, E, A, D, S, ACUE)
Seminar
Please join us for our introduction seminar in the series on Flow and Education. Here, we will be looking at the science and chemistry of flow, motivation, creativity, and, ultimately, educational success, which are related in terms of brain chemistry and overall outcomes. In this introductory seminar, we will explore flow alongside research into skill mastery to question the overall purpose and structure of college courses and assignments.
Presenters: Kurstin Bush and Robert Ladd

Thursday, January 11
9 am – 9:50 am
Forced Moves, Mindfulness, and Classroom Conflict (L, S, CRTP, ACUE)
Presentation
Have you ever regretted the way you handled a situation (at work or otherwise)? If so, you are definitely not alone. This presentation will take a look at conflict management and resolution through the lenses of mindfulness and communication theory, providing some guidance to addressing and resolving.
Presenter: Harlan Pease

Thursday, January 11
10 am Instructor Training on Respondus Monitor & LockDown Browser
Presentation
This comprehensive training webinar is intended for instructors who plan to use LockDown Browser and/or Respondus Monitor with online exams. The training will cover:

– How to use LockDown Browser to prevent digital cheating in proctored testing environments

– How to use Respondus Monitor in non-proctored environments, to protect exam integrity and confirm student identity

– Advanced settings including combining proctored & non-proctored settings and using external tools in quizzes without compromising exam integrity

– The student perspective using each application

– Efficient review of the assessment data collected, including the Review Priority system, timeline, and milestone features

– Best practices and tips for success with both applications
Presenter: Rebecca Schkade, Customer Success and Training

Thursday, January 11
11 am – 11:50 am
Do Students Really Understand? (L, E, S, ACUE, CRPT)
Panel Discussion
During this panel discussion NSCC faculty will share ideas for how to design course activities and assignments that use effective direction strategies and support student comprehension.
Panelists: Melissa Fleck, Associate Professor Early Childhood Education
Amy Blum, Instructor English
Connie Mathews, Associate Professor ESL
Jennifer Goncalves, Associate Professor Early Childhood Education
Kassidy Schmidt, Assistant Professor Early Childhood Education

Thursday, January 11-
12 pm – 12:50 pm
The Neurobiology of Fear (L, E, A, D, S, CRTP, ACUE)
Presentation
“””New Horizons”” can be frightening if you feel you are in an unfamiliar and threatening environment, do not know what the future may hold, and the stakes are high if you fail. This is a common situation for many NSCC’s students. Student fear often causes conflicts with faculty and can impede student learning. Fear can lead students to misunderstand faculty motives, create a feeling of helplessness or anger, and overwhelm students with anxiety to the point that they feel compelled to lash out, withdraw, or shut down instead of embracing the challenges of learning and growing.

Faculty also experience fear in the classroom, leading to similar misunderstandings and negative outcomes as students face. The only difference between students and faculty being how we are assessed and perceived power dynamics. In this session, I will discuss the basic neurobiology of fear in the context of specific situations that both students and faculty experience in the classroom and discuss the results of a survey on fear that students took in my classes. Audience questions and participation will be encouraged both during the presentation and in the discussion afterwards.

If you would like to prepare ahead of time or need something to read over Christmas break, the idea for this presentation was inspired by the following book: Cox R. D. (2011). The College Fear Factor: How Students and Professors Misunderstand One Another. Harvard University Press.”
Presenter: Gracie King, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology

Thursday, January 11
1 pm – 1:50 pm
Fear & Power: Learner & Professor (L, E, A, S, CRTP, ACUE)
Panel Discussion
As professors, we have been exploring ways that we can create effective relationships with all students to facilitate their learning. Reflecting on our social positions in the college, culture and community has been a necessary part of trying to connect with students from different social positions. This is a daunting experience which moves us beyond our comfort zones of teaching strategies and places us in vulnerable situations where we confront our fears. This panel of professors – Ayesha Keller, Brian Curtis, Gracie King, and Yvonne Simerman – will describe what we are learning about ourselves and students, and what we hope to gain from this ongoing exploration. Audience questions and participation will be encouraged both during the panel discussion and afterwards where all will be given an opportunity to share their own strategies for alleviating both student fear and their own.
Panelists: Ayesha Keller, Brian Curtis, Gracie King, and Yvonne Simerman

Thursday, January 11
2 – 2:50 pm
The Science of Reading: Why do so many American students struggle to read? (and other topics related to literacy) (L, E, S)
Seminar
Come join this 3-part seminar based on the podcast “Sold a Story” where journalist Emily Hanford explains how many schools around the world have been teaching reading (badly) for decades in this 6-part audio series from American Public Media. Let’s discuss all things related to literacy and reading skills!
Presenter: Kurstin Bush: Asst. Prof. of Education and Teaching Fellow

Friday, January 19
9 am – 9:50 am
Panel Discussion on How to Engage Students in class (L, E, S, CRTP, ACUE)
Panel Discussion
Join us for a discussion on how to improve student interaction in class. We will talk about what has worked and what has not worked in our respective disciplines. Come join the conversation.
Panelists: Rachel Lewis, Kristen Bradley, and Robin Cooper-Wilbanks

Friday, January 19
11 am – 11:50 am Slate Presentation Series
Session 2: Slate: Admissions Overview
This session will include an overview of the Slate-Axiom-Banner admissions process.
Presenters: Miranda Inman, CRM Administrator, and Laura Moran, Executive Director of Enrollment Services

Friday, January 19
12 pm
Learning from NSCC’s Watermark Results (L, E, A, D, S, CRTP, ACUE)
Join us as we analyze our NSCC college-wide Watermark survey report from Fall 2023. We will use the college-wide report to allow us to see a big-picture perspective of the Watermark survey results for faculty to use the college-wide results and own individual results for planning for the upcoming semesters. Note: The workshop will focus on college-wide results, only. No individual’s results will be shared.
Presenter: Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director of The Teaching Center

Friday, January 26
9 am – 9:50 am – Seminar Session 2 Moderator: Amy Bryant
Make an Impact at NSCC – Become an Impact Player (L, A, D, S, ACUE)
Impact players engage differently and make a tremendous positive impact on the work, their colleagues, and the organization. This spring, join us as we explore Liz Wiseman’s book, Impact Players: How to take the Lead, Play Bigger, and Multiply Your Impact. In this second session, we will learn about impact players, what makes impact players different, and how we can make ourselves useful as impact players.
Presenter: Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director, The Teaching Center

Friday, January 26, 2024
11 am – 11:50 am
Pedagogy of the Oppressed Professional Learning Community Moderator: Amy Bryant

This spring, join us on a journey through Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed. In this second session of the PLC, we will discuss the first chapter of Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Please read chapter 1, pages 43-69, prior to the PLC meeting. PLC Sessions will be held throughout the spring semester, and a limited number of books are available for participants.

Moderators: Dr. Michael Sundblad, Dean, School of Arts and Humanities, and Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director, The Teaching Center

Friday, February 2
8:30 a.m.
Time to Connect Check In
Come say hi to your colleagues as we spend some time catching up and checking in with each other.
Moderators: Neely Ann Sheucraft, Associate Professor, Communication Studies and Harlan Pease, Associate Professor of Communications and English and Fellow, The Teaching Center

Friday, February 2
11 am Slate Presentation Series Session 3:
Slate: Queries, queries, queries
This session will give an overview of how queries are utilized to streamline processes and to send targeted communications.
Presenters: Miranda Inman, CRM Administrator, and Laura Moran, Executive Director of Enrollment Services

Friday, February 2
12 pm – 1 pm
ATD Open and Culturally Responsive Teaching Community of Practice: Sharing is Caring: Creating a Welcoming Classroom Culture  
Achieving the Dream’s community of practice will serve as a dynamic and interactive forum, wherein each session provides opportunity for participants to connect with peers and engage with team coaching for personalized support in action planning and implementation based on the topics discussed. Furthermore, participants are guided and motivated to share their work and contributions on the OER commons, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment. Additionally, participants will have exclusive access to a curated series of topics, as well as a resource library, which will house not only the resources shared during each session but also the valuable contributions made by participants. This comprehensive approach not only facilitates individual growth, but also collectively contributes to the enrichment of the entire community of practice. All faculty are encouraged to participate and learn from each other- whether new to OER or seasoned in these strategies and already in implementation stages. Any and all faculty and staff from participating colleges are invited to participate.

This session will focus on Sharing is Caring: Creating a Welcoming Classroom Culture  

1. Equitizing the syllabus 

2. Caring for Students playbook 

Tuesday, February 6
9 am
TBR HIPs Monthly Connection Calls:
Work Smarter, Not Harder: Simplifying HIPs for Faculty (Collaboration Across HIPs)
Led by: Andrea Green, TBR HIP Ambassador

Wednesday, February 7
9 am
TBR HIPs Monthly Connection Calls:
Technology Enhanced Learning: Roundtable Discussion
Led by: Brooks Ziegler, TBR HIP Ambassador

Friday, February 9
9 am
TBR HIPs Monthly Connection Calls:
Service Learning: What’s so HIP about Service Learning?
Led by: Jessica Mills, TBR HIP Ambassador

Friday, February 9
9 am – 9:50 am – Seminar Session 3
Make an Impact at NSCC – Become an Impact Player (L, A, D, S, ACUE)
Impact players engage differently and make a tremendous positive impact on the work, their colleagues, and the organization. This spring, join us as we explore Liz Wiseman’s book, Impact Players: How to take the Lead, Play Bigger, and Multiply Your Impact. In this third session, we will learn about impact players, what makes impact players different, and how we can step up and step back as impact players.
Presenter: Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director, The Teaching Center

Friday, February 9th
10-10:50 am
ACUE Cohort Open Forum (L, E, A, D, S, CRTP, ACUE)
Open Forum
Join other ACUE cohort members to share your successes and struggles with implementing ACUE strategies. This session provides an opportunity for us to share, ask questions and to connect with each other. This forum is limited to faculty who are part or have been part of the ACUE Effective Teaching Practices cohorts.

Tuesday, February 13
11 am
TBR’s Monthly Lunch and Learn Series:
Tech Talk Tuesday: Bridging Minds and Machines – A Conversation on AI
TBR’s Tech Talk Tuesday’s will take place on the 2nd Tuesday of each month beginning at 11 a.m. CST. The purpose of Tech Talk Tuesdays is to continue collaboration by providing an intentional platform to share what we are learning. If you are interested in participating, please complete the Tech Talk Tuesday Registration Form. Registration will be open until 1 hour before each session. Participants will be sent the Teams Meeting invite after registration. If you register and are unable to join, TBR will send a recording of the session to you. As a reminder, the focus is on collaborative learning; these sessions will not focus on limiting AI or policy development.
Tech Talk Tuesday Registration Form.

