Addressing Student Trauma, Tensions, and Disruptions in your Course
With the rise of tension in the world and awareness of mental health in classrooms, the Schreyer Institute offers the following resources for teaching during times of global tensions, navigating classroom disruptions, and developing trauma informed practices to help you maintain a positive and open learning environment during times of high stress.
Teaching During Times of Global Tensions and Violence
Refer to this resource while planning your interactions with students as members of the Penn State community grieve and cope amidst this tragedy.
Avoiding and Confronting Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia
This resource provides guidance about course discussions about the conflict and how to avoid (or confront) antisemitism and Islamophobia.
Controversy in the Classroom
Developed by Penn State Communication Arts Sciences faculty, this Canvas Commons course offers guidance to help you prepare to meet controversy in the classroom. Canvas log in required. Search Canvas Commons for “Controversy in the Classroom.”
Taking ACTION on Disruptions or Microaggressions
Explore language and phrases for use in responding to disruptions and microaggressions in your courses.
Explore ways to respond to emotionally challenging situations that can negatively impact the integrity and safety of the learning environment.
Trauma Informed Teaching Practices
This resource offers principles of trauma-informed teaching and recommendations instructors might consider as they are developing trauma-informed practices for their own courses.
2023-24 Advancing Equity and Inclusion Grants Recipients Announced
Join us in congratulating the recipients of the 2023-24 Advancing Equity and Inclusion grants. These grants support projects that have the potential to influence teaching and learning at the level of programs, departments, schools, divisions, colleges or campuses.
Recipients:
- Belén Rodríguez Mourelo, Academic Affairs, Penn State Berks — "Learning Community to Inspire and Advance Inclusive Practices"
- Betty Harper and Christopher Barnes (Office of Planning, Assessment, and Institutional Research), and Alicia Dowd (Center for Study of Higher Education/Equity Pedagogy Network) — "Centering Equity in Program Assessment"
- Melanie Boston, Office of Global Programs, Penn State Abington — "Intercultural Development on Campus: Shifting Perceptions"
Learn more about the Advancing Equity and Inclusion grants on the Schreyer Institute ‘Grants and Awards’ page.
Penn State Implements New Faculty Teaching Assessment Framework
Penn State has begun to implement parts of the new Faculty Teaching Assessment Framework. The framework identifies four Elements of Effective Teaching and three sources of evidence.
During the 2023-2024 academic year, academic units are updating their Peer Review Guidelines to align with the elements of effective teaching. Faculty will include a Self-Reflection about their teaching as part of their Annual Review in spring 2024. The new end-of-course Student Educational Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ) is being implemented in the fall 2023 semester.
To learn more about the framework and to explore resources on the topic, see Assessment of Teaching.
To discuss any aspect of teaching assessment, reach out to any SITE faculty consultant or send an email to SITE@psu.edu.
Penn State Presenters at POD Network Conference
Schreyer Institute consultants and their collaborators will present at the 48th Annual Professional and Organizational Development (POD) Network in Higher Education, November 14-19. The POD Network is North America’s largest educational development community. Its 1,700+ members at nearly 1,300 centers for teaching and learning represent every US state and more than 30 countries.
“Teaching Effectiveness Frameworks: Supporting Formative Development and Equitable Assessment” and "Teaching Effectiveness Frameworks: To Aid Equity in Faculty Development”
- Beate Brunow, Associate Director, Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence, Penn State
- Barbara Bird, Dean of Faculty Development, Taylor University
- Shawn R. Simonson, Director, Human Performance Laboratory, Boise State University
- Eric J. Kyle, Director, 21st Century Pedagogy Institute, University of Central Oklahoma
“The Future is Collaborative: How We Built Better UDL Courses”
- Mary Ann Tobin, Instructional Consultant, Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence, Penn State
- Matt Dingo, Assistant Director, Penn State World Campus Online Faculty Development
“Wulff Fellows Roundtable: Expanding Shared Cultural Capital for Student, Faculty, and Staff Success”
- Rainamei Luna, Graduate Consultant& Penn State CIRTL Program, Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence, and other panelists
Learn all about POD and join its highly informative, free listsen at https://podnetwork.org
Schreyer Institute Hosts Celebration for promoted Faculty
The Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence and the Office of the Senior Vice President of Research hosted a celebration for the 257 faculty who earned promotions this past year. The event, sponsored by the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, honors the University’s teaching, research, library, and clinical faculty, who make up more than half of all full-time Penn State faculty.
Penn State President, Neeli Bendapudi, spoke at the event, saying, “We are celebrating your excellence in the classroom with the academic transformation that you make possible in people’s lives... It’s the children. It’s the spouses. It’s the partner, it’s the siblings, or parents. It's the whole village that we all rely on to get us to where we are.”
The Schreyer Institute’s Associate Dean for Teaching and Executive Director, Angela Linse, gave her gratitude to the Penn State faculty during the event.
“The faculty and families I talked to tonight make it possible to achieve Penn State’s mission,” Linse said. “And for those that couldn’t attend, we are grateful for your passion for teaching, research, clinical and library work. These faculty have impactful interactions with our undergraduate and graduate students, and their time and energy leave impressions on our students that can last a lifetime.”
Many other Penn State directors and faculty spoke at the event, including interim Sr VP of Research, Andrew Reed, Executive VP and Provost, Justin Schwartz, Research Professor of Quantitative Forest Ecology, Laura Leites, and Penn State Schuylkill Chancellor, Patrick M. Jones.
Read more in Penn State's official news article, Promoted Teaching, Research, Library and Clinical Faculty Honored at Event
CAPS Life Hack Kits Weave Mental Health Information into the Classroom Experience
College can be stressful, and experiences like anxiety and depression symptoms are common and treatable. The Center for Counseling and Psychological Services, or CAPS, offers a wide range of support options, such as Life Hacks Kits thatinclude resources for instructors about a variety of uniquely supportive content to support all student’s mental health and wellbeing.
CAPS’Life Hack Kits match your support needs,includingstrategies thataddressmotivation, anxiety, belonging, impostor syndrome, and a variety pack to personalize your [student's] wellness journey[ies].
For more information about Life Hack Kits and other services, contact CAPS at 814-863-0395 or visit the Life Hacks with CAPS webpage.
