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.
Endorsement: Universal Design for Learning
Facilitated by Mary Ann Tobin, Associate Research Professor
Tuesday, 7/21/2026 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.
Provost Endorsement: Teaching and Learning Scholarship
Facilitated by Laura Cruz, Research Professor
Tuesday, 7/21/2026 to Friday, 4/30/2027
Hybrid
Are there aspects of your teaching practice (and your students’ learning) that you’re curious about? Teaching and Learning Scholarship, which includes approaches such as the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), discipline-based educational research (DBER), and action research, is intended to provide the means for you to seek answers to your questions.
Participants in this Provost’s endorsement program will gain the skills, knowledge, and experience needed to develop and implement a research project related to their teaching practice. Through a combination of targeted professional development, research coaching, and peer mentoring, you will leave this program with a fully developed research study as well as new insights into your teaching practice.
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
Tuesday, 7/21/2026 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.
The Summer Reads Program (In-Person Group, Hosted by SITE)
Facilitated by Jonathan Aragon, Research Faculty
Thursday, 7/23/2026, 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Registration is now closed.
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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. |
Put It Into Practice
Facilitated by Jonathan Aragon, Research Faculty
Tuesday, 8/11/2026, 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Rider Building Room 315
Put It Into Practice is a three-touchpoint faculty development experience focused on how teaching unfolds in real time, not just how it is planned on paper. Rather than redesigning an entire course, the program centers on a single, manageable class session from the first two weeks of the Fall semester. Faculty workshop that session with peers in a supportive environment, implement it in their own classroom, and return to reflect on what happened.
The Three-Touchpoint Arc:
1. Pre-semester workshop
2. Classroom implementation
3. Follow-up session to reflect on how it went
Faculty Leaders for AI-Aware Instruction
Facilitated by Larkin Hood, Associate Research Professor, Associate Director, and Beate Brunow, Associate Director and Associate Research Professor, and Logan Harvey, Research Faculty
Wednesday, 8/12/2026
Faculty Leaders for AI-Aware Instruction have been nominated and selected to guide and support AI-Aware instructional work within their college or campus to help strengthen local capacity for AI-Aware teaching. This program is co-sponsored by Penn State’s AI Center of Excellence for Teaching and Learning and the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence (SITE).
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, 8/12/2026, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 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.
Registration will close 1 hour before the event starts. Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 1 hour before the event.
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.
Teaching Large Classes
Facilitated by Logan Harvey, Research Faculty
Monday, 8/17/2026, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Via Zoom
Teaching a large class can make it harder to communicate clearly, build relationships, manage feedback, and maintain a sense of instructor presence. In this workshop, participants will explore practical strategies for designing larger classes that are structured, manageable, and still human-centered. We will discuss ways to reduce friction before class, build connection and student voice during class, and use scalable feedback and assessment systems after class. Participants will leave with concrete approaches they can adapt immediately, such as predictable course structures, small-group learning strategies, whole-class feedback, and intentional uses of technology.
Registration will close 1 hour before the event starts. Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 1 hour before the event.
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.
Building Your Classroom Discussion Repertoire: Writing as a Tool for Dialogue
Facilitated by Beate Brunow, Associate Director and Associate Research Professor
Monday, 8/17/2026, 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Rider Building Room 315
When writing precedes or structures conversation, it can lower the barriers to participation, surface a wider range of perspectives, and give students time to think before they speak. In this session of our workshop series on “Building your Classroom Discussion Repertoire”, participants will explore how writing-based strategies, ranging from brief reflective prompts to structured written exchanges, can serve as powerful on-ramps to richer classroom dialogue. Participants will experience several techniques, examine the pedagogical intentions behind each, and leave with strategies ready to adapt for their own courses and disciplines.
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.
