Spring 2025 Events & Programming Overview

Find all of CATL’s events and programming all in one place! We already have several exciting opportunities planned for Spring 2025, so mark your calendars.

“Teaching Today’s UWGB Students” Event Series & Canvas Course

As we head into a new semester, you may be asking yourself, who are the students in my classroom and why do they learn so differently than I did back in the day? Let’s ignore the fact that your college professors likely thought the same thing when you and your peers entered their classrooms and concentrate instead on how to engage and reach today’s students, the focus of CATL’s spring programming. Join us for “Teaching Today’s UWGB Students,” including three events and a Canvas shell of resources.

  • Insights from Secondary School Educators on Our Current & Future Students | Monday, Feb. 17, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
  • Growing Your Mindset | Friday, Mar. 7, 9 – 10 a.m.
  • Teaching with Transparency | Friday, Apr. 4, 9 – 10 a.m.

Co-Writing Community

Tara DaPra, one of CATL’s Instructional Development Consultants, will lead another “Co-Writing Community” this semester via Zoom from 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. on Tuesdays & Fridays, starting Jan. 28. A co-writing community is a zero-obligation, zero-preparation, zero-outside work activity. Use this time to work on creative or scholarly projects that might otherwise get pushed aside by the demands of teaching. All faculty and staff are welcome!

Teaching with Technology Certificate (LITE 101, 201, & 301 Courses)

The Teaching with Technology Certificate program consists of three courses that act as steps in the certification sequence: Learning and Integrating Technology for Education (LITE) 101, LITE 201, and LITE 301. Participants will earn a badge after completing the first and second courses in the sequence, and the Teaching with Technology Certificate after completing the third course. Full-time instructors who complete the second and third courses may also be eligible for a stipend. Registration for LITE 201 & 301 is open through Friday, Jan. 31.

CATL Delivers

CATL will continue to bring services to you and your college or academic program. We will begin the semester with traditional college drop-in hours, but at some point in the term, we will transition to bringing programming directly to you instead. Watch for our soon-to-be-released Menu of Services! It will include a list of workshop topics you can request CATL bring to your college or unit.

  • CAHSS drop-in hours | Mary Ann Cofrin Hall B334 (Bridge room) | Mondays, 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
  • CSET drop-in hours | Environmental Sciences 317 or Laboratory Sciences 468 (rotates – see full schedule for details) | Mondays, 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
  • CSB drop-in hours | Wood Hall 430 | Tuesdays, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • CHESW drop-in hours | Rose Hall 305 (conference room) | Wednesdays, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • Virtual drop-in hours | Zoom | Thursdays from 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.

“Teaching with AI” Course

During the spring semester, instructors will have the opportunity to continue working through the “Teaching with AI” self-paced Canvas course created by Auburn University. Those who already signed up have been added to the course and will have until Apr. 1, 2025, to complete it. For instructors who have not yet registered, stay tuned for more information in March and April about registering for a new version of the course. Additional opportunities for synchronous check-in meetings will also be shared with enrollees at a later date.

Students repainting the large Phoenix logo on the ground

Teaching Today’s UWGB Students: A Preview of CATL’s Spring 2025 Programming Series

Article by Kris Vespia, Director of the Center of the Advancement of Teaching and Learning (CATL)

One of the comments I have heard the most since becoming CATL Director is some variation on the following: “I just don’t understand students today. They [fill in the blank].” Whether that sentence is completed with “don’t do their reading,” or “balance more than I ever had to,” instructors clearly have a sense that current students are walking a different path than they did in their college days.

CATL has decided to tackle this topic with a connected programming series this semester that will invite everyone to engage not only with the question of who our students are but also what strategies we can use to work with them more effectively. We have constructed a Canvas course of articles and other resources related to “Teaching Today’s UWGB Students,” and we will continue to update it during the term. We are also hosting three events related to this theme. First, on Feb. 17 at 3:30 p.m., we will co-host, along with Student Access and Success, an online panel of secondary school educators from common feeder schools for UWGB. Teachers, student services personnel, and administrators will talk about what they see in today’s high school students and share strategies they find effective in working with them.

After spending time considering student characteristics in February, we will turn in March and April to consider evidence-based pedagogical strategies that research suggests are effective with a broad range of students. On Mar. 7 at 9 a.m., our own Dr. Amy Kabrhel and her brother, who wrote his dissertation on the topic, will address “Growing Your Mindset,” and CATL will share some practical tips for integrating it into your teaching. On Apr. 4 at 9 a.m., we will welcome former Wisconsin Teaching Fellows and Scholars Co-Director, current River Falls’ CETL Director, and published author Dr. Cyndi Kernahan for a live online discussion of “Teaching with Transparency,” and how that can facilitate student engagement and learning.

