Tuesday, April 1, 1:10pm - 2:00pm - In-Person

This interactive presentation educates participants on their rights at the University related to discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct. It will also apprise participants of the supports and options available to them through the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX. Additionally, this presentation will allow participants to explore strategies to intervene in situations where harm is happening and will encourage open, honest dialogue to empower them to treat members of our community with dignity and respect.

This is an elective session for a certificate of completion in Teaching Towards Inclusive Excellence.  Register

Thursday, April 3, 10:05am - 11:20am - Webinar

Come develop a deeper understanding of inclusive excellence and why it is central not only to how we prepare students to lead, but also to how we engage all members of our USC community. Learn about the ways in which the Office of Access and Opportunity seeks to operationalize inclusive excellence, as well as how the office intends to use its equity and inclusion strategy to track the University's effectiveness.

This is a required session for a certificate of completion in Teaching Towards Inclusive Excellence. Register

Friday, April 4, 2:00pm - 3:30pm - In-Person

If you say “yeah!” or “certainly not!” or “maybe?” then come see if you're right! The session will start with a demonstration of source-grounded AI programs such as NotebookLM and how they can be adapted for the classroom. Then participants will test generative AI's capabilities for identifying genre, characters, and plot points of classic novels such as The Great Gatsby, Pride and Prejudice, and Frankenstein, among others. Original editions of these works will also be in the room.

There will be time for participants to share results, tweak prompts, and decide for themselves whether AI can (or CANNOT) rewrite the classics. Don't forget to bring a laptop! Please register to ensure we have space AND you can even request an original edition of a book not listed here.

For more information, you can contact Kristin Harrell (CTE) at kharrell@sc.edu or Jeanne Britton (RBSC) at jbritton@mailbox.sc.edu.

This session is a collaboration between Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections and the Center for Teaching Excellence “Try the Tools” series.  Register

Monday, April 7, 2:00pm - 3:00pm - Webinar

Blackboard Learn Ultra Course View (UCV) is the newest version of the Blackboard Learning Management System. With new improvements being made monthly to Ultra Course View there are exciting changes which instructors may not have seen. This is a short presentation about the most recent updates that have occurred in Blackboard Ultra Course View and will include information on how to stay up to date on future improvements.  Register

Monday, April 7, 2:20pm - 3:10pm - Webinar

Assessments just got a major upgrade! This webinar explores how Generative Artificial Intelligence can transform your assessments from rote memorization exercises to engaging experiences that promote deeper learning. Discover how to generate