Workshop Resources
All Faculty
This year’s workshop featured guest speaker and Futurist Bryan Alexander, Ph.D. Dr. Alexander completed his English language and literature PhD at the University of Michigan in 1997, with a dissertation on doppelgangers in Romantic-era fiction and poetry. He is an award-winning, internationally known futurist, researcher, writer, speaker, consultant, and teacher, working in the field of higher education’s future. Please click below for more information, including a recording of the session and associated slides.
This year’s workshop plenary featured Jonathan Canning (Director of the Brauer Musuem of Art) and Lisa Jennings (Director of the Valparaiso University Experience). Jonathan provided an overview of exhibits planned for the next academic year. Lisa provided faculty with information on the background and development of the new Valparaiso University Experience (VUE) first year experience program, while also outlining the upcoming training and implementation details of this new exciting program. Finally, faculty were provided with four different workshops to choose from over two concurrent sessions, showcasing innovation in teaching and learning from their colleagues. Please click below for more information, including the agenda, PowerPoints, and session descriptions.
This year’s workshop featured guest speaker Derek Bruff, Ph.D. Dr. Bruff received his Ph.D. in Mathematics and has over twenty years of experience as an educator and academic leader in higher education, including over ten years as director of the Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching. Faculty also heard presentations on changes to the Honor Council review process and about the new Quality Assurance Initiative for regarding Quality Matters.
The Spring Workshop focused on Artificial Intelligence, including ChatGPT and was comprised of four breakout sessions: AI and Re-Imagining Writing Assignments, Creative Uses of AI, Academic Integrity and AI, and AI Ethics: Misinformation, Missing Sources, and Bias in ChatGPT. Workshop participants also participated in discussions about University Budget Models, Strategic Plan Updates, and Academic Program Structures.
The Fall 2022 Faculty Workshop featured an overview of the University’s new strategic plan entitled, Uplift Valpo: Our Beacon for the Journey Forward, and how the strategic plan relates to the academic components of the Action Agenda for Racial Equity and Inclusion. Ten breakout session were held and covered the following topics: How to Hold a Conversation in the Classroom around a Difficult Topic; Thinking about Valpo Connect; Using Simple Syllabus; Creating an Inclusive Curriculum; Launching a Sustainability/Environmental Studies Center; The Innovation Hub (iHub); Carnegie Leadership Classification; Division I Athletics; Inclusive Tenure and Promotion Standards; and Creating an Inclusive Classroom.
This end-of-year workshop included discussions about the Lilly Camps Project and creating a more sustainable campus. Breakout sessions included the subjects of the campus waste audit, designing curriculum and experiences for high school students, pedagogy and curriculum related to ecological/environmental issues, and high impact practices for students related to the environment and sustainability.
Writing Center
University Writing Director Kelly Belanger is leading an August workshop on designing and teaching courses that include one or more writing assignments. This two-day workshop certifies faculty to teach VU’s general education program writing intensive courses (i.e., first-year programs–Core and CC 110/115–WICs for sophomores, WIDs for juniors, and the new capstone writing assignment requirement for seniors). The workshop is open to any faculty members who want to learn more about using writing assignments to support critical thinking, information literacy, and learning. For a $300 stipend and certification, participants must be present for all parts of the workshop and complete all reading and preparation work. Lunch is provided both days. Participants interested in taking this workshop for a second or third time should inquire about eligibility for the stipend.
CITAL
This workshop includes an introduction to Blackboard’s Base Navigation, providing faculty with understanding of the key features, benefits, uses, scenarios, and information on where to find help.
Simple Syllabus workshops are held throughout the academic year for faculty on topics related to navigation, organization, design, and integration with Blackboard. Personalized individual sessions are available as well.