We see these different events as inter-related, and we will offer the opportunity to earn a “Teaching Today’s Students” digital badge if you engage with all three topics by either attending each of the three synchronous events or by contributing to an asynchronous alternative in the Canvas course for any live presentations you miss. Note that we will also have a series of blogs on related topics throughout the semester, such as “Understanding Today’s UWGB Students” and “Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI).”

Please watch Teach Tuesday for upcoming blogs and look for Outlook invitations to the three events described above. We look forward to engaging with you.

Fall 2024 Events & Programming Overview

Find all of CATL’s fall events and programming all in one place! We already have drop-in hours, training courses, workshops, and several other events on the calendar with more to come.

Teaching with Technology Certificate (LITE 101, 201, & 301 Courses)

The Teaching with Technology Certificate program consists of three courses that act as steps in the certification sequence: Learning and Integrating Technology for Education (LITE) 101, LITE 201, and LITE 301. Participants will earn a badge after completing the first and second courses in the sequence, and the Teaching with Technology Certificate after completing the third course. Full-time instructors who complete the second and third courses may also be eligible for a stipend.

LITE 350: Teaching with an Equity Lens

LITE 350 badgeLITE 350: Teaching with an Equity Lens is a semester-long community of practice where participants work their way through the Peralta Equity Rubric. Participants focus on one class they teach and apply elements like technology, Universal Design for Learning, and connection and belonging practices while seeking feedback from colleagues to create an equitable class experience for all students. Full-time instructors who complete the course may be eligible for a stipend.

CATL on the MOO-ve: College Drop-In Hours

CATL is bringing our services to you with more College Drop-in Hours this fall! Each week, one of CATL’s instructional designers, instructional technologists, or our Canvas administrator will be holding drop-in hours in each of the four colleges on the Green Bay campus, with additional virtual offerings.

  • CAHSS & CSET drop-in hours | Mondays, 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
  • CSB drop-in hours | Tuesdays, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • CHESW drop-in hours | Wednesdays, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • Virtual drop-in hours | Thursdays from 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.

2024 Election: Free Speech, Politics, & The Classroom

Prepare for the upcoming election season by attending a session on the intersection between higher education and politics on Friday, Sept. 6, at 9:30 a.m. in MAC 206 and via Zoom. Experts from the Provost’s Office, Dean of Students Office, Policy & Compliance, and CATL will respond to your questions and invite you to engage with case scenarios that could arise in your own classroom.

Wednesdays with CATL

Wacky Wednesdays

Take a short break, enjoy snacks and good company, and try games or engagement strategies you can use in your classes! Join the CATL team for a little fun at these “Wacky Wednesday” events.

Workshop Wednesdays

Join CATL for open computer lab time where you can experiment with technology that can enhance your teaching, see live demonstrations, and get your questions answered.

  • Sept. 11 | 3 – 4:30 p.m. in LS 102 | Open Lab on Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI)
  • Oct. 9 | 3 – 4:30 p.m. in LS 102 | Open Lab on Accessibility

Co-Writing Community

Tara DaPra, one of CATL’s Instructional Development Consultants, will lead another “Co-Writing Community” this fall via Zoom from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. on Fridays. A co-writing community is a zero-obligation, zero-preparation, zero-outside work activity. Use this time to work on creative or scholarly projects that might otherwise get pushed aside by the demands of teaching. All faculty and staff are welcome!

“Teaching with AI” Book Groups

Cover image of Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human LearningCATL is leading discussion groups around the book Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning. Participants will be grouped based on themes (e.g., by discipline or teaching modality) and meet roughly three times this semester based on their availability. Visit the UW-Green Bay Library website for free eBook access.

Pre-Semester Workshops (Summer 2024)

Get ready to teach! CATL is offering a variety of pre-semester workshops to help instructors prepare for their Fall 2024 courses. Each workshop will be held via Zoom.* If you would like to receive an Outlook invitation with the Zoom link, you can register. Registration is not required; feel free to drop into any session and meet the CATL team!

*The “Open Lab Time with CATL” session will be held in person in IS 1129A with a virtual option for remote participants.

Generative AI in the Classroom (Monday, Aug. 26, 2:00 p.m.)

Join us as we discuss the implications of emerging AI products and brainstorm strategies for adapting course materials and assessments. We encourage you to bring one of your assignments to this interactive workshop.

Monday, Aug. 26: Zoom meeting link

Creating and Sharing Video Recordings with Kaltura My Media (Monday, Aug. 26, 3:30 p.m. & Friday, Aug. 30, 9:00 a.m.)

Instructors at UWGB can use Kaltura My Media to create, upload, and share videos in Canvas courses. Join us for a one-hour session where we will cover how to create and share engaging instructional videos with Kaltura’s easy-to-use media tools and unlimited storage space.