Tuesday, February 13
2:30 pm
TBR HIPs Monthly Connection Calls:
Work-Based Learning: It Ain’t All Co-Ops and Clinicals
Led by: Erica Pepper and Zachary Adams, TBR HIP Ambassadors

Friday, February 16
9 am – 9:50 am – Seminar Session 4
Make an Impact at NSCC – Become an Impact Player (L, A, D, S, ACUE)
Impact players engage differently and make a tremendous positive impact on the work, their colleagues, and the organization. This spring, join us as we explore Liz Wiseman’s book, Impact Players: How to take the Lead, Play Bigger, and Multiply Your Impact. In this fourth session, we will learn about impact players, how to finish stronger, and how to ask and adjust.
Presenter: Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director, The Teaching Center

Friday, February 16
10 am – 10:50 am
Accommodations FAQ
Presentation
Join the Access Center on February 16th as we present an FAQ session on accommodations. The new process will be reviewed along with what our accommodations are, the why behind them, and how they can work within your classroom. Please send questions in advance to elizabeth.jerrolds@NSCC.edu as there will be time for a Q and A session.
Presenter: Elizabeth Jerrolds, Ed.S, Access Center Coordinator

Friday, February 16
11 am Slate Presentation Series Session 4:
Slate: Forms and Events
This session will give an overview to building forms and events in Slate including a breakdown of some of our current use cases.
Presenters: Miranda Inman, CRM Administrator, and Laura Moran, Executive Director of Enrollment Services

Friday, February 16
11 am
TBR HIPs Monthly Connection Calls:
First Year Experience: Growth Mindset: Active Learning Strategies
Led by: Jessica Rabb and Parish Akin, TBR HIP Ambassadors

Friday, February 16
12 pm – 12:50 pm
Panel Discussion: TBR Cycle 4 Grant and OER with the VPAA
TBR has $300,000 available for the fourth cycle of their OER Grants; and faculty are invited to apply for these grants! Join VPAA Dr. Williams and The Teaching Center for this panel discussion of NSCC’s commitment to OER, past successful grant applications, and recipients, and demystify the grant procedures, processes, and compensation.
Presenters: Dr. Jo Williams, Harlan Pease, Neely Ann Sheucraft, Jessica Rabb, Robert Ladd, and Amy Bryant

Friday, February 16
1 pm
TBR HIPs Monthly Connection Calls:
Honors Education: Honors 101
Led by: Sharon Grigsby and Angie Wood, TBR HIP Ambassadors

Thursday, February 22
12 pm
TBR HIPs Monthly Connection Calls:
Global/Cultural Awareness: Introduction to Global Cultural Awareness HIP
Led by: Winona Christiansen and Stuart Lenig, TBR HIP Ambassadors

Friday, February 23
8 am- 8:50 am
What’s the Story? (L,S, CRTP)
This presentation will cover some strategies for effectively using stories to increase student engagement and learning, not only for individual lessons, but for the entire curriculum for a class. In addition, we’ll look at the research supporting the use of story in these contexts.
Presenter: Harlan Pease, Associate Professor of Communications and English and Fellow, The Teaching Center
Recording of Presentation

Friday, February 23
9 am – 9:50 am – Seminar Session 5
Make an Impact at NSCC – Become an Impact Player (L, A, D, S, ACUE)
Impact players engage differently and make a tremendous positive impact on the work, their colleagues, and the organization. This spring, join us as we explore Liz Wiseman’s book, Impact Players: How to take the Lead, Play Bigger, and Multiply Your Impact. In this fifth session, we will learn about impact players, how to make work light and how to increase our impacts.
Presenter: Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director, The Teaching Center

Friday, February 23, 2024
10 am
Mid Semester Check in
Hey, fabulous co-workers! Grab your favorite mug, fill it to the brim with your go-to caffeine concoction, and let’s stir up some conversation at our Mid-Semester Check-In! Let’s come together to check in on each other and recharge our teaching batteries!
Moderators: Neely Ann Sheucraft, Associate Professor, Communication Studies and Fellow, Teaching center and Piper Sesnan, OTD, OTR/L Program Director/Assistant

Friday, February 23
11 am – 11:50 am
Pedagogy of the Oppressed Professional Learning Community Session 3
This spring, join us on a journey through Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed. In this third session of the PLC, we will discuss the second chapter of Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Please read chapter 2, pages 70-86, prior to the PLC meeting. PLC Sessions will be held throughout the spring semester, and a limited number of books are available for participants.
Moderators: Dr. Michael Sundblad, Dean, School of Arts and Humanities, and Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director, The Teaching Center

Friday, February 23, 2024
12 – 12:50 pm
Seminar
The Science of Reading Seminar (Part 2 of 3) (L,E,S,CRTP)
Come and discuss the Podcast Series “Sold a Story” episodes 1-3

This session is the second of three in a seminar based on the podcast “Sold a Story” where journalist Emily Hanford explains how many schools around the world have been teaching reading (badly) for decades in this 6-part audio series from American Public Media. Let’s discuss all things related to literacy and reading skills!
Presenter: Kurstin Bush Asst. Prof. of Education and Teaching Fellow
Recording of Presentation

Tuesday, February 27
9 am – 12 pm
The Teaching Center Campus Visit – Humphreys County Campus
On Tuesday, February 27, Piper Sesnan will be at the Humphreys County Campus from 9 am to 12 pm for a Teaching Center campus visit. This is time for you to be able to ask questions, share feedback, and more. Watch for more campus visits coming soon!

Tuesday, February 27
10 – 10:15 am
Open Education Resources (OER) Q&A
Open Forum
Join The Teaching Center for an Open Education Resources (OER) question and answer session. Come to ask questions about OER, the TBR OER Grant, and more. Moderators: Robert Ladd and Amy Bryant

Tuesday, February 27
10 am
Adobe Digital Literacy Café Webinar Series: Generative AI Essential Skills and Student Learning Outcomes
The February episode of the Adobe Creative Campus Digital Literacy Café brings into focus the “essential skills” and “student learning outcomes” that educators are increasingly looking to integrate into their coursework across the entire curriculum through digital storytelling as supported by generative AI.

Wednesday, February 28
9 am – 12 pm
The Teaching Center Campus Visit – Dickson Campus
On Wednesday, February 28, Piper Sesnan will be at the Dickson Campus from 9 am to 12 pm for a Teaching Center campus visit. This is time for you to be able to ask questions, share feedback, and more. Watch for more campus visits coming soon!

Thursday, February 29
9 am – 12 pm
The Teaching Center Campus Visit – Southeast Campus
On Thursday, February 29, Piper Sesnan will be at the Southeast Campus from 9 am to 12 pm for a Teaching Center campus visit. This is time for you to be able to ask questions, share feedback, and more. Watch for more campus visits coming soon!

Tuesday, March 12
11 am
TBR’s Monthly Lunch and Learn Series:
Tech Talk Tuesday: Bridging Minds and Machines – A Conversation on AI
TBR’s Tech Talk Tuesday’s will take place on the 2nd Tuesday of each month beginning at 11 a.m. CST. The purpose of Tech Talk Tuesdays is to continue collaboration by providing an intentional platform to share what we are learning. If you are interested in participating, please complete the Tech Talk Tuesday Registration Form. Registration will be open until 1 hour before each session. Participants will be sent the Teams Meeting invite after registration. If you register and are unable to join, TBR will send a recording of the session to you. As a reminder, the focus is on collaborative learning; these sessions will not focus on limiting AI or policy development.

Tuesday, March 12
11 am
TBR HIPs Monthly Connection Calls:
Undergrad Research: Introduction to HIPs and Undergraduates Research
Led by: Elvira Eivazova and Gracie Rossie, TBR HIP Ambassadors

Thursday, March 14
1 pm
Putting Equity into Practice Webinar Series: Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning
The webinars in this series are designed to support and inform higher education faculty on how to engage with pedagogies and professional learning that intentionally and authentically affirm, uplift, and liberate students through teaching and learning. By challenging traditional instructional approaches, these 1-hour webinars provide support and resources for creating more inclusive and equitable learning environments. Every Learner Everywhere partnered with Achieving the Dream to develop four equity-minded digital teaching and learning strategy guides. The webinar series will highlight equitable instructional practices and outcomes from the strategy guides while promoting the implementation of student-centered and culturally responsive teaching. By transforming educational experiences for both students and faculty, more inclusive and equitable learning environments can be created. The webinars will present the following approaches alongside practical instructional strategies that inform implementation of these equity-minded teaching and learning practices.

Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning
Social Justice Education
Open Pedagogy
Equity-Centered Professional Learning

As higher education continues to address eliminating inequitable outcomes in teaching and learning, this series will help institutions embed equity, culturally responsive teaching, social justice education, and open pedagogy through evidence-based teaching practices.
Presented by: ATD and Every Learner Everywhere
Register for this Webinar Series

Friday, March 15
9 am – 9:50 am
Creating Instructional Videos Made Easy (L, E, A, S)
Join our virtual workshop, “Creating Instructional Videos Made Easy,” tailored for busy faculty seeking to enhance their online teaching presence. Learn to harness the power of Zoom and PowerPoint to craft engaging instructional videos effortlessly. We’ll delve into animation apps like Adobe Express and Animaker, and explore video editing tools such as 123Apps and Screencast-O-Matic to add depth and professionalism to your content. Elevate your teaching with practical skills in video creation, ensuring maximum impact on your students’ learning experiences.
Presenter: Devora Manier, Associate Professor, ESL, School of Arts and Humanities

Friday, March 15
10 – 10:50 am
TILT Survey Results from Fall 2023
Presentation
Join The Teaching Center as we analyze results from the NSCC TILT surveys from Fall 2023. We will review data from Fall 2023’s first 7-week, second 7-week, and 15-week terms and discuss how we can encourage engagement in the TILT survey in our courses.
Presenter: Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director, The Teaching Center

Friday, March 15
11 am – 11:50 am
Professional Development Sandbox
Open Forum
A session to digest information gleaned from professional development sessions.
Moderator: Robin Wilbanks, Assistant Professor of Psychology

Thursday, March 21
1 pm
Putting Equity into Practice Webinar Series: Social Justice Education
The webinars in this series are designed to support and inform higher education faculty on how to engage with pedagogies and professional learning that intentionally and authentically affirm, uplift, and liberate students through teaching and learning. By challenging traditional instructional approaches, these 1-hour webinars provide support and resources for creating more inclusive and equitable learning environments. Every Learner Everywhere partnered with Achieving the Dream to develop four equity-minded digital teaching and learning strategy guides. The webinar series will highlight equitable instructional practices and outcomes from the strategy guides while promoting the implementation of student-centered and culturally responsive teaching. By transforming educational experiences for both students and faculty, more inclusive and equitable learning environments can be created. The webinars will present the following approaches alongside practical instructional strategies that inform implementation of these equity-minded teaching and learning practices.

Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning
Social Justice Education
Open Pedagogy
Equity-Centered Professional Learning

Friday, March 22, 2024
9 am- 9:50 am
Seminar
The Science of Reading Seminar (part 3 of 3) (L,E,S,CRTP)
Come and discuss the Podcast Series “Sold a Story” episodes 4-6!

This session is the third of three in a seminar based on the podcast “Sold a Story” where journalist Emily Hanford explains how many schools around the world have been teaching reading (badly) for decades in this 6-part audio series from American Public Media. Let’s discuss all things related to literacy and reading skills!