Developing AI Literacy in Students + Optional 30-Minute Design Sprint
Facilitated by Logan Harvey, Research Faculty and Chas Brua, Associate Research Professor
Tuesday, 8/18/2026, 11:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Via Zoom
As generative AI tools like ChatGPT become increasingly available, students need a critical understanding of how these tools shape thinking, creativity, and scholarship. In this workshop, we will use Penn State’s AI Literacy Framework to identify ways to introduce AI concepts in your courses and intentionally design learning activities that support students in evaluating when, how, and why to use AI responsibly. Includes an optional 30-minute design sprint at the end.
Registration will close 1 hour before the event starts. Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 1 hour before the event.
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.
Assessing Student Learning
Facilitated by Mary Ann Tobin, Associate Research Professor
Wednesday, 8/19/2026, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Via Zoom
In this webinar, participants will discover the types of student learning assessments and begin to consider how they might effectively measure learning in their courses.
Registration will close 1 hour before the event starts. Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 1 hour before the event.
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.
Rethinking Assessment in the Age of AI + Optional 30-Minute Design Sprint
Facilitated by Logan Harvey, Research Faculty and Chas Brua, Associate Research Professor
Wednesday, 8/19/2026, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Via Zoom
The rise of generative AI is challenging traditional models of assessment. In this workshop, we will explore a framework of practical strategies for building resilient assessments that withstand evolving AI capabilities as well as assessments that integrate AI in ways that support learning. Includes an optional 30-minute design sprint at the end.
Registration will close 1 hour before the event starts. Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 1 hour before the event.
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.
Teaching AI Literacy Without Using AI
Facilitated by Logan Harvey, Research Faculty
Thursday, 8/20/2026, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Via Zoom
AI literacy does not have to begin with a chatbot. In this workshop, participants will use Penn State’s AI Literacy Framework as a guide to explore how to teach foundational AI literacy concepts without requiring students to use generative AI tools directly. We will consider activities that help students examine how AI systems work, where they show up in everyday life, how they shape knowledge and decision-making, and what ethical questions they raise. Participants will leave with practical strategies for helping students develop the critical judgment needed to evaluate AI tools, whether or not those tools are used in the course.
Registration will close 1 hour before the event starts. Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 1 hour before the event.
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.
Assessing Student Learning
Facilitated by Mary Ann Tobin, Associate Research Professor
Thursday, 8/20/2026, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Via Zoom
In this webinar, participants will discover the types of student learning assessments and begin to consider how they might effectively measure learning in their courses.
Registration will close 1 hour before the event starts. Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 1 hour before the event.
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.
Building Your Classroom Discussion Repertoire: Student-Centered Discussions
Facilitated by Beate Brunow, Associate Director and Associate Research Professor
Monday, 8/24/2026, 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Rider Building Room 315
What would it look like if students, not the instructor, drove the conversation? Student-Centered Discussion© (SCD) is a structured, flexible model that helps students engage in productive, generative dialogue about course content. In this session of our series on “Building your Classroom Discussion Repertoire”, participants will explore the three foundational components of the SCD model: creating a classroom climate where students feel safe to participate and take intellectual risks; developing the discussion skills students need and implementing the practical tools and processes that make student-led discussion work. Participants will experience SCD, examine the pedagogical intentions, and leave with strategies ready to adapt for their own courses and disciplines.
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.
Building Your Classroom Discussion Repertoire: Structured Discussion Activities
Facilitated by Beate Brunow, Associate Director and Associate Research Professor
Monday, 8/31/2026, 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Rider Building Room 315
Structured discussion activities can create more equitable participation, surface richer ideas, and help students develop discussion as a transferable skill. In this session of our workshop series on “Building your Classroom Discussion Repertoire”, participants will experience and examine several structured formats, including activities that use sequential turn-taking, perspective taking, and collaborative questioning to move conversations beyond surface-level exchange. We will also explore how to help students reflect on their own participation and become more intentional contributors to classroom dialogue. Participants will experience several techniques, examine the pedagogical intentions behind each, and leave with strategies ready to adapt for their own courses and disciplines.
