Teaching and Learning Days

Modality: P (In Person)

The Faculty Center holds monthly events during the semester, typically on Tuesdays. These events offer two or more concurrent sessions in each of three time slots, much like mini-conferences. By their very nature, 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 from Publix. 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’re always welcome to contact presenters to see if they’d be willing to share materials with you separately.

The third event of the fall and spring terms (November and April) is held virtually and usually consists of only a single online workshop. Summer events are also held virtually.

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

March 5, 2025

Registration Link: https://ucf.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6Gr382n5efBqpmu

Session 1 9:00–10:00 AM

Big Tech, Small Moves: Simple Strategies for Infusing AI into Assignments
Laurie Uttich: Instructional Specialist, FCTL
Love it or hate it (or anything in between), AI tools will play a role in most students’ future jobs, and we’ve just been handed another task on our ever-growing to-do list: teaching students how to evaluate AI output within the context of their discipline. In this session, we’ll explore 20 (or so) small, manageable ways to integrate AI tools into various assignments, giving students the opportunity to experiment with AI output, evaluate it, and shape it to fit their needs. Bring your laptop and leave with practical ideas you can easily implement into many of your existing assignments, while also brainstorming ideas for next semester.

Duck, Duck… Discuss! Playful Strategies for Meaningful Conversations
Haley Winston: Director, Civil Discourse and Engagement
Talking about tough topics doesn’t have to be awkward—or boring! Join us for a hands-on workshop exploring creative ways to spark meaningful dialogue in the classroom. From quirky conversation starters (yes, including tiny yellow ducks!) to interactive techniques that encourage open-minded discussions, we’ll dive into fun, effective strategies for engaging students in civil discourse. Whether you’re looking for fresh classroom activities, tools to navigate tricky conversations, or just curious about the magic of a well-placed duck, this session is for you!

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

How to Shift Pedagogically as Students Read Summaries Instead of Long Texts
Kevin Yee: Special Assistant to the Provost for Artificial Intelligence
Tools powered by artificial intelligence are able to convert uploaded materials into far shorter summaries and even podcasts—products that are irresistible for this generation, as many of today’s students grew up with smartphones and correspondingly shorter attention spans. What can we do about it? We’ll debate strategies and attempt to find options that preserve academic rigor in this shifting landscape.

Course Materials and Leganto
Lily Dubach, Rocco Fazzalari, Amber Mullens, Joe Bizon, Samantha Morgan: UCF Libraries
Discover key types of course materials available to support your teaching, from freely accessible and adaptable resources to discounted options you may not have considered. This session will guide you through the process of considering course materials, best practices for informing your students, and ways you can receive recognition for your affordability efforts. The second half of the session will focus on Leganto, UCF’s course resource list tool, demonstrating how it can help you organize and share materials with students within Canvas. A live walkthrough of Leganto’s features will be provided, followed by a Q&A session.

Understanding Our Students: Teaching for Success in a Dynamic Classroom
Andrea I. Guzmán: VP for Access and Community Engagement
UCF’s student body is rich with varied backgrounds, experiences, and learning styles. This session will explore the university’s student demographics and discuss practical strategies faculty can use to create an engaging and inclusive learning environment. Participants will gain insights into how different student experiences shape learning and leave with actionable techniques to support student success in their classrooms.

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

Lunch 12:20–1:00 PM

CB1-FCTL, Room 207 (Main)