Types of Sessions, Community Agreements and Guidelines

As a result of feedback received from The Teaching Center’s spring 2023 survey, The Teaching Center is using the following community agreements and guidelines to guide participation in professional learning led by The Teaching Center. Please note that the type of presentation chosen by the presenter leads to the guidelines used for the session.

Types of Professional Development Sessions

Panel Discussion – moderated panel discussion with participation from designated panelists. A Q&A will occur at the end of the discussion unless prompted by the presenter before the end.

Audience expectations: Come, listen to panelists, learn, and ask questions at the end.

Guidelines: Make sure your first and last names are showing, as we use this for recording attendance.  To avoid interrupting a colleague, only unmute when directed to do so by the presenters or moderator. In panel discussions, we request that you engage in the chat only during the Q&A Session. Raise your hand when the presenters ask for questions.

Presentation – lecture with the Q&A at end of the presentation unless prompted by the presenter during the presentation.

Audience expectations: Come, listen, learn, and ask questions at the end.

Guidelines: Make sure your first and last names are showing, as we use this for recording attendance.   To avoid interrupting a colleague, only unmute when directed to do so by the presenter or moderator. In presentations, we request that you engage in the chat only during the Q&A Session.  Raise your hand when the presenter asks for questions.

Seminar – Interactive presentation and discussion to explore topics of common interest that meet regularly, i.e., 3-5 times a semester. Visitors are encouraged and participants are expected to attend each session.

Audience expectations: attend all sessions and engage when appropriate.

Guidelines: Make sure your first and last names are showing, as we use this for recording attendance.  When you have a comment or question, please raise your hand or add your question to the chat. To avoid interrupting a colleague, only unmute when directed to do so by the presenter or moderator.

Workshop – audience participation is required, audience must engage and be involved in process. The audience brings something to work on or is provided something to create during the event by presenter. A product is created during the session.

Audience expectations: Come, learn a skill, and apply a skill.

Guidelines: Make sure your first and last names are showing, as we use this for recording attendance.  Engage in the chat as directed by the presenter. When you have a question, raise your hand or add your question to the chat. To avoid interrupting a colleague, only unmute when directed to do so by the presenters or moderator.

Open Forum – moderated discussion of a topic. A moderator will be present to guide the forum and to keep the discussion on topic.

Audience expectations: Focused discussion from all members on topic.

Guidelines: Make sure your first and last names are showing, as we use this for recording attendance.  When you have a comment or question, please raise your hand or add your question to the chat. To avoid interrupting a colleague, only unmute when directed to do so by the presenter or moderator.


Professional Learning Community (PLC) – an interactive discussion to explore topics of common interest that meet regularly, i.e., 3-7 times a semester. Participants are expected to attend each session. 

Audience expectations: attend all sessions and engage when appropriate.


Guidelines: Make sure your first and last names are showing, as we use this for recording attendance.  When you have a comment or question, please raise your hand or add your question to the chat. To avoid interrupting a colleague, only unmute when directed to do so by the presenter or moderator.