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.
Making Sure Disruptions Don't Derail Students' Learning
Facilitated by Chas Brua, Associate Research Professor and Jose Sandoval-Llanos, Graduate Instructional Consultant
Wednesday, 9/2/2026, 10:10 p.m. - 11:25 p.m.
Via Zoom
Disruptive situations can occur in any course. In this interactive workshop, we’ll discuss ways to create a climate where disruptive behavior is less likely to occur--and to get the learning back on track when it does.
Registration will close one hour before the workshop begins. Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 45 minutes before the event begins.
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.
Making Sure Disruptions Don't Derail Students' Learning
Facilitated by Chas Brua, Associate Research Professor and Jose Sandoval-Llanos, Graduate Instructional Consultant
Tuesday, 9/8/2026, 10:35 p.m. - 11:50 p.m.
Via Zoom
Disruptive situations can occur in any course. In this interactive workshop, we’ll discuss ways to create a climate where disruptive behavior is less likely to occur—and to get the learning back on track when it does.
Registration will close one hour before the workshop begins. Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 45 minutes before the event begins.
Note: This workshop is also being offered on September 2 (see our events page). Register for whichever date suits your schedule.
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.
Writing Your Teaching Statement for the Job Market
Facilitated by Chas Brua, Associate Research Professor and Deena Levy, Associate Research Professor
Thursday, 9/10/2026, 10:10 p.m. - 11:25 p.m.
Via Zoom
In this interactive workshop, participants will explore strategies for writing a teaching philosophy statement that effectively communicates their goals, practices, and evidence of effectiveness. We will also analyze the strengths and weaknesses of some actual teaching philosophy statements.
Registration will close 1 hour before the workshop begins. Registrants will receive the Zoom link at least 45 minutes before the workshop begins.
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 SITE 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.
Getting Started with Teaching and Learning Scholarship
Facilitated by Laura Cruz, Research Professor
Thursday, 9/10/2026, 12:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Via Zoom
Have you ever considered publishing on your teaching and learning practice? In this interactive workshop, you will learn more about what Teaching and Learning Scholarship (also called SoTL) is, how you can integrate it into your scholarly work, and reasons why you might want to. During the session, you will have the opportunity to explore new and existing research in your discipline while also getting a head start on potential projects of your own.
Participation in this workshop can be counted towards the new Provost Endorsement for Teaching and Learning Scholarship.
Registration will close 1 hour before the event starts. Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 1 hour before the event.
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.
The Course in College Teaching (CCT)
Facilitated by Logan Harvey, Research Faculty and Jonathan Aragon, Research Faculty
Thursday, 9/10/2026 to Thursday, 10/15/2026, 06:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Rider Building Room 315
The Course in College Teaching (CCT) is a half-semester professional development experience for Penn State faculty, graduate students, and post-doctoral instructors who want to strengthen their teaching practice and develop the materials and language needed to present themselves confidently in academic hiring and review processes.
Running from September 10 to October 15, 2026, the CCT guides participants across the full arc of best practices in college teaching: designing an effective course, facilitating active and meaningful learning experiences, and articulating a clear and compelling teaching identity grounded in reflective practice. Learning takes place through structured, facilitated activities with peers from across disciplines, making each session both a professional development experience and a scholarly learning community.
Upon completion, participants receive a Certificate in College Teaching from the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence at Penn State. This credential documents your preparation in evidence-based course design and facilitation and can be included in your application materials as a signal to hiring and review committees that you have received structured, expert-guided training in college teaching best practices.
The CCT is open to Penn State faculty, graduate students, and post-doctoral instructors with prior teaching experience. Those who have not yet taught are encouraged to begin with the Instructional Foundations Series before enrolling. For eligibility details and to apply, please visit the application linked below.
Application
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.
