Events
Schreyer Institute programs are for anyone at Penn State who has an instructional role or is preparing for a future one. Our participants are typically faculty, graduate students, and postdocs. Academic administrators, instructional designers, staff members, and undergraduates in instructional roles are also welcome.
The Summer Reads Program (In-Person Group, Hosted by SITE)
Facilitated by Jonathan Aragon, Research Faculty
Tuesday, 6/16/2026, 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
TBD
 |
Each year, the Schreyer Institute selects a book about a timely topic relevant to teaching and learning and provides copies to groups and individuals who want to encounter new pedagogical strategies, to reflect on how they relate to their own teaching and learning contexts, and to share their thoughts about them with others. Group members may also share what they have already done or tried in their own practice, so that other group members can learn from their experiences and perspectives. The program is comprised of multiple groups who meet at times, locations, and modalities that work for their members. Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the access provided, please contact the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence at SITE@psu.edu or call 814-863-2599 at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the program to allow sufficient time to effectively meet your access needs. |
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Course
Facilitated by Mary Ann Tobin, Associate Research Professor
Thursday, 6/18/2026 to Thursday, 12/31/2026, Asychronous
Canvas -- World Campus Faculty Development Canvas Course
In this free, non-credit, self-directed, and entirely asynchronous course, participants explore the rationale and research that supports designing learning experiences with UDL, read scenarios about UDL applications, and reflect on ways to apply UDL to their own instructional practices. This course is open to faculty of any rank or status, teaching assistants, and post-doctoral instructors and members of the learning design community.
Register anytime at the following link: https://psu.catalog.instructure.com/browse/wcfd/courses/ol-360001-universal-design-for-learning-2026 . You will have 90 days to complete the course.
This course is a collaboration between the Schreyer Institute and World Campus Online Faculty Development.
Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the access provided, please contact the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence at SITE@psu.edu or call 814-863-2599 at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the program to allow sufficient time to effectively meet your access needs.
Endorsement: Universal Design for Learning
Facilitated by Mary Ann Tobin, Associate Research Professor
Friday, 6/19/2026 to Friday, 4/30/2027
Canvas - OL 3600 and Teach to Reach with Universal Design for Learning
This Provost Endorsement is a partnership between The Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence (SITE) and World Campus Online Faculty Development (WCOFD).
It begins with an asynchronous self-guided course, OL 3600: Universal Design for Learning (UDL), in which participants explore the rationale and research that supports designing learning experiences with UDL, read scenarios about UDL applications, and reflect on ways to apply UDL to their own instructional practices. OL 3600 is available throughout the calendar year.
Those who complete OL 3600 will be invited to enroll in Teach to Reach with UDL, a four-week, asynchronous, instructor-led online course offered by SITE, where participants draw upon their own teaching or learning design experience and their existing understanding of UDL to generate and respond to discussions, create a UDL-inspired instructional activity, and provide feedback on their peers’ activities. Teach to Reach is offered in spring and fall semesters.
Current Penn State faculty and postdocs can earn Provost Endorsements. Provost Endorsements are not available to Penn State graduate students.
Completion of both OL 3600 and Teach to Reach within one year are required to earn this endorsement.
Email Mary Ann Tobin at matobin@psu.edu with questions about this endorsement or our UDL courses.
Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the access provided, please contact the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence at SITE@psu.edu or call 814-863-2599 at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the program to allow sufficient time to effectively meet your access needs.
Designing Teaching to Navigate Challenging Topics
Facilitated by Beate Brunow, Associate Director and Associate Research Professor and Chas Brua, Associate Research Professor
Wednesday, 6/24/2026, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Via Zoom
In this interactive session, we'll explore how to design effective teaching proactively for challenging topics. We’ll focus on the level of structure that is needed to decrease the likelihood of hot moments in our learning environments. Despite all planning, we might still experience unanticipated tensions, and we'll also examine concrete language for responding to disruptions in the moment.
Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the access provided, please contact the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence at SITE@psu.edu or call 814-863-2599 at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the program to allow sufficient time to effectively meet your access needs.
