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
4:00 pm-4:50 pm
GCB 309
Faculty will watch a Magna Commons training video and then share what they learned in a quick 3-5 presentation. We hope to have 8-10 faculty present in this quick idea sharing format to give our colleagues information about strategies they may want to learn more about.
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 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.
Participants will leave with a practical roadmap and a fresh perspective on how to approach the young adult learner.
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.