Presenter: Kurstin Bush Asst. Prof. of Education and Teaching Fellow

Friday, March 22
10 am – 11 am
Turnitin Training
Join NSCC colleagues for a Turnitin Training. Content will include:

How to define plagiarism and the difference between plagiarism and text similarity
Interpreting the Similarity Report and the AI Writing report
Insights into Turnitin’s AI detection capabilities
Understanding how to harness key Turnitin settings in your own LMS

Friday, March 22, 2024
11 am – 11:50 am
Pedagogy of the Oppressed Professional Learning Community
This spring, join us on a journey through Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed. In this fourth session of the PLC, we will discuss the third chapter of Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Please read chapter 3, pages 87-124, prior to the PLC meeting. PLC Sessions will be held throughout the spring semester, and a limited number of books are available for participants.
Moderators: Dr. Michael Sundblad, Dean, School of Arts and Humanities, and Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director, The Teaching Center

Friday, March 22
12 pm – 12:50 pm
Learning from NSCC’s Watermark Results (L, E, A, D, S, CRTP, ACUE)
Join us as we analyze our NSCC college-wide Watermark survey report from the first 7-week term of Spring 2024. We will use the college-wide report to allow us to see a big-picture perspective of the Watermark survey results for faculty to use the college-wide results and own individual results for planning for the upcoming semesters. Note: The workshop will focus on college-wide results, only. No individual’s results will be shared.
Presenters: Dr. Gracie King, Associate Professor, Biology, and Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director of The Teaching Center

Wednesday, March 27
10 am
Adobe Digital Literacy Café Webinar Series: Designing and Assessing Generative AI Student Projects
Four award-winning college instructors from across the curriculum share innovative assignments that they designed to develop the “essential skills” and “student learning outcomes” that were the focus of the February Adobe Creative Campus Digital Literacy Café.
Each case study includes the principles, goals, and contexts of each assignment, including lesson plans, materials, assessment strategies, and a reflection on the results.

sources for creating more inclusive and equitable learning environments. Every Learner Everywhere partnered with Achieving the Dream to develop four equity-minded digital teaching and learning strategy guides. The webinar series will highlight equitable instructional practices and outcomes from the strategy guides while promoting the implementation of student-centered and culturally responsive teaching. By transforming educational experiences for both students and faculty, more inclusive and equitable learning environments can be created. The webinars will present the following approaches alongside practical instructional strategies that inform implementation of these equity-minded teaching and learning practices.

Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning
Social Justice Education
Open Pedagogy
Equity-Centered Professional Learning

Friday, March 29
9 – 9:50 am
Semi-Specification Grading in Organic Chemistry (L, E, A, D, S, CRTP, ACUE)
Presentation
Presenter: Jesmin Akther

Friday, March 29
10 – 10:50 am
Ideas that Stick
Presentation
This session will look at ideas from Chip and Dan Heath’s book “Made to Stick” and how we can use those ideas in the classroom.
Presenter: Harlan Pease, Associate Professor and Faculty Fellow

Friday, March 29
11 – 11:50 am
Using MagicSchool.ai in Your Classroom (L, E, A, D, S, CRTP, ACUE)
Presentation
Bring something to be able to take notes.
Presenter: Dr. Christie Ferguson

Friday, March 29
12 pm
Tips for Engaging Students in Classes (face-to-face, virtual, hybrid, and online) (L, E, A, D, S, CRTP, ACUE)
Panel Discussion
Join colleagues for a panel discussion sharing tips for engaging students in classes. A Q&A session will occur after the panel discussion, if time is available.
Panelists: Janessa Jacobs, Mary Elizabeth Wilson-Patton, Zach Mills, Audrey Cross

Tuesday, April 2
9 am – 11:30 am
The Teaching Center Campus Visit – White Bridge Road Campus, W-78
On Tuesday, April 2, Amy Bryant will be at the White Bridge Road Campus in W-78 for a Teaching Center campus visit. This is time for you to be able to ask questions, share feedback, and more.

Thursday, April 4
1 pm
Putting Equity into Practice Webinar Series: Equity-Centered Professional Learning
The webinars in this series are designed to support and inform higher education faculty on how to engage with pedagogies and professional learning that intentionally and authentically affirm, uplift, and liberate students through teaching and learning. By challenging traditional instructional approaches, these 1-hour webinars provide support and resources for creating more inclusive and equitable learning environments. Every Learner Everywhere partnered with Achieving the Dream to develop four equity-minded digital teaching and learning strategy guides. The webinar series will highlight equitable instructional practices and outcomes from the strategy guides while promoting the implementation of student-centered and culturally responsive teaching. By transforming educational experiences for both students and faculty, more inclusive and equitable learning environments can be created. The webinars will present the following approaches alongside practical instructional strategies that inform implementation of these equity-minded teaching and learning practices.

Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning
Social Justice Education
Open Pedagogy
Equity-Centered Professional Learning

Friday, April 5
9 a.m.
Time to Connect Check In
Open Forum
Come say hi to your colleagues as we spend some time catching up and checking in with each other.
Moderators: Neely Ann Sheucraft, Associate Professor, Communication Studies and Harlan Pease, Associate Professor of Communications and English and Fellow, The Teaching Center

Friday, April 5
The Teaching Center Campus Visit – Clarksville Campus
On Friday, April 5, Piper Sesnan will be at the Clarksville Campus in the morning for a Teaching Center campus visit. This is time for you to be able to ask questions, share feedback, and more. Watch for more campus visits coming soon!

Friday, April 5
12 pm
Active Learning Techniques: Transforming Lectures into Interactive Experiences (L, E, A, D, S, CRTP, ACUE)
Panel Discussion
Join colleagues for a panel discussion sharing active learning techniques. A Q&A session will occur after the panel discussion, if time is available.
Panelists: Vickie Bissinger, Maayan Ornath, Mary Elizabeth Wilson-Patton, Katherine Sorenson, Marla Perry, and Philip Lee

Tuesday, April 9
11 am
TBR’s Monthly Lunch and Learn Series:
Tech Talk Tuesday: Bridging Minds and Machines – A Conversation on AI
TBR’s Tech Talk Tuesday’s will take place on the 2nd Tuesday of each month beginning at 11 a.m. CST. The purpose of Tech Talk Tuesdays is to continue collaboration by providing an intentional platform to share what we are learning. If you are interested in participating, please complete the Tech Talk Tuesday Registration Form. Registration will be open until 1 hour before each session. Participants will be sent the Teams Meeting invite after registration. If you register and are unable to join, TBR will send a recording of the session to you. As a reminder, the focus is on collaborative learning; these sessions will not focus on limiting AI or policy development.
Tech Talk Tuesday Registration Form.

Wednesday, April 10
1 pm
Inside Higher Ed presents: AI and Student Learning: What We Know (and What We Don’t)
This webcast will explore how artificial intelligence is being deployed to boost teaching and learning in college and university classrooms, and how and whether this aligns with the science—or lack thereof—on AI and how students learn. Case studies will supplement an expert panel discussion and audience Q&A period.

Attendees will learn about:

• Evidence-based practices for using AI to enhance student learning

• What AI can and can’t do in terms of helping students learn

• What the current research says about AI’s ability to enhance student learning and what questions and issues still need to be exploredCan’t attend the webcast? You should still register — all registrants, including attendees and absentees, will receive a recording of the webcast and a copy of the presentation slides.

Wednesday, April 10
2 pm
TBR HIPs Monthly Connection Calls:
Technology Enhanced Learning Implementation Blueprint
Led by: Brooks Ziegler, TBR HIP Ambassador

Wednesday, April 10
2:30 pm
TBR HIPs Monthly Connection Calls:
Work-Based Learning: A Dive into Apprenticeships
Led by: Erica Pepper and Zachary Adams, TBR HIP Ambassadors

Thursday, April 11
1 pm
The Chronicle of Higher Education presents:
Experiential Education for All Virtual Forum
Following the pandemic, students still struggle to connect with one another and with their classes. Programs such as study abroad and service learning are important to student growth, but their cost often prevents students from pursuing them.
In the upcoming Virtual Forum, experts will discuss the impact experiential learning has on students socially and in how they learn.
How can colleges and universities improve the reach of these offerings to students and address the challenges that remain in equity among students?
Sponsored by: The Chronicle of Higher Education

Friday, April 12
9 – 9:50 am
STEM Check-in
Open Forum
This is an informal discussion about our courses, students, and how our students are doing this semester.
Moderator: Jesmin Akther

Friday, April 12
9 am
TBR HIPs Monthly Connection Calls:
Service Learning: Why We Should Strive to Infuse Growth Mindset in Service Learning
Led by: Jessica Mills, TBR HIP Ambassador

Friday, April 12
10 am – 10:50 am
Access Center: Coping Skills and Resources
Presentation
This training will focus on coping skills and resources to meet the whole needs of our students. Scenarios will be presented along with a conversation related to what to do when. A resource guide with plain language suggestions will be provided to participants and can be requested by those unable to attend by emailing elizabeth.jerrolds@nscc.edu after the training.
Presenter: Elizabeth Jerrolds, Ed.S, Access Center Coordinator

Friday, April 12
11 – 11:50 am
How my perception has changed: What I have learned this semester as an educator
Open Forum
Join us as Hunter shares his insightful journey, detailing the evolution of his perspectives on curricular design, classroom management, and teaching since he embarked on his student teaching role in the OTA program.
Moderators: Piper Sesnan, OTD, OTR, OTA Program Director, Teaching Center Fellow, and Hunter Foltz, COTA, MSOT/S- OTA Program graduate and current fieldwork student here with the NSCC OTA Program

Friday, April 12
12 pm
The Art of Constructive Feedback: Fostering Student Growth (L, E, A, D, S, CRTP, ACUE)
Panel Discussion

Join colleagues for a panel discussion focused on the art of constructive feedback. A Q&A session will occur after the panel discussion, if time is available.
Panelists: Devora Manier, Maayan Ornath, John Knox, Leda Longwood, Marla Perry, and Zach Mills

Friday, April 12
12 pm
TBR HIPs Monthly Connection Calls:
Study Abroad: Study Abroad Tips and Tricks
Led by: Amanda Carr-Wilcoxson & Angie Wood, TBR HIP Ambassadors

April 15 – 17
9 am – 10 pm CST
ASU+GSV Summit LiveStream
Tune in online to watch the ASU+GSV Summit livestream, presented by American Student Assistance, April 15-17, 2024. The ASU+GSV Summit, co-founded by Michael Moe and Deborah Quazzo, began in 2010 with a collaboration between Global Silicon Valley (GSV) and Arizona State University (ASU). Our north star is that ALL people have equal access to the future, and we believe that innovations at scale in “Pre-K to Gray” learning and skills are critical to achieving that end.

Tuesday, April 16
11 am
TBR HIPs Monthly Connection Calls:
Undergrad Research: Overview of HIPs and Undergraduate Research
Led by: Elvira Eivazova and Gracie Rossi, TBR HIP Ambassadors

Friday, April 19
11 am
TBR HIPs Monthly Connection Calls:
First Year Experience: Purpose & Relevance: Active Learning Strategies
Led by: Jessica Rabb and Parish Akin, TBR HIP Ambassadors

Friday, April 19
12 pm
Assessment Beyond Exams: Creative Approaches to Evaluating Student Learning (L, E, A, D, S, CRTP, ACUE)
Panel Discussion
Join colleagues for a panel discussion focused on assessment and creative approaches to evaluating student learning. A Q&A session will occur after the panel discussion, if time is available.