Monday, Aug. 26: Zoom meeting link

Friday, Aug. 30: Zoom meeting link

Getting Started with Canvas Basics (Monday, Aug. 26, 6:00 p.m.)

This brief introductory workshop is for those with limited knowledge of Canvas but who need to quickly whip their classes into shape.

Monday, Aug. 26: Zoom meeting link

Accessibility in Canvas (Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2:00 p.m. & Tuesday, Sept. 3, 10:15 a.m.)

In order to create better learning experiences for our students, it is important that we improve our courses’ digital accessibility. Join us for a session where you’ll learn about key tools and best practices for accessible course design in Canvas.

Tuesday, Aug. 27: Zoom meeting link

Tuesday, Sept. 3: Zoom meeting link

Open Lab Time with CATL (Friday, Aug. 30, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.)

Stop by the computer lab (Instructional Services 1129A) and use this time to experiment with technology, including generative AI (Copilot) and Canvas, alongside the CATL team. CATL members will be available in the computer lab between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., as well as online via Zoom from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 30: Zoom meeting link

Setting Up Your Canvas Gradebook (Friday, Aug. 30, 11:15 a.m. & Tuesday, Sept. 3, 9 a.m.)

Maintaining an accurate gradebook in Canvas benefits students in any class modality. Bring your questions to this session as we explore the ins and outs of using the feature-rich Canvas gradebook.

Friday, Aug. 30: Zoom meeting link

Tuesday, Sept. 3: Zoom meeting link

Pre-Semester Workshops (Summer 2023)

Get ready to teach! CATL is offering a variety of pre-semester workshops to help instructors prepare their Fall 2023 courses. Each workshop will be held via Zoom.

If you would like to receive an Outlook invitation with the Zoom link, you can register. Registration is not required, feel free to drop in and meet the the CATL team!

Creating a Student-Friendly Syllabus (Friday, Aug. 25, 10:00 a.m. & Tuesday, Aug. 29, 1:00 p.m.)

One of the best ways to set a positive, welcoming tone for your class is with the syllabus. Join us for a one-hour session as we dive into UWGB’s syllabus requirements and go beyond them to consider characteristics of effective syllabi, including transparency, clear learning outcomes, welcoming language, and more.

Friday, Aug. 25: Zoom meeting link

Tuesday, Aug. 29: Zoom meeting link

Getting Started with Canvas: Building Your First Module (Friday, Aug. 25, 1:00 p.m. & Tuesday, Aug 29, 10:00 a.m.) 

New to Canvas and not sure where to start? In this one-hour workshop, we will walk you through the essentials for building your first module! Learn about the features you might need to prepare your class including pages, assignments, discussions, and quizzes.

Friday, Aug. 25: Zoom meeting link

Tuesday, Aug. 29: Zoom meeting link

Getting Your Canvas Gradebook Going  (Wednesday, Aug. 30, 10:00 a.m.) 

Maintaining an accurate gradebook in Canvas benefits students in any class modality. Bring your questions to this session as we explore the ins and outs of using the feature-rich Canvas gradebook.

Zoom meeting link

Building Relationships: Communicating With Your Students in Canvas (Wednesday, Aug. 30, 1:00 p.m.)

Join us as we discuss ways to build relationships and foster effective communication with students on Canvas. We’ll focus on ways to use Canvas to communicate with your students, establish a welcoming class community, and explore small ways to create a warm, inclusive class environment that promotes student engagement and belonging.

Zoom meeting link

Generative AI & Assessments (Wednesday, Aug. 30, 3:00 p.m.)

Join us as we discuss the implications of emerging AI products, and brainstorm creative, high quality, aligned, and feasible strategies for adapting course materials and assessments. We encourage you to bring your syllabus, learning outcomes, and assessment ideas to this workshop. View our blog post on the Generative AI & Assessment Workshop for more details and registration information.

Zoom meeting link 

Making Your Canvas Course Materials Accessible (Thursday, Aug. 31, 11:00 a.m.)

Do you have questions about course accessibility in Canvas? If so, please join our one-hour workshop to discuss the ins and outs of improving accessibility in your Canvas course. Learn how to effectively utilize the Canvas accessibility checker, leverage the power of UDOIT, and explore general accessibility tips tailored specifically for teaching with Canvas.

Zoom meeting link

Creating and Sharing Video Recordings with Kaltura My Media (Thursday, Aug. 31, 1:00 p.m.) 

Instructors at UWGB can use Kaltura My Media to create, upload, and share videos in Canvas courses. Join us for a one-hour session where we will cover how to create and share engaging instructional videos with Kaltura’s easy-to-use media tools and unlimited storage space.

Zoom meeting link

If you need accommodation for this virtual event, please contact CATL at CATL@uwgb.edu.