CTL manages and runs several learning sessions (Lunch & Learn), hands-on workshops (Workshops), and “Teacher Improvement Groups” (Faculty Learning Community) throughout the year. All UT faculty and staff are welcome to participate. Advanced registration is encouraged, as seating in meetings are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Registration is required to receive a certificate of completion.
January
Jan 20, 2026 The 'Impossible' Made Possible: Improving Pedagogy through Shared Learning
Jan 30, 2026 Class Discussion, Epistemic Justice, and Trust in an Epistemically Diverse Classroom
12:00 pm-1:00 pm
GCB 131
Emma Prendergast and Emily FitzGerald will present this workshop which is ideal for instructors who engage students in class discussion, especially about matters of controversy. We will discuss how to navigate differences in students’ beliefs responsibly through a framework of epistemic justice. The workshop will be discussion-based, and attendees will be invited to reflect on how to best facilitate class discussion and a trusting classroom when we face tensions in student worldviews and values.
February
Feb 02, 2026 5 Essential Lessons for Supporting Undergrads: Insights from K-12 Pedagogy
11:00 am-11:50 am
GCB 233
This lunch and learn presentation by Dennis Sinisterra-Gonzalez will discuss how in higher education, we often assume that because our students are adults, they arrive with the foundational skills and self-regulation needed for success. But what if the most effective strategies for connecting with undergraduates are actually found in K-12 pedagogy? Join us for this interactive workshop where we bridge the gap between early childhood development and higher education. Drawing on years of experience in both classrooms, we will explore how to become our students’ G.U.I.D.E. with a set of five essential lessons to transform student accountability, mastery, and belonging. Stop complaining about what students should know and do and start positioning yourself as the Guide they need to succeed. The CTL will provide lunch, so please register in advance.
Participants will leave with a practical roadmap and a fresh perspective on how to approach the young adult learner.
Feb 11, 2026 Title II, Accessibility, and You
4:00 pm-4:50 pm
GCB 140
Effective April 24, 2026, a new rule under Title II of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requires state and local government entities, including public universities, to ensure that all services, programs, and activities—including online learning—are accessible to individuals with disabilities. This includes the content on in Canvas courses. Come get some tips to identify what needs fixing and how to fix it. Then we will actually start fixing things in this hands on workshop.
Feb 17, 2026 AI the Right Way: Understanding, Communicating, and Ensuring Ethical AI Usage in the Classroom and Beyond
4:00 pm-4:50 pm
GCB 120
Panelists John Wolfe (Philosophy), Julie Chew (Nursing), Curtis Larsen (Computer Science), Lacy Hope (English), and Shane Blocker (Career Services) will discuss concerns with the implementation of AI and how best to address those concerns. They will cover things such as bias & equity, data privacy & security, academic integrity, AI and larger ethical concerns and social dangers, environmental and community impacts of AI, information literacy, cognitive offloading/critical thinking, and AI’s effects on career prospects for students. (Talk about bang for your buck!) This will then be followed by a Q & A session, so please come to listen, learn, and ask question.
Feb 23, 2026 Engaging the Modern Student: Lessons from the Supplemental Instruction (SI) Program
4:00 pm-4:50 pm
GCB 131
What makes today’s students lean in, participate, and genuinely engage? How can instructors and administrators adapt to the evolving needs of modern learners? In this interactive workshop Tilly Gibb (Title III Program Coordinator) and Jennifer Gibb (Assistant Professor of the Practice in English and CTL Faculty Fellow) will draw on proven strategies from Supplemental Instruction (SI) to explore practical, student-centered approaches to engagement. Participant will examine how core SI principles, such as active learning, peer collaboration, and inclusive facilitation, can be adapted across a variety of learning environments. Designed for faculty and administrators, this session offers concrete, actionable takeaways to foster deeper student engagement, along with opportunities to discuss shared challenges and ideas with colleagues from across fields.