AI and the Discipline: Responding to Change in Teaching and Practice
Facilitated by Logan Harvey, Research Faculty
Monday, 9/14/2026, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Via Zoom
Generative AI is not affecting all fields in the same way. In some disciplines, AI is changing how professionals write, code, analyze data, create media, conduct research, make decisions, or communicate expertise. In others, it is raising new questions about authorship, evidence, labor, ethics, equity, and professional judgment. In this workshop, participants will explore how AI is reshaping disciplinary practice and consider what those changes mean for courses, programs, departments, and other disciplinary communities. Participants will identify emerging AI-related competencies in their fields and discuss practical ways to adapt curricula, assignments, learning outcomes, and conversations with students.
Registration will close 1 hour before the event starts. Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 1 hour before the event.
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.
Accessibility for Clear Communication
Facilitated by Mary Ann Tobin, Associate Research Professor, Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence and Sonya Woods, Lead Accessibility Consultant, Penn State World Campus
Wednesday, 9/16/2026, 12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Via Zoom
Students’ ability to do what we’re asking them to do depends upon clearly communicating our expectations. Designing syllabi and assignments with accessibility in mind enhances clarity, enabling all students to better engage in their learning, know what to do with it, and do it on time. In this workshop, participants will be introduced to core practices for accessibility in Word, PDF, and/or Canvas, and how artificial intelligence and Anthology Ally can support those efforts.
Registration will close 1 hour before the event starts. Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 1 hour before the event.
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.
Navigating Ethics in Teaching and Learning Scholarship
Facilitated by Laura Cruz, Research Professor
Tuesday, 9/22/2026, 12:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Via Zoom
In this interactive webinar, participants will learn how to navigate the most prevalent ethical considerations when conducting research on your teaching practice here at Penn State. You will leave the session with everything you need to complete your IRB protocol (ethics review) and be ready for publication.
Note: This webinar can be counted towards the Provost's Endorsement for Teaching and Learning Scholarship
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.
Rethinking Assessment in the Age of AI + Optional 30-Minute Design Sprint
Facilitated by Logan Harvey, Research Faculty and Chas Brua, Associate Research Professor
Wednesday, 9/23/2026, 11:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Via Zoom
The rise of generative AI is challenging traditional models of assessment. In this workshop, we will explore a framework of practical strategies for building resilient assessments that withstand evolving AI capabilities as well as assessments that integrate AI in ways that support learning. Includes an optional 30-minute design sprint at the end.
Registration will close 1 hour before the event starts. Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 1 hour before the event.
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.
Developing AI Literacy in Students + Optional 30-Minute Design Sprint
Facilitated by Logan Harvey, Research Faculty and Jonathan Aragon, Research Faculty
Monday, 9/28/2026, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Via Zoom
As generative AI tools like ChatGPT become increasingly available, students need a critical understanding of how these tools shape thinking, creativity, and scholarship. In this workshop, we will use Penn State’s AI Literacy Framework to identify ways to introduce AI concepts in your courses and intentionally design learning activities that support students in evaluating when, how, and why to use AI responsibly. Includes an optional 30-minute design sprint at the end.
Registration will close 1 hour before the event starts. Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 1 hour before the event.
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.
Getting Started with Teaching and Learning Scholarship
Facilitated by Laura Cruz, Research Professor
Wednesday, 9/30/2026, 12:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Via Zoom
Have you ever considered publishing on your teaching and learning practice? In this interactive workshop, you will learn more about what Teaching and Learning Scholarship (also called SoTL) is, how you can integrate it into your scholarly work, and reasons why you might want to. During the session, you will have the opportunity to explore new and existing research in your discipline while also getting a head start on potential projects of your own.
Participation in this workshop can be counted towards the new Provost Endorsement for Teaching and Learning Scholarship.
Registration will close 1 hour before the event starts. Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 1 hour before the event.
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.
