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.
Multiple-choice Testing Course for the College of Nursing
Facilitated by Mary Ann Tobin, Associate Research Professor and Jonathan Aragon, Research Faculty
Thursday, 10/1/2026 to Saturday, 12/19/2026
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.
Identities We Inspire in Those We Teach
Facilitated by Chas Brua, Associate Research Professor and Linh Le, Graduate Instructional Consultant
Thursday, 10/1/2026, 10:35 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.
Via Zoom
Individual instructors and TAs might view their students from a variety of perspectives: all the way from quite negative ("just out for a grade") to quite positive ("my students teach me valuable things every semester"). This interactive workshop will explore the ways we as instructors or TAs can keep the focus on growth — in the student identities we inspire and in our own attitudes toward students.
Registration will close and applicants will receive a zoom link approximately 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.
Registration will close and applicants will receive a zoom link approximately 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.
Assessing Student Learning
Facilitated by Mary Ann Tobin, Associate Research Professor and Elanur Sönmez, Graduate Instructional Consultant
Tuesday, 10/6/2026, 10:35 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.
Via Zoom
In this interactive workshop, participants will explore multiple uses of assessment — both as a tool to promote learning and a tool to determine how much learning has occurred. This version of the workshop will be especially beneficial for graduate students, postdocs, and other newer instructors, but anyone in or preparing for an instructional role is welcome.
Registration will close and applicants will receive a zoom link approximately 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.
Registration will close and applicants will receive a zoom link approximately 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.
Moving Beyond the Banking Model in our Teaching
Facilitated by Jose Sandoval-Llanos, Graduate Instructional Consultant
Wednesday, 10/7/2026, 10:10 a.m. - 11:25 a.m.
Via Zoom
Paulo Freire challenged educators to move beyond the "banking" model of teaching, in which instructors "deposit" knowledge into passive students. Yet, despite our best intentions, we still find ourselves immersed in these practices. In this interactive workshop, we will reflect on our own educational experiences and co-create strategies to adopt Freire's dialogic pedagogy. Together, we will reimagine teaching as a collaborative, liberatory practice.
Registration will close and applicants will receive a zoom link approximately 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.
Registration will close and applicants will receive a zoom link approximately 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.
Communicating with Students: Building Rapport and Maintaining Boundaries
Facilitated by Chas Brua, Associate Research Professor and Elanur Sönmez, Graduate Instructional Consultant
Thursday, 10/8/2026, 10:35 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.
Via Zoom
In this interactive workshop, we'll explore ways for instructors and TAs to convey both approachability and an appropriate sense of professional distance.
Registration will close and applicants will receive a zoom link approximately 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.
Registration will close and applicants will receive a zoom link approximately 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
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.
Note: This workshop is also being offered on October 13th. 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.
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.
Note: This workshop is also being offered on October 12th. 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.
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 a.m. - 11:50 a.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.
Note: This workshop will also be offered on September 10. Register for whichever date suits your schedule.
Registration will close and applicants will receive a zoom link approximately 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 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.
Preparing a Teaching Demo for a Job Interview
Facilitated by Chas Brua, Associate Research Professor and Beate Brunow, Associate Director and Associate Research Professor
Thursday, 10/22/2026, 10:35 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.
Via Zoom
As part of the interview process for a faculty position, you may be asked to lead a teaching demonstration. In this interactive workshop, we’ll discuss ways to go into your teaching demo with preparedness, confidence, and adaptability. Participants will explore considerations related to their audience, factors affecting content, logistics (including technology), and teaching/learning interactions. Participants will also strategize ways to cope with unexpected challenges that could emerge during a teaching demo.
Registration will close and applicants will receive a Zoom link approximately 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.
Registration will close and applicants will receive a Zoom link approximately 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.
Talking about AI Ethics: AI and Mental Health
Facilitated Logan Harvey, Research Faculty; Henry Xiao, Assistant Director of Operations at CAPS
Tuesday, 10/27/2026, 12:00p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Via Zoom
How is artificial intelligence impacting student mental health? What should educators understand about its potential benefits, risks, and emerging challenges? In this Talking about Teaching session, Dr. Henry Xiao of Counseling and Psychological Services will share perspectives and local data on the intersection of AI with mental and socioemotional health and invite participants to consider implications for teaching, learning, and student support.Registration will close and applicants will receive a zoom link approximately 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.
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.