Thursday, April 25
10 am
Adobe Digital Literacy Café Webinar Series: Student Showcase: Resume-Worthy Generative AI Projects
Four student exemplars from across the curriculum showcase their inspiring work as they reflect on the “essential skills” and “student learning outcomes” that they developed as a result.

Thursday, April 25
12 pm
TBR HIPs Monthly Connection Calls:
Global Cultural Awareness: Exploring Global Cultural Awareness
Led by: Winona Christiansen and Stuart Lenig, TBR HIP Ambassadors

Thursday, April 25
2 pm – 3 pm
Put Your Own Mask on First: Educators Providing Self-Care in Today’s Environment
ACUE Webinar
Institutions are hyperaware of their critical role in providing holistic support to students, often caring for their basic, emotional, and financial needs. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, attention to well-being and self-care has been a key focus in our new employment landscape. Often, institutions expect faculty and their leaders to provide support for students that goes beyond the classroom, while prioritizing care for faculty and educational professionals falls to the wayside.

This national conversation will bring together a panel of diverse faculty and higher education administrators for a lively and informative conversation that will provide practical advice on how to practice self-care in an environment that may not leave the space to prioritize well-being.

This conversation, sponsored by the ACUE Commons, will explore:

How to effectively support students when there are varying levels of support for faculty and administrators.
The art of seeing and valuing colleagues in an era where higher education is under a microscope.
Creating strategies of practice that take self-care beyond words and into the classroom.

Friday, April 26
9 am
What’d we learn? Reflecting over 2023-2024
Open Forum
What’d we learn? Join colleagues for an open forum to share what we learned during this academic year 2023-2024. We will share wins and challenges, and we will reflect on how to emulate the wins and overcome the challenges in the future.
Moderator: Amy Bryant

Friday, April 26, 2024
11 am – 11:50 am
Pedagogy of the Oppressed Professional Learning Community
Join us for the final session on our journey through Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed. In this final session of the PLC, we will discuss the fourth chapter of Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Please read chapter 4, pages 125-183, prior to the PLC meeting. PLC Sessions will be held throughout the spring semester, and a limited number of books are available for participants.
Moderators: Dr. Michael Sundblad, Dean, School of Arts and Humanities, and Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director, The Teaching Center

Saturday, April 27
8 am – 4 pm
AI for Education Summit
This one-day free virtual event offers educators and school leaders a unique opportunity to progress from the practical to the possible. Kick off the day by building your AI skills and learning from leading experts before moving on to an afternoon of hands-on experimentation with the latest AI tools. Your experience then culminates with a collaborative exploration into the future of education designed to spark your innovative thinking and start dreaming big.
Presented by: AI for Education

Wednesday, May 1 – Thursday, May 2
ATD’s Equity and Justice Institute
ATD’s virtual Equity and Justice Institute will explore the intersection of equity and justice within higher education, spotlighting the vital role community colleges play in social and economic mobility for the diverse communities they serve, including those who are minoritized, marginalized, and justice impacted. Join us to examine the connection between justice work and equity work and how community colleges can help individuals impacted by the justice system.

ATD is excited to announce that as the result of a generous gift from our sponsor Ascendium and our desire to expand the reach of the institute, we will now be offering it at no cost to attendees.

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this summit, attendees will be able to:

Enhance their existing knowledge of how to promote equity within their own organizations
Understand how federal policies influence justice-impacted students and higher education within prisons
Gain familiarity with how current HEP (higher education in prison) programs are structured to better support justice-impacted students
Identify strategies to build and navigate partnerships within the community to enhance the college experience of marginalized, minoritized, and justice-impacted students
Engage in peer discussions and share strategies for navigating diversity, equity, and inclusion restrictions in order to support community college students

Wednesday, May 8
1 pm
Virtual Forum: AI and Personalized Learning
Join The Chronicle on Wednesday, May 8th, for a forum exploring AI and personalized learning. This free, expert-led forum will offer insight into how institutional leaders can support their faculty in experimenting with AI while avoiding critical pitfalls such as overreliance on the technologies.
Presented by The Chronicle of Higher Education
Register for this forum

Tuesday, May 14
11 am
TBR’s Monthly Lunch and Learn Series:
Tech Talk Tuesday: Bridging Minds and Machines – A Conversation on AI
TBR’s Tech Talk Tuesday’s will take place on the 2nd Tuesday of each month beginning at 11 a.m. CST. The purpose of Tech Talk Tuesdays is to continue collaboration by providing an intentional platform to share what we are learning. If you are interested in participating, please complete the Tech Talk Tuesday Registration Form. Registration will be open until 1 hour before each session. Participants will be sent the Teams Meeting invite after registration. If you register and are unable to join, TBR will send a recording of the session to you. As a reminder, the focus is on collaborative learning; these sessions will not focus on limiting AI or policy development.
Tech Talk Tuesday Registration Form.

The Center for Community College Leadership

Certificate Programs Information Session

Join us for an information session hosted by the Center for Community College Leadership and the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at East Tennessee State University. We will be highlighting our certificate programs on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 12:00 pm Eastern/11:00 am Central. The Zoom link can be found here. Learn more about each of our offerings below!

Community College Leadership

Online, Graduate Certificate15-Credit ProgramThis program equips candidates with leadership and management tools specifically tailored to the community college environment. It is designed for individuals who are new to community college leadership or currently hold positions and want to enhance their skills for leadership roles.

Student Affairs

Online, Graduate Certificate12-Credit ProgramThis program offers professional development for student life professionals seeking continuing education in the field. Through the courses, candidates will gain knowledge in student development, leadership principles, and their application to working with students and professionals at their institutions.

Higher Education Teaching

Online, Graduate Certificate15-Credit ProgramIdeal for college and university faculty, this program focuses on providing pedagogical and curriculum design tools for effective teaching in higher education environments.

Zoom Information

Time: May 23, 2024 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Tuesday, June 11
11 am
Tech Talk Tuesday
How to Introduce AI In The Classroom: Setting Expectations for Use
This Tech Talk Tuesday is for those interested in opening an intersection of AI and education in the classroom. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how to introduce AI in their classrooms effectively and ethically. Attendees will be equipped with the knowledge to set appropriate expectations for the use of AI in education and inspire their students to be innovators.

Tech Talk Tuesday’s will take place on the 2nd Tuesday of each month beginning at 11 a.m. CST.

The purpose of Tech Talk Tuesdays is to continue our collaboration by providing an intentional platform to share what we are learning. If you are interested in joining us, please complete the Tech Talk Tuesday Registration Form. Registration will be open until 1 hour before each session. Participants will be sent the Teams Meeting invite after registration. If you register and are unable to join, we will send a recording of the session to you.

Tech Talk Tuesday sessions are open to all, feel free to share this email with interested colleagues.

As a reminder, our focus is on collaborative learning, these sessions will not focus on limiting AI or policy development.

Thursday, July 11, 2024
12 – 3:15 pm
Top Hat Summer Camp Webinar Series:
Starting the Term

The first day of class sets the tone for everything that follows. At Top Hat Summer Camp, Dr. James Lang, featured speaker and author of Small Teaching, will share four key principles to make your opening session as memorable and effective as possible, whatever your discipline.

12 – 12:45 pm What’s New with Top Hat

1 – 2 pm Teaching a Great First Day of Class – Presenter: Dr. James Lang

2:15 pm – 3:15 pm Faculty Insights: Launching the Learning Journey

Friday, July 12, 2024
1 pm – 2 pm
NSCC 1010 Training – D2L Topics I Should Know for NSCC 1010
Target audience – NSCC 1010 instructors that are not faculty
Presenter: Dr. Jessica Rabb

Wednesday, July 17, 2024
11 am – 11:30 am
New Adjunct Faculty Orientation to The Teaching Center (L, E, A, D, S, CRTP)
Presentation
Adjunct faculty are essential at Nashville State Community College, and The Teaching Center thanks you for being a part of the faculty at NSCC. Please join The Teaching Center for a virtual welcome to teaching at Nashville State Community College. We are looking forward to meeting you.
This presentation is focused on new adjunct faculty at NSCC.
Presenter: Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director of The Teaching Center

Thursday, July 18, 2024
1 – 3 pm
Top Hat Summer Camp Webinar Series:
Engaging Students In and Out of Class
1 – 2 pm Creating a Dynamic Lecture Experience
2 – 3 pm Crafting and Customizing Content with Top Hat

Friday, July 19, 2024
1 pm – 2 pm
NSCC 1010 Training – What is YouScience? Why is it important?
Presenter: Dr. Jessica Rabb

Tuesday, July 23
Volunteer State Community College 2024 Summer Institute: Let’s Try Something New
The 2024 Summer Institute will encourage us to become students of teaching as we learn from our colleagues about new ways of engaging students, using class time effectively, assessing learning, and more.
Registration is open to faculty from Vol State and other TBR institutions.

Agenda-with-Zoom-links-1 Download

Tuesday, July 23
The 2024 Quizlet Unconference: The Agile Educator
In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, agility is key to fostering effective learning environments. Learn about Quizlet’s new features that will save time and boost engagement, explore critical media literacy in the classroom, and gain access to unique student perspectives.

Thursday, July 25
1 – 3 pm
Top Hat Summer Camp Webinar Series:
Setting the Stage for Student Success
1 – 2 pm Strengthening Student Learning Skills in the Age of AI
Most students are unaware of how learning actually works. They’re even less informed when it comes to developing the self-regulation needed to thrive in the classroom, let alone in the age of AI. In this special presentation, Dr. Linda Nilson shares an array of proven strategies you can use to get students to reflect on, monitor, and improve their learning skills. These low-lift techniques are exactly what’s needed to help students realize their potential, in the classroom and in life.
Presenter: Dr. Linda Nilson
2 pm – 3 pm Faculty Insights: Assignments and Assessments that Motivate and Engage

Friday, July 26, 2024
1 pm – 2 pm
NSCC 1010 Training – How to make an Academic Plan in Degree Works
Presenter: Dr. Jessica Rabb

Friday, August 2, 2024
1 pm – 2 pm
NSCC 1010 Training – Mindset GPS
Presenter: Dr. Jessica Rabb

Friday, August 16
8 am – 8:25 am
Welcome to Fall Flourish: Refreshing Our Teaching Toolbox
Open Forum
Join us for an open forum to welcome you to Fall Flourish. We will connect, catch-up, and prepare for an exceptional time of learning together during the Fall Flourish professional learning conference.