Teach to Reach with Universal Design for Learning
Facilitated by Mary Ann Tobin, Associate Research Professor and Lauraine Hawkins, Assistant Professor of Biology, Penn State Mont Alto
Monday, 10/5/2026 to Saturday, 10/31/2026, Asynchronous
Teach to Reach with Universal Design for Learning
In this four-week, entirely asynchronous online course, participants draw upon their own teaching or learning design experience and their existing, basic understanding of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to generate and respond to discussions, create an instructional activity inspired by UDL, and provide feedback on their peers’ activities.
The course is open to faculty of any rank or status, teaching assistants, post-doctoral instructors, and members of the learning design community with existing teaching or learning design experience and a basic understanding of UDL. For eligibility requirements, see https://www.schreyerinstitute.psu.edu/teachtoreach.
To register, complete our enrollment survey at https://tinyurl.com/RegisterTTR. Participants will be notified via email approximately one week prior to the start of the course.
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.
Teaching AI Literacy Without Using AI
Facilitated by Logan Harvey, Research Faculty
Monday, 10/5/2026, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Via Zoom
AI literacy does not have to begin with a chatbot. In this workshop, participants will use Penn State’s AI Literacy Framework as a guide to explore how to teach foundational AI literacy concepts without requiring students to use generative AI tools directly. We will consider activities that help students examine how AI systems work, where they show up in everyday life, how they shape knowledge and decision-making, and what ethical questions they raise. Participants will leave with practical strategies for helping students develop the critical judgment needed to evaluate AI tools, whether or not those tools are used in the course.
Registration will close 1 hour before the event starts. Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 1 hour before the event.
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.
```From Concept to Classroom: Active Learning Strategies
Facilitated by Jonathan Aragon, Research Faculty and Larkin, Hood Associate Director Associate and Research Professor.
Monday, 10/5/2026
This workshop will focus on why and how instructors can integrate active learning into their courses to support student learning and engagement. Participants will consider the ways students can learn by actively engaging with one another, the instructor, and course content. Participants will have the opportunity to apply specific examples of active learning activities to their individual teaching circumstances.
This is a closed event. If you are interested in a custom activity for your area, please contact us at site@psu.edu.
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.
Low-tech Engagement: Cultivating Awe in Teaching and Learning
Facilitated by Laura Cruz, Research Professor and Laura Howard Senior Teaching Consultant, Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning, Kennesaw State University
Monday, 10/12/2026, 12:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Via Zoom
Building on the emerging science of awe (the feeling we get when encountering something vast), this webinar focuses on the pedagogical implications of awe for effective and restorative teaching and learning. Facilitators will guide participants in recognizing key benefits of centering awe, including humility, learning, connection, and meaning making. By experiencing and embracing the power of awe in teaching, faculty will explore innovative ways of engaging students that rely on human experiences and connection rather than technology.
Registration will close 1 hour before the event starts. Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 1 hour before the event.
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.
Low-tech Engagement: Cultivating Awe in Teaching and Learning
Facilitated by Laura Cruz, Research Professor and Laura Howard Senior Teaching Consultant, Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning, Kennesaw State University
Tuesday, 10/13/2026, 12:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Via Zoom
Building on the emerging science of awe (the feeling we get when encountering something vast), this webinar focuses on the pedagogical implications of awe for effective and restorative teaching and learning. Facilitators will guide participants in recognizing key benefits of centering awe, including humility, learning, connection, and meaning making. By experiencing and embracing the power of awe in teaching, faculty will explore innovative ways of engaging students that rely on human experiences and connection rather than technology.
Registration will close 1 hour before the event starts. Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 1 hour before the event.
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.
Accessibility for Clear Communication
Facilitated by Mary Ann Tobin, Associate Research Professor, Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence and Sonya Woods, Lead Accessibility Consultant, Penn State World Campus
Tuesday, 10/13/2026, 12:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Via Zoom
Students’ ability to do what we’re asking them to do depends upon clearly communicating our expectations. Designing syllabi and assignments with accessibility in mind enhances clarity, enabling all students to better engage in their learning, know what to do with it, and do it on time. In this workshop, participants will be introduced to core practices for accessibility in Word, PDF, and/or Canvas, and how artificial intelligence and Anthology Ally can support those efforts.
