Teaching and Learning Days

Modality: P (In Person)

The Faculty Center holds monthly professional development events during the semester, typically on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. These events offer two or more concurrent sessions in each of three time slots, much like a mini-conference. They are held in person only, with remote options only available when the entire event is held online.

Each Teaching and Learning Day is announced several weeks before the event, and participants sign up to reserve a spot; participation is capped at 75. This event is for full-time faculty only, and we provide lunch in the form of pizza, salad, and subs. Since participation is limited, we ask that faculty only sign up if they can attend at least two sessions.

We do not record these sessions since we prioritize the networking and sharing elements of the face-to-face experience. You are always welcome to contact presenters to see if they would be willing to share materials with you separately.

Fall Dates

September 9, 2025
October 8, 2025
October 30, 2025

Registration Link: https://ucf.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3pUxfqR4bHLOv5k

Typical Event Format

Session 1, 9:00–10:00 AM
Coffee Break, 10:00–10:10 AM
Session 2, 10:10–11:10 AM
Coffee Break, 11:10–11:20 AM
Session 3, 11:20 AM–12:20 PM
Lunch, 12:20–1:00 PM

Teaching and Learning Day

October 30, 2025

Session 1 9:00–10:00 AM

Navigating Ethics and AI in Higher Education: Faculty Perspectives – Anastasia Bojanowski (Instructional Specialist, FCTL)
This workshop explores the ethical concerns with AI in higher education through a participant-determined discussion. We’ll examine AI ethics through three lenses: 1) Student Learning & Development (authenticity, critical thinking, and personalized support), 2) Faculty Roles & Responsibilities (ethical use, professional boundaries, and bridging gaps), and 3) Systemic & Societal Implications (bias, privacy, and broader societal impacts). This session will consider both the risks and the positive potential of AI. Participants will leave with frameworks for making informed ethical decisions about AI use.

Break 10:00–10:10 AM

Coffee, tea, and snacks in the Faculty Center
CB1-FCTL, Room 207 (Main Room)

Session 2 10:10–11:10 AM

Specifications Grading: Motivating Students While Streamlining Assessment – Eric Main (Associate Director, Faculty Center)
This interactive workshop introduces Linda Nilson’s innovative system of Specifications Grading, a course design and assessment approach that increases student motivation, maintains high academic standards, and saves faculty time in grading. Participants will explore how clear, pass/fail-style assignment specifications foster transparency, encourage students to take ownership of their learning, and reduce grade disputes. The session will also highlight how bundling assignments into grade tiers supports mastery learning while simplifying grading decisions. Faculty across disciplines will leave with practical strategies to adapt specifications grading to their own courses, improving both student engagement and instructional efficiency.

When Students Stop Reading: Reclaiming Focus and Connection in the Age of AI – Laurie Uttich (Instructional Specialist, FCTL)
As students read less, multitask more, and increasingly rely on AI to manage coursework, many instructors are rethinking what meaningful learning looks like. This interactive workshop highlights research and faculty examples that bring engagement back into the classroom from communal reading and student-led discussions to scaffolded grading and real-world projects. Together, we’ll explore strategies that balance accountability with compassion, prioritize connection over coverage, and help students stay focused and motivated.

Break 11:10–11:20 AM

Coffee, tea, and snacks in the Faculty Center
CB1-FCTL, Room 207 (Main Room)

Session 3 11:20 AM—12:20 PM

Cards on the Table: Playing for Respect in the Classroom – Haley Winston (Director, Civil Discourse and Engagement)
*Description coming soon!*

Right-sizing AI for Your Course – Liz Giltner (Instructional Specialist, FCTL)
This workshop introduces a structured approach to “right-sizing” AI use in your courses—integrating it purposefully, ethically, and in alignment with your existing learning outcomes. Participants will learn how to scaffold AI activities that build students’ fluency and confidence without overreliance. Drawing from practical applications in a French language course, this session offers a clear, adaptable framework for incorporating AI meaningfully across disciplines at UCF.

How to Build Better Researchers (and Possibly Save the World) – Alison Hudson (Asst Dir, Academic Programs)
Undergraduate research experiences are essential for training future thinkers, highly skilled workers, and good citizens, yet these experiences often remain out of reach of many students (and of many busy faculty who would love to be mentors). This workshop will cover several different types of undergraduate research experiences, from start/designing through recruitment to mentor compacts to management to research dissemination. In particular, we will discuss existing strategies and support that can enable research mentors to focus on creating feasible, high quality research experiences.

Lunch 12:20–1:00 PM

CB1-FCTL, Room 207 (Main)