Friday, August 16
8:30 am – 9:20 am
All things Access Center (L, E, A, D, S)
Presentation
During this session the Access Center will review all things Access Center to include but not be limited to Faculty Notification Letters, Accommodations and the process for accommodations, what to do if….,and testing along with any other questions or concerns. Participants are welcome to email elizabeth.jerrolds@nscc.edu.
Presenters: Elizabeth Jerrolds and April Delagrave

Friday, August 16
9:30 am – 10:45 am
From Reporting to Resolution: A Faculty Guide to the Student Conduct Process (A, S)
Presentation
This session equips faculty with the knowledge and tools to effectively address student misconduct in the classroom by ensuring they know and understand Nashville State’s policies and procedures regarding conduct. Participants will gain an understanding of the different types of academic misconduct and ways to mitigate it. And, explore best practices for creating clear expectations for classroom behavior and strategies for responding to misconduct while maintaining positive relationships with students.
Presenters: Sarah Roberts, AVP of Academic Affairs, & Julie Williams, AVP of Student Affairs

Friday, August 16
11 am – 11:50 am
Academic Integrity in the Classroom: Similarity & AI Indication in the Formative Space
Presentation
The Turnitin Similarity Report and AI writing indicator are best used to inform educator judgment, but are not meant to be the sole measure of academic integrity. In this session, we will be focusing on how the Similarity Index and AI Indication reports are the same, how they differ, and how to clearly communicate with students about the writing process, guiding the discussion in a positive direction.
Presenter: Megan Leith Sexton, Senior Customer Success Manager, Turnitin

Friday, August 16
12 pm – 12:50 pm
Updates and FAQs about the Promotion and Tenure Process (L, A, D)
Presentation
Join us to learn about the promotion and tenure processes at NSCC. New faculty are encouraged to come to this session to learn what they need to do NOW to be ready for a future application. Even if you aren’t pursuing promotion or tenure this year, come ask questions and learn about all of the things that you are already doing that would make you a great candidate!
Presenters: Dr. Sarah Roberts and Dr. Eli Nettles

Friday, August 16
1 pm – 1:50 pm
Introduction to TILT (L, E, A, D, S, CRTP)
Presentation
If you have never attended a TILT workshop, join The Teaching Center for the Introduction to TILT workshop. Research indicates that transparent assignment design significantly enhances students’ success, with even greater gains for historically underserved students. This presentation will cover the key principles underlying the Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TILT) framework and provide evidence for its efficacy.
Presenters: Neely Ann Sheucraft, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, Fellow, The Teaching Center; and Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director, The Teaching Center

Friday August 16
2 pm – 2:50 pm
Universal Principles of Teaching (part 2) (L, E, S, CRTP, ACUE)
Presentation
This session is especially relevant to new instructors and those curious about helping students to set goals (and achieve them) as well as what we know about motivation in teaching and learning. Universal Principles of Teaching Part 1 was offered in January 2024 and can be viewed online.
Presenter: Kurstin Bush, Assistant Professor of Education and Fellow, The Teaching Center

Monday, August 19
8 am – 8:50 am
Building Better Connections and Conversations: Supercommunicators Professional Learning Community (L, E, A, D, S)
Professional Learning Community
How can we build better connections with our students and colleagues? How can we engage in better communication? Join us this fall for a professional learning community (PLC) where we will discuss Supercommunicators, by Charles Duhigg. We will learn how every conversation is a negotiation, the three types of conversations, and how we can recognize these types of conversations to allow us to better match with others for supercommunication and connection. A limited number of books will be available for PLC participants.
Moderators: Harlan Pease, Associate Professor of Communication Studies and English, and Fellow, The Teaching Center, and Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director, The Teaching Center

Monday, August 19
9 am – 9:50 am
First Week Pathway Reflection (S, CRTP)
Workshop
The courses we teach connect to a student’s degree plan and career plan. Help students see that connection as soon as you meet them. In this workshop, you’ll participate in a discussion activity that may be done in-person, virtually or online in your first week of classes, taking as little as fifteen minutes. All it takes is a slight modification of the introduction discussions you probably already do.
Presenter: Jessica Rabb, Professor of Biology, NSCC 1010 First Year Experience Course Lead

Monday, August 19
10 am – 10:50 am
How I do Chemistry Lectures (L, E, A, D, S, CRTP, ACUE)
Presentation
This presentation is for all Adjunct and full-time instructors at NSCC. Goal is to help others to make a great lecture for their subject areas.
Presenter: Jesmin Akther, Associate Professor

Monday, August 19
11 am – 11:50 am
Yuja Panorama Training and Updates: Elevate Your Accessibility Skills
In this training session, we will cover how to access the accessibility scores for your documents, understand the reports, and improve the files using the remediation engines. Additionally, we will explore each alternative format available to students and delve into the reporting for your courses.

Monday, August 19
12 pm – 12:30 pm
New Adjunct Faculty Orientation to The Teaching Center (L, E, A, D, S, CRTP)
Presentation
Adjunct faculty are essential at Nashville State Community College, and The Teaching Center thanks you for being a part of the faculty at NSCC. Please join The Teaching Center for a virtual welcome to teaching at Nashville State Community College. We are looking forward to meeting you. This presentation is focused on new adjunct faculty at NSCC.
Presenters: Neely Ann Sheucraft, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Fellow, The Teaching Center, and Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director of The Teaching Center

Monday, August 19
12:30 pm – 1 pm
Infinite Games (L, E, A, D, S, CRTP, ACUE)
Workshop
I’m excited to invite you to a unique 30-minute workshop where we, as a team, will dive into the fun challenge of turning a specific finite game into an infinite game. This isn’t about tweaking how we teach; it’s about reimagining the game inspired by James P. Carse’s Finite and Infinite Games. Our mission? To take a game that traditionally ends with winners and losers and creatively morph it into a continuous play with endless possibilities. This workshop is about collaboration, creativity, and, most importantly, fun. Let’s come together and see how we can make learning an endless adventure.
Presenter: Robert Ladd, Assistant Professor, and Fellow, The Teaching Center

Monday, August 19
1 pm – 1:50 pm
Learning from NSCC’s Watermark Results (L, E, A, D, S, CRTP)
Presentation
Join us as we analyze our NSCC college-wide Watermark survey report from Spring 2024. We will use the college-wide report to allow us to see a big-picture perspective of the Watermark survey results for faculty to use the college-wide results and own individual results for planning for the upcoming semesters. Note: The workshop will focus on college-wide results, only. No individual’s results will be shared.
Presenter: Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director of The Teaching Center

Monday, August 19
2 pm – 2:50 pm
The Future of Faculty Support: AI Integration to Enhance Teaching and Learning (L, S)
If you have been working in higher education for even a year, you will have heard two familiar and sometimes scary words, artificial intelligence (AI). The Office of Online Learning decided to make it our mission to remove the scary part of AI out of the equation and, instead, focus on making instructors familiar and comfortable with using AI. We did this by integrating AI tools into our Quality Course Review Certification program and our OER training. Instructors are guided through the process of using AI tools to create and align learning objectives, assignments, and rubrics as well as locate relevant open educational resources for their courses. The goal of this session is to help instructors become more comfortable using AI as a positive tool to aid in teaching and learning. Faculty do not need to bring anything to the workshop; however, they should be prepared to create an account with an AI tool in order to practice prompt creation and AI tool implementation.
Presenters: Hannah Hurdle, Instructional Designer, and Maryellen Nash, Instructional Designer

Tuesday, August 20
8 – 8:50 am
Motivational Stacks, the Brain in Flow (L, D, S, CRTP, ACUE)
Presentation
This presentation focuses on the utilization of intrinsic motivators—curiosity, passion, purpose, autonomy, and mastery—to boost student engagement and learning outcomes. We’ll dissect the theory behind motivational stacks and present evidence of their effectiveness in educational settings. Attendees will learn practical strategies for embedding these principles into classroom practices, supported by case studies and actionable insights. The goal is to equip educators with methods to activate student motivation intrinsically, tailoring learning experiences to drive engagement and mastery in their academic pursuits.
Presenters: Harlan Pease, Associate Professor of Communication Studies and English, and Fellow, The Teaching Center, and Robert Ladd, Assistant Professor of English, and Fellow, The Teaching Center

Tuesday, August 20
9 am – 10 am
Keynote Session: HIPs and the Launch of Learner Records: Lessons Learned from a Five-Year Effort in Tennessee
The Tennessee Board of Regents made a commitment to the implementation and expansion of High Impact Practices (HIPs) across the System in 2014. Since the launch of the HIPs Initiative, the TBR System has received national recognition on not only scaling efforts, but also data collection on student outcomes from participating in HIPs. As the final bookend piece to the HIP scaling work, TBR is leading the nation in the development and scaling of a comprehensive learner record to be launched in Fall 2024. This session will recap the history and momentum leading up to the launch of the learner record and the future possibilities for its use with students, employers, and for assessment.
Keynote Session Presenter: Dr. Heidi Leming, Vice Chancellor for Student Success, Tennessee Board of Regents

Tuesday, August 20
10:15 – 11:10 am
Quotable Quotes (L)
Open Forum
Come together with your colleagues for a moderated discussion focusing on this idea:

“For the mind does not require filling like a bottle, but rather, like wood, it only requires kindling to create in it an impulse to think independently and an ardent desire for the truth.” ~ Plutarch

How do we create this kindling? Is it different for concepts and for knowledge that needs to be assimilated through memory? Can we start a lifelong fire for learning in our subject matter? For learning in general?

Moderator: Harlan Pease, Associate Professor of Communication Studies and English

Tuesday, August 20
12 – 12:50 pm
Understanding and Implementing the Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace (L, A, D, S, CRTP)
Professional Learning Community
Join The Teaching Center this fall for a professional learning community focused on The Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace. In today’s fast-paced work environments, expressing appreciation and recognition for colleagues’ efforts is essential for fostering a positive and productive workplace culture. During this professional learning community, participants will delve into the core concepts of Dr. Gary Chapman and Dr. Paul White’s renowned book, The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace, and explore how these principles can be effectively applied. Through interactive discussions and practical exercises, attendees will:

1. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the five languages of appreciation: Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Acts of Service, Tangible Gifts, and Physical Touch (appropriate in professional settings).

2. Learn how to identify their own primary and secondary languages of appreciation, as well as those of their colleagues, to enhance communication and relationship-building.

3. Explore strategies for effectively expressing appreciation that align with each individual’s preferred language, ensuring that recognition efforts are meaningful and impactful.

4. Discuss best practices for integrating appreciation and recognition initiatives into existing organizational structures and practices.

5. Address common challenges and barriers to implementing appreciation strategies and collaborate on solutions to overcome them.