Registration will close 1 hour before the event starts. Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 1 hour before the event.
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.
Writing Your Teaching Statement for the Job Market
Facilitated by Chas Brua, Associate Research Professor and Deena Levy, Associate Research Professor
Thursday, 10/15/2026, 10:35 p.m. - 11:50 p.m.
Via Zoom
In this interactive workshop, participants will explore strategies for writing a teaching philosophy statement that effectively communicates their goals, practices, and evidence of effectiveness. We will also analyze the strengths and weaknesses of some actual teaching philosophy statements.
Registration will close 1 hour before the workshop begins. Registrants will receive the Zoom link at least 45 minutes before the workshop begins.
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 SITE 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.
AI and the Discipline: Responding to Change in Teaching and Practice
Facilitated by Logan Harvey, Research Faculty
Tuesday, 10/20/2026, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Via Zoom
Generative AI is not affecting all fields in the same way. In some disciplines, AI is changing how professionals write, code, analyze data, create media, conduct research, make decisions, or communicate expertise. In others, it is raising new questions about authorship, evidence, labor, ethics, equity, and professional judgment. In this workshop, participants will explore how AI is reshaping disciplinary practice and consider what those changes mean for courses, programs, departments, and other disciplinary communities. Participants will identify emerging AI-related competencies in their fields and discuss practical ways to adapt curricula, assignments, learning outcomes, and conversations with students.
Registration will close 1 hour before the event starts. Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 1 hour before the event.
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.
From Concept to Classroom: Inclusive Teaching & Universal Design for Learning
Facilitated by Mary Ann Tobin, Associate Research Professor, and Beate Brunow, Associate Director and Associate Research Professor
Thursday, 11/12/2026
Inclusive teaching practices support a strong sense of belonging for students, which is vital for their success. Participants will explore inclusive teaching practices that enhance a sense of belonging among students with varying cultural backgrounds and abilities, including Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and consider ways to apply them in their courses.
This is a closed event. If you are interested in a custom activity for your area, please contact us at site@psu.edu.
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.
From Concept to Classroom: Assignments in the Age of AI & Transparency in Assignment Design
Facilitated by Logan Harvey, Research Faculty
Friday, 1/22/2027
This workshop equips faculty to design meaningful, resilient assignments in an era of generative AI or by integrating AI intentionally by aligning learning goals, assessment strategies, and transparent communication with students. Participants will leave with practical frameworks and examples for creating assignments that promote authentic learning, clarify expectations, and intentionally address the role of AI in the learning process.
This is a closed event. If you are interested in a custom activity for your area, please contact us at site@psu.edu.
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.
From Concept to Classroom: Reflecting on student feedback to develop your practice
Facilitated by Deena Levy, Associate Research Professor and Chas Brua, Associate Research Professor
Wednesday, 2/24/2027
This workshop will focus on student feedback as a resource that instructors can use to improve the learning environment. An established framework for engaging in reflective practice will be shared with participants, and participants will have the opportunity to apply the framework to their individual teaching circumstances.
This is a closed event. If you are interested in a custom activity for your area, please contact us at site@psu.edu.
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.
Faculty Leaders for AI-Aware Instruction
Facilitated by Larkin Hood, Associate Research Professor, Associate Director, and Beate Brunow, Associate Director and Associate Research Professor, and Logan Harvey, Research Faculty
Friday, 4/2/2027
Faculty Leaders for AI-Aware Instruction have been nominated and selected to guide and support AI-Aware instructional work within their college or campus to help strengthen local capacity for AI-Aware teaching. This program is co-sponsored by Penn State’s AI Center of Excellence for Teaching and Learning and the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence (SITE).
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.