Moderators: Neely Ann Sheucraft, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Fellow, The Teaching Center, and Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director of The Teaching Center

Tuesday, August 20
1 – 1:50 pm
What’s [emotion] got to do with it anyway? (L, E, S, CRTP)
Presentation
This presentation is for anyone curious about how emotions impact learning.
Presenter: Kurstin Bush, Assistant Professor of Education and Fellow, The Teaching Center

Tuesday, August 20
2 – 2:50 pm
Leveraging Fair Use, Creative Commons, and the Public Domain for developing Open Educational Resources (OERs) (L, E, A, D, S)

Workshop
Would you like to adapt and use Open Educational Resources (OERs) for your course, but are confused by the maze of copyright laws, fair use, public domain, and Creative Commons? This 50-minute workshop will help instructors differentiate between various licensing types and provide some tools for identifying resources to enhance your course materials without the worry of infringement. After completion, participants will be able to:

-Distinguish between copyright, fair use, public domain, and creative commons open licensing

-Apply fair use guidelines to example works

-Recognize criteria for classifying works within the public domain

-Distinguish between different types of Creative Commons open licenses

-Locate resources for obtaining public domain and open educational materials

-Discuss strategies for adapting OER materials for courses
Participants are invited to bring curricular elements from their courses that they would like to modify or adapt with OERs.
Presenter: Maryellen Nash, Instructional Designer

Wednesday, August 21
8 – 8:50 am
You Can Observe a Lot Just By Watching (L, S, CRTP)
Presentation
The goal of this session is to inform and persuade faculty of the value in observing the teaching of other faculty members by looking at research and anecdotal evidence. In addition, methods for effective observation will be covered.
Presenter: Harlan Pease, Associate Professor, Communication Studies and English, and Fellow, The Teaching Center

Wednesday, August 21
9 – 9:50 am
Infinite Games Part 2: OER, Co-creating a textbook with my students: Tokyo in Film (L, E, A, D, S)
Presentation
In this presentation, we will first look at the research behind the cocreation of material with students and its impact on their overall success, as well as the specific success rates of my 2024 study abroad course; for a more hands-on approach, I would like to let faculty help review and decide on students’ work and whether/where the student work should be incorporated, making this a truly NSCC textbook.
Presenter: Robert Ladd, Assistant Professor, and Fellow, The Teaching Center

Wednesday, August 21
10 am – 10:50 am
NSCC’s TILT Survey – Results from 2023-2024 (L, E, A, D, S, CRTP)
Join The Teaching Center as we share results from the NSCC TILT surveys from fall 2023 – spring 2024 and discuss the future of the NSCC TILT survey. This session will include a short presentation and an open forum to discuss how to increase participation in the NSCC TILT survey during 2024-2025.
Presenter: Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director, The Teaching Center

Wednesday, August 21
12 pm – 12:50 pm
D2L and Students: Addressing Learners most Common Questions (L, S)
This open forum invites instructors to share their perspectives on common issues, challenges, and questions students encounter while using D2L. This collaborative session provides an opportunity for instructors to exchange strategies, ideas, insights, and best practices in addressing these problems effectively. The goal of this session is for participants and hosts to gain a deeper comprehension of student needs and experiences to better serve student learning within the D2L environment.
Presenters: Hannah Hurdle, Instructional Designer, and Maryellen Nash, Instructional Designer

Wednesday, August 21
1:30 – 2:30 pm ACUE Effective Online Teaching Practices Cohort Course Launch (L, E, A, D, S, CRTP, ACUE)
This session is limited to ACUE 2024-2025 Effective Online Teaching Practices Cohort participants. ACUE 2024-2025 Cohort participants, please check your email and Outlook Calendar invitation for the Zoom meeting information.

8 am – 8:50 am
Ideas that Stick (L)
Presentation
This session will share ideas from Chip and Dan Heath’s book Made to Stick, with a focus on how we can apply them to teaching.
Presenter: Harlan Pease, Associate Professor, Communication Studies and English, and Fellow, The Teaching Center

Thursday, August 22
9 – 9:50 am
Coping skills and resources for Access Center students (L, E, A, D, S)
Presentation
This training will focus on coping skills and resources to meet the whole needs of our student’s campus wide. Scenarios will be presented along with a conversation related to what to do when. A resource guide with plain language suggestions will be provided to participants and can be requested by those unable to attend by emailing elizabeth.jerrolds@nscc.edu after the training.
Presenters: Elizabeth Jerrolds and April Delagrave

Thursday, August 22
10 am – 10:50 am
Open Forum
Helping Each Other Be Successful (A, S)
As we embark on a new semester, it’s vital to foster a supportive environment where we can learn from each other’s experiences and insights. This forum serves as a platform for faculty to come together and share strategies, tips, and resources to make this semester a success.
Presenter: Piper Sesnan, OTD, OTR/L, OTA Program Director/Assistant Professor, Teaching Center Fellow

Thursday, August 22
11 – 11:50 am
YuJa Video Platform Training Webinar (L, E, A, D, S)
Presentation
Join colleagues to learn about the YuJa Video Platform. This webinar will include:

Getting Started
Overview of My Media
- Uploading Content
- Media Details
- Video Editor
How to Create a Recording
- YuJa Software Capture
- Browser Capture
Content Distribution
- Share with users in YuJa
- Shared Folders
- Post to a Course Channel
- Post into a Course
YuJa Support

Presenter: Ryan Ha, YuJa

Thursday, August 22
12 – 12:45 pm
LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor Training for Nashville State Community College (L, E, A, D, S)
This comprehensive training webinar is intended for instructors who plan to use LockDown Browser and/or Respondus Monitor with online exams. The training will cover:

How to use LockDown Browser to prevent digital cheating in proctored testing environments
How to use Respondus Monitor in non-proctored environments, to protect exam integrity and confirm student identity
Advanced settings including combining proctored & non-proctored settings and using external tools in quizzes without compromising exam integrity
The student perspective using each application
Efficient review of the assessment data collected, including the Review Priority system, timeline, and milestone features
Best practices and tips for success with both applications

Thursday, August 22
2 pm – 3:30 pm
Open Office Hours for D2L Help
Join the Office of Online Learning for D2L help. Get help with gradebooks, dates, videos, accessibility, Respondus, and more. The Office of Online Learning will be available to answer your questions related to D2L to help faculty start the semester successfully.

Thursday, August 22
2 pm – 2:50 pm
Why You Should Consider Teaching at a Nashville State Prison Campus!
Panel Discussion
Teaching at a Nashville State prison campus can be an exceptionally rewarding experience. We strive to be student-ready and that includes ready for our justice-impacted students in and out of our prison campuses. Join a panel of faculty who have taught a variety of classes in these settings and keep going back. We’ll share our experiences and then open up to questions. If you’ve ever wondered what it might be like and considered doing it, come get your questions answered.

Friday, August 30
9:30 am – 9:55 am
Time to Connect
Open Forum
Join us for an open forum to connect and catch-up!
Moderator: Neely Ann Sheucraft, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Fellow, The Teaching Center

Friday, August 30
10 am – 10:50 am
The impact of student engagement (attendance reporting) for Financial Aid (L, A, S)
Presentation
This is a session to go into the importance and impact of timely and accurate engagement reporting to student’s Financial Aid.
Presenter: Jennifer Byrd, Financial Aid Director

Friday, August 30
11 am – 11:30 am
Promotion Open Forum
Open Forum
Bring your questions! Join The Teaching Center to share questions and brainstorm ideas as you work on your promotion application.
Facilitator: Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director of The Teaching Center

Friday, August 30
11:45 am – 12:15 pm
Tenure Open Forum
Open Forum
Bring your questions! Join The Teaching Center to share questions and brainstorm ideas as you work on your tenure application.
Facilitator: Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director of The Teaching Center

Friday, August 30
12:30 pm
Building Rapport: Connecting with Students
Panel Discussion
Join colleagues for a panel discussion sharing tips for building rapport and connecting with students. A Q&A session will occur after the panel discussion, if time is available.
Panelists: Melissa Fleck, Janusz Polanowski, John Knox, Laura Burridge, Michael R. Glenn, Gracie King, Rhonda Watson, Jessica Rabb, Jennifer Goncalves, Rachel Lewis, and Beth Gorham

Friday, September 6
8 am – 8:50 am
Building Better Connections and Conversations: Supercommunicators Professional Learning Community (L, E, A, D, S)
Professional Learning Community
How can we build better connections with our students and colleagues? How can we engage in better communication? Join us this fall for a professional learning community (PLC) over Charles Duhigg’s Supercommunicators. In this session, we will be discussing the Three Kinds of Conversations (pages 1-34.) A limited number of books will be available for PLC participants.
Moderators: Harlan Pease, Associate Professor of Communication Studies and English, and Fellow, The Teaching Center, and Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director, The Teaching Center

Friday, September 6
9 – 9:50 am
Understanding and Implementing the Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace (L, A, D, S, CRTP)
Professional Learning Community (PLC)
Join The Teaching Center for the second PLC meeting focused on The Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace. In today’s fast-paced work environments, expressing appreciation and recognition for colleagues’ efforts is essential for fostering a positive and productive workplace culture. During this session of the professional learning community, participants will delve into Chapters 1 – 3 of Dr. Gary Chapman and Dr. Paul White’s renowned book, “The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace,” and explore how these principles can be effectively applied. Please read chapters 1 -3 (pages 17 – 55) prior to the session.
Moderators: Neely Ann Sheucraft, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Fellow, The Teaching Center, and Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director of The Teaching Center

Friday, September 6
11:30 am – 12:20 pm
Meeting Students Where They Are: An Individualized Approach to Outcomes Assessment Examination (D, S)
Presentation
This presentation will outline how I use a personalized, data-driven approach to aiding students’ success in both the classroom and on their national certification examination. I will also tie this to its impact on our programmatic accreditation requirements.
Presenter: Michael R. Glenn, BA CST

Tuesday, September 10
11 am
TBR Tech Talk Tuesday: AI in The Classroom: Practical Strategies for Incorporating AI with Students
Tech Talk Tuesday’s are a monthly Lunch and Learn session on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 11:00 a.m. CST. The purpose of the session is to promote collaborative learning of AI technology and use in Higher Education across TBR Schools and our partners.These sessions are designed as a collaborative learning experience. Come prepared to participate. The sessions are not designed to discuss limiting the use of AI, or writing policy.
Presenters: Jamie Nelson, Pari Bhatt, Sarah Hazelton, Erin Hugus

Friday, September 13
8 am – 8:50 am
Building Better Connections and Conversations: Supercommunicators Professional Learning Community (L, E, A, D, S)
Professional Learning Community
How can we build better connections with our students and colleagues? How can we engage in better communication? Join us this fall for a professional learning community (PLC) over Charles Duhigg’s Supercommunicators. In this session, we will be discussing the What’s this really about? Conversation (pages 35-76.) A limited number of books will be available for PLC participants.
Moderators: Harlan Pease, Associate Professor of Communication Studies and English, and Fellow, The Teaching Center, and Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director, The Teaching Center

Friday, September 13
9 – 9:50 am
Understanding and Implementing the Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace (L, A, D, S, CRTP)
Professional Learning Community (PLC)
Join The Teaching Center for the third PLC meeting focused on The Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace. In today’s fast-paced work environments, expressing appreciation and recognition for colleagues’ efforts is essential for fostering a positive and productive workplace culture. During this session of the professional learning community, participants will delve into Chapters 4-8 of Dr. Gary Chapman and Dr. Paul White’s renowned book, “The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace,” and explore how these principles can be effectively applied. Please read chapters 4-8 (pages 57-115) prior to the session.
Moderators: Neely Ann Sheucraft, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Fellow, The Teaching Center, and Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director of The Teaching Center

Friday, September 13
9 am
TBR HIPs Connection Call – Service Learning and Growth Mindset
Led by: Jessica Mills

Friday, September 13
10 am – 10:50 am
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) – All you need to know (L, A, S)
Presentation
A beginner session on what SAP is, why it is important, and how we can assist our students. We will go over our SAP policy, discuss appeal options/processes, and discuss how we can assist our students.
Presenter: Jennifer Byrd, Financial Aid Director

Friday, September 13
12 pm
Engaging Strategies: Making your College Classroom Come Alive (L, E, S, CRTP)
Panel Discussion
Join colleagues for a panel discussion sharing tips for engagement strategies. A Q&A session will occur after the panel discussion, if time is available.
Panelists: Melissa Fleck, Mike Kiggins, Devora Manier, Rachel Lewis, Jill Cooksey, and Belkis Barrios

Friday, September 20
8 am – 8:50 am
Building Better Connections and Conversations: Supercommunicators Professional Learning Community (L, E, A, D, S)
Professional Learning Community
How can we build better connections with our students and colleagues? How can we engage in better communication? Join us this fall for a professional learning community (PLC) over Charles Duhigg’s Supercommunicators. In this session, we will be discussing the How do we feel? Conversation (pages 77-165.) A limited number of books will be available for PLC participants.
Moderators: Harlan Pease, Associate Professor of Communication Studies and English, and Fellow, The Teaching Center, and Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director, The Teaching Center

Friday, September 20
8 am
TBR HIPs Monthly Connection Call – Study Abroad
TNCIS: What is it and How to Work with it
Presenters: Amanda Carr-Wilcoxson and Angie Wood

Friday, September 20
9 – 9:50 am
Consequences of Drops/Withdrawals to Students’ Financial Aid (L, S)
Presentation
A session for beginners focusing on the impact drops and withdrawals have on students’ financial aid. Also, includes best way to ensure students get the correct information.
Presenters: Jennifer Byrd, Financial Aid Director, and Keri LaPrairie, Assistant Director Financial Aid

Friday, September 20
10 – 10:50 am
Writing your Teaching Philosophy (S)
Presentation
This presentation is for Faculty members preparing Promotion and Tenure notebooks who want some guidance on creating their Teaching Philosophy Statement. We will also look at how the Teaching Philosophy can be used as a keystone for guiding the notebook narrative.
Presenter: Harlan Pease, Associate Professor of Communication Studies and English

Friday, September 20
11 – 11:50 am
Fostering Student Success with Mindset-Supportive Practices (L, S)
Presentation
This session provides an introduction to learning mindsets and how mindset-supportive practices can be used to support student success inside and outside the classroom. Participants will hear an overview of different projects and resources the TBR System offers for supporting students’ growth mindset, purpose & relevance, and sense of belonging.
Presenter: Emma Huelskoetter, Coordinator of Campus Mindset Interventions, Tennessee Board of Regents

Friday, September 20
12:30 pm
TBR HIPs Monthly Connection Calls – Honors Education: Honors Strategies for Success
Presenters: Sharon Grigsby and Angie Wood

Monday, September 23
9 am TBR HIPs Monthly Connection Calls: Collaboration Across HIPs
Sometimes Technology is a Barrier: Understanding Digital Literacy
Presenter: Andrea Green

Wednesday, September 25
2 pm
TBR HIPs Monthly Connection Calls: Technology Enhanced
Discussion: Ethical Integration of AI in the Classroom
Presenter: Brooks Ziegler

Thursday, September 26
11:45 am – 12:10 pm
Helping Students Create Helpful Habits (L, E, S)
Presentation
To learn HOW to learn one must first know what to do. Attend this session to receive resources for sharing with students what habits will help them be successful in coursework and life.
Presenter: Kurstin Bush, Asst. Prof. of Education and Teaching Fellow

Friday, September 27
8 am – 8:50 am
Building Better Connections and Conversations: Supercommunicators Professional Learning Community (L, E, A, D, S)
Professional Learning Community
How can we build better connections with our students and colleagues? How can we engage in better communication? Join us this fall for a professional learning community (PLC) over Charles Duhigg’s Supercommunicators. In this session, we will be discussing the Who are we? Conversation (pages 169-234.) A limited number of books will be available for PLC participants.
Moderators: Harlan Pease, Associate Professor of Communication Studies and English, and Fellow, The Teaching Center, and Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director, The Teaching Center

Friday, September 27
9 – 9:50 am
Understanding and Implementing the Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace (L, A, D, S, CRTP)
Professional Learning Community (PLC)
Join The Teaching Center for the fourth PLC meeting focused on The Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace. In today’s fast-paced work environments, expressing appreciation and recognition for colleagues’ efforts is essential for fostering a positive and productive workplace culture. During this session of the professional learning community, participants will delve into Chapter 9 of Dr. Gary Chapman and Dr. Paul White’s renowned book, “The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace,” and explore how these principles can be effectively applied. Please read chapter 9 (pages 117-125) prior to the session.

Friday, September 27
12 pm
Tips for staying motivated during the semester (L, S, CRTP)
Panel Discussion
Join colleagues for a panel discussion sharing tips for staying motivated during the semester. A Q&A session will occur after the panel discussion, if time is available.
Panelists: Laura Burridge, Devora Manier, Breanna Waller, and Mary Elizabeth Wilson-Patton

Friday, October 4
8 – 8:50 am
Quotable Quotes (L,S)
Open Forum
Come together with your colleagues for a moderated discussion focusing on this idea:“The great aim of education is not knowledge but action.” ~ Herbert Spencer Is this always true? How do we inspire action? What action(s) are we trying to inspire?
Moderator: Harlan Pease, Associate Professor of Communication Studies and English

Friday, October 4
9 – 9:50 am
Understanding and Implementing the Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace (L, A, D, S, CRTP)
Professional Learning Community (PLC)
Join The Teaching Center for the fifth PLC meeting focused on The Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace. In today’s fast-paced work environments, expressing appreciation and recognition for colleagues’ efforts is essential for fostering a positive and productive workplace culture. During this session of the professional learning community, participants will delve into Chapters 10 – 14 of Dr. Gary Chapman and Dr. Paul White’s renowned book, “The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace,” and explore how these principles can be effectively applied. Please read chapters 10 – 14 (pages 127 – 198) prior to the session.
Moderators: Neely Ann Sheucraft, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Fellow, The Teaching Center, and Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director of The Teaching Center

Friday, October 4
11 am
TBR Monthly Connection Calls: First-Year Experience
First-Year Student Engagement
Presenters: Jessica Rabb and Parish Akin

Friday, October 4
12 pm – 12:50 pm
All things Access Center (L, E, A, D, S)
Presentation
During this session the Access Center will review all things Access Center to include but not be limited to Faculty Notification Letters, Accommodations and the process for accommodations, what to do if….,and testing along with any other questions or concerns. Participants are welcome to email elizabeth.jerrolds@nscc.edu.
Presenters: Elizabeth Jerrolds and April Delagrave

Tuesday, October 8
11 am
TBR Tech Talk Tuesday – Bridging Mind and Machines: Artificial Intelligence in Teaching and Learning
October’s Topic: AI as a Study Buddy: Leveraging AI to Personalize Learning
Join us for an insightful discussion on leveraging AI as a study buddy and tutoring tool for college students! We’ll explore innovative ways students can use AI to enhance their learning experience, from personalized study plans to real-time homework assistance. Additionally, we’ll provide faculty with practical tips on designing AI generated tutoring plans that effectively support student learning, ensuring that these technologies complement traditional teaching methods.

Wednesday, October 9
12:30 pm
TBR HIPs Connection Calls: Undergrad Research
Introducing Undergrad Research
Presenters: Elvira Eivazova and Gracie Rossi

Thursday, October 10
11:45 am – 12:10 pm
Hidden Potential by Adam Grant – my Cliff Notes version
(L,S)
Presentation
Come explore the insights of Adam Grant, organizational psychologist at the Wharton School of Business as they pertain to increasing achievement in the classroom.
Presenter: Kurstin Bush: Asst. Prof. of Education and Teaching Fellow

Thursday, Oct 10
12:30-1:30 pm
Infinite Games Part 3: Building an OER Course/Text with Libretext – A Faculty Workshop (L, E, A, D, S, CRTP, ACUE)
Workshop
This third installment of the Infinite Games series is a hands-on workshop where faculty will collaboratively create Open Educational Resources (OER) using Libretext. The focus will be on building flexible, student-centered learning materials that are both accessible and engaging. Faculty will work together during the session to create and curate interactive educational content, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary resources that promote collaboration and enhance student learning. By the end of the workshop, participants will have developed concrete OER materials ready for classroom use, contributing to the global educational ecosystem.
Presenter: Robert Ladd, Assistant Professor, and Fellow, The Teaching Center

Friday, October 11
9 am – 9:25 am
Presentation
Financial Aid Resources and Updates (L, S)
A session that focuses on Financial Aid Resources and gives an update on any upcoming Financial Aid changes.
Presenters: Jennifer Byrd, Financial Aid Director, and Keri LaPrairie, Assistant Director Financial Aid

Friday, October 11
1:00-1:50 pm
ChatGPT and Chill: A Hands-On Workshop for Programming AI to Support Student Learning (L, S)
Workshop
This workshop is designed to help faculty harness the power of GPTs and AI tools to enhance student learning in practical and innovative ways, as requested. Participants will explore the basics of AI and ethical considerations and dive into hands-on activities, developing real applications such as AI-powered study aids or personalized feedback systems. I will share my methods of building “effective” bots and the inner workings of the GPT system. The focus is on creating tangible, practical outcomes during the session that can be implemented in the classroom immediately.
Presenter: Robert Ladd, Assistant Professor, and Fellow, The Teaching Center

Monday, October 14
12:30 pm
TBR HIPs Connection Calls: Honors Education
Tailoring Honors Programs to Institutional Contexts
Presenters: Sharon Grigsby & Angie Wood

Thursday, October 17
2 pm – 3:15 pm
ACUE Webinar – Having Constructive Classroom Conversations in Challenging Times
In an era where educators and institutions are striving to create a sense of belonging for all students, it is critical that we create space for constructive conversations, even if the topics are deemed challenging.

Join ACUE’s expert panel as they share proven strategies for fostering constructive conversations in the classroom. Learn how to create an environment where every student feels comfortable engaging and discover effective ways to manage communication, responses, and emotional triggers during challenging discussions.

During this webinar, you will learn to:

Facilitate constructive conversations in the classroom when addressing challenging topics.
Create an inclusive environment where all students feel comfortable sharing their perspectives and engaging in discussions.
Implement effective strategies for managing communication, responses, and emotional triggers.

Monday, October 21
10 am – 10:30 am
Promotion and Tenure Open Forum
Open Forum
Tenure and Promotion applications are due on October 28. Bring your final questions to this open forum! Join The Teaching Center to share questions as you work to finalize your promotion or tenure application.
Facilitator: Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director of The Teaching Center

Monday, October 21
12:30 pm
TBR HIPs Connection Calls: Why Study Abroad? Student Perspectives
Presenters: Amanda Carr-Wilcoxson & Angie Wood

Friday, October 25
8 – 8:50 am
Reflecting on and Preparing for 7-week Classes
Open Forum
Join colleagues for an open forum discussion as we reflect on experiences teaching 7-week classes, share strategies and tips for success, and prepare for teaching during this second 7-week term.
Moderators: Neely Ann Sheucraft, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Fellow, The Teaching Center; Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director of The Teaching Center, and Audrey Cross, Assistant Professor of Learning Support, and Fellow, The Teaching Center

Friday, October 25
9 – 9:50 am
Understanding and Implementing the Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace (L, A, D, S, CRTP)
Professional Learning Community (PLC)
Join The Teaching Center for the final PLC meeting focused on The Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace. In today’s fast-paced work environments, expressing appreciation and recognition for colleagues’ efforts is essential for fostering a positive and productive workplace culture. During this session of the professional learning community, participants will delve into Chapters 15-18 of Dr. Gary Chapman and Dr. Paul White’s renowned book, “The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace,” and explore how these principles can be effectively applied. Please read chapters 15-18 (pages 200 – 245) prior to the session.
Moderators: Neely Ann Sheucraft, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Fellow, The Teaching Center, and Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director of The Teaching Center

Friday, October 25
10 am – 11:30 am
Academic Integrity in the Classroom: Similarity & AI Indication in the Formative Space
Presentation
The Turnitin Similarity Report and AI writing indicator are best used to inform educator judgment, but are not meant to be the sole measure of academic integrity. In this session, we will be focusing on how the Similarity Index and AI Indication reports are the same, how they differ, and how to clearly communicate with students about the writing process, guiding the discussion in a positive direction.
Presenter: Megan Leith Sexton, Senior Customer Success Manager, Turnitin

Friday, October 25
12 pm
Utilizing Case Studies and Real-World Examples in Teaching (L, S, CRTP)
Panel Discussion
Join colleagues for a panel discussion sharing tips for using case studies and real-world examples in teaching. A Q&A session will occur after the panel discussion, if time is available.
Panelists: Breanna Waller, Roslyn Mize, and Rachel Lewis

Monday, October 28
9 – 10 am or 1 – 2 pm
TBR Unlock Digital Accessibility Bootcamp Series: Intro to Digital Accessibility
Join TBR for an immersive experience that delves into digital accessibility essentials! Don’t miss out on this ultimate opportunity to enhance your skills.
Today’s Bootcamp Session: Intro to Digital Accessibility – learn the basics to make your content inclusive.

Tuesday, October 29
9 – 10 am or 1 – 2 pm
TBR Unlock Digital Accessibility Bootcamp Series: Microsoft Tools
Join TBR for an immersive experience that delves into digital accessibility essentials! Don’t miss out on this ultimate opportunity to enhance your skills.
Today’s Bootcamp Session: Microsoft Tools – Discover how to enhance accessibility in Microsoft programs.

Wednesday, October 30
9 – 10 am or 1 – 2 pm
TBR Unlock Digital Accessibility Bootcamp Series: Adobe Pro
Join TBR for an immersive experience that delves into digital accessibility essentials! Don’t miss out on this ultimate opportunity to enhance your skills.
Today’s Bootcamp Session: Adobe Pro – Master the art of checking accessibility in Adobe documents.

Thursday, October 31
9 – 10 am or 1 – 2 pm
TBR Unlock Digital Accessibility Bootcamp Series: Social Media & Website Best Practices
Join TBR for an immersive experience that delves into digital accessibility essentials! Don’t miss out on this ultimate opportunity to enhance your skills.
Today’s Bootcamp Session: Social Media & Website Best Practices – Equip yourself with strategies to ensure accessibility across platforms.

Thursday, October 31
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
TBR Postsecondary Aligned Advising Fall 2024 Webinar Series:
HIPs and the Launch of Learner Records: Lessons Learned from a Five-Year Effort in Tennessee
The Tennessee Board of Regents made a commitment to the implementation and expansion of High Impact Practices (HIPs) across the System in 2014. Since the launch of the HIPs Initiative, the TBR System has received national recognition on not only scaling efforts, but also data collection on student outcomes from participating in HIPs. As the final bookend piece to the HIP scaling work, TBR is leading the nation in the development and scaling of a comprehensive learner record to be launched in Fall 2024. This session will recap the history and momentum leading up to the launch of the learner record and the future possibilities for its use with students, employers, and for assessment.
Presenter: Dr. Heidi Leming, Vice Chancellor for Student Success and Strategic Partnerships, TBR

Friday, November 1
8:30 am – 9:30 am
What is Reading Support and how does it benefit students? (L, E, D, S, CRTP)
Presentation
If you’re reading this, you are most likely a stakeholder in Learning Support. Many of our students must make it through learning support classes before completing the bulk of their credits. This presentation will teach you all about the Reading Support class many of your students are required to take. We will share the details of students who are required to take the class and how the class impacts their success at NSCC. We will share course outcomes and some of the activities and assignments we have created as well as the benefits thereof. Additionally, we would also appreciate your ideas and participation: what reading skills, study skills, or types of readings do your students need more practice with to be successful in your classes? We would love to collaborate across disciplines to make sure students who are required to take Reading Support are as successful as possible.
Presenters: Audrey Cross, Assistant Professor of Learning Support, and Kathy Sorenson, Course Lead for Reading Support

Friday, November 1
9 am – 10:30 am
Fast Track to Success? A Mixed Methods Study of Accelerated Course Formats (TBR Webinar)
TBR staff will share research findings and discuss the impact of these courses with college leaders from Chattanooga, Dyersburg, and Nashville State Community College. During the webinar, speakers will highlight key findings from a mixed methods research study of accelerated courses, including:

Student outcomes in accelerated courses are generally positive but vary by student group and course.
Students, faculty, and staff identify tradeoffs between accelerated and traditional courses, noting that while accelerated courses can boost student motivation, the fast pace can be difficult to manage for some learners.
Students highlight their need for clear, accessible information about accelerated courses and robust advising and tutoring to support their success in these fast-paced courses.

More information about TBR’s research on accelerated courses is also available at this link: https://www.tbr.edu/policy-strategy/accelerated-7-week-courses

Friday, November 1
9 am
TBR HIPs Connection Calls: Service Learning
Service Learning Roundtable
Presenter: Jessica Mills, TBR HIPs Ambassador

Wednesday, November 6
10 am
Adobe Digital Literacy Café Webinar Series – Exploring In-class Exercises and Lesson Plans that Integrate Generative AI
In this session, four faculty members will share a dozen successful classroom exercises and lesson plans that engage students and help build transferable skills like creativity and collaboration. Speakers will share:

Practical day-to-day approaches to integrating generative AI in ways that promote student learning outcomes
Pedagogical principles behind the lesson plans and exercise

Wednesday, November 6
12:30 pm
TBR HIPs Connection Calls: Undergrad Research
Using Undergrad Research in the Classroom
Presenters: Elvira Eivazova and Gracie Rossi, TBR HIPs Ambassadors

Friday, November 8
9 a.m.
Checking In for a Strong Semester Finish
Open Forum
Moderator: Piper Sesnan, OTD, OTR, Assistant Professor and Program Director, OTA Program, The Teaching Center Fellow

Friday, November 8
10:30 am – 12 pm
Demystifying AI: What It Is and Why It Matters in Higher Education – K-163, White Bridge Road Campus, and via Zoom
This session peels back the layers of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education. We’ll break down key concepts, explore its potential to personalize learning, automate tasks, and revolutionize research. Join us for an interactive discussion on the ethical considerations and practical applications that are shaping the future of higher education.

Friday, November 8
12 pm
Strategies for Reducing Student Stress: Balancing Rigor and Well-Being (L, S, CRTP)
Panel Discussion
Join colleagues for a panel discussion sharing strategies for reducing student stress while balancing rigor and well-being. A Q&A session will occur after the panel discussion, if time is available.
Panelists: Rachel Lewis and Jill Cooksey

Tuesday, November 12
11 am
TBR Tech Talk Tuesday Season 2: Episode 3
Tech Talk Tuesday – Bridging Mind and Machines: Artificial Intelligence in Teaching and Learning
November Topic: AI in Action: A Panel Presentation of Use Cases of AI
This month’s TBR Tech Talk Tuesday is excited to welcome three trailblazers who are currently using AI in their work to support learning. We look forward to learning what is working for them, what might not be working the way they thought it would and what they are thinking of trying next. Panelists will also give us insight into their favorite tools, share student feedback and tips for how they keep up with the latest AI developments.

Our panel members will be:

April Crenshaw – Associate Professor, Mathematics at Chattanooga State
Maryellen Nash – Instructional Designer in the Office of Online Learning at Nashville State
Angie Elkins – Associate Professor, Behavioral/Social Science at Walters State

The purpose of Tech Talk Tuesdays is to continue our collaboration by providing an intentional platform to share what we are learning.

Tuesday, November 12
1 pm – 2 pm
TBR 2024 – 2025 Grant Officer Training Series: Uniform Grant Guidance
Join TBR for the first in this series of grant trainings. All employees are welcome to attend this training series. TBR Grant applications are being accepted now (until Feb 3.) TBR grants will start July 1, 2025 – https://adgrants.tbr.edu/

Wednesday, November 13
1 pm
THE CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION Virtual Forum
How AI May Change Student Engagement
Generative AI tools are transforming higher-ed practices — including how faculty and staff members communicate and engage with students. But understanding the best ways to do this can be difficult given the fast-changing nature of the technology and the lack of institutional guidelines.

Join this forum on Wednesday, November 13 at 2 pm ET to learn more about:

The perspectives of faculty and staff members on using AI to streamline communications with students
Ways generative-AI tools can support student engagement
How chatbots are playing a larger role in the classroom and at the institutional level

The session will also discuss the findings of a national survey of faculty and administrators conducted by The Chronicle about how AI is changing communications with students.

Wednesday, November 13
2 pm
TBR HIPs Monthly Connection Calls: Technology Enhanced Learning
Roundtable: Technology’s Impact on Mindset
Presenter: Brooks Ziegler, TBR HIPs Ambassador

Friday, November 15
8:30 – 9 am
TILT 2.0 – TILT Survey Updates
Presentation
Based on feedback from faculty, the NSCC TILT Survey is getting a makeover. Join us to learn about the student-ready language of the new survey, improvements for gathering course data, and the new link for the TILT survey starting in spring 2024.
Presenters: Neely Ann Sheucraft, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Fellow, The Teaching Center, and Amy Bryant, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, and Director of The Teaching Center

Friday, November 15th
9 – 9:50 am
Quotable Quotes (L,S)
Open Forum
Come together with your colleagues for a moderated discussion focusing on this idea:
In this session, we will discuss the following quote from John Dewey: “We do not learn from experience… we learn from reflecting on experience.”
Moderator: Harlan Pease, Associate Professor of Communication Studies and English

Friday, November 15
1-2 pm
How to Create Study Abroad Curriculum: Lessons from Tokyo in Film
Workshop
This workshop will provide educators with a clear and practical approach to designing effective study abroad curricula, drawing from my experience developing the course and OER text Tokyo in Film. The session will explore how to blend academic rigor with immersive, real-world experiences, using examples from the Tokyo in Film course to highlight best practices. Educators will learn how to overcome common challenges, such as limited access to traditional learning materials, by utilizing a purpose-driven framework. The presentation will focus on integrating local culture and excursions into the curriculum, making assignments relevant and engaging for students. By applying the Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TILT) model, participants will gain strategies to create clear, purposeful assignments that enhance student learning and foster transferable skills.
Presenter: Robert Ladd, Assistant Professor, and Fellow, The Teaching Center

Tuesday, November 19
9 am
TBR HIPs Monthly Connection Calls: Collaboration Across HIPs
Roundtable: Strategies to Combat Decision Fatigue
Presenter: Andrea Green, TBR HIPs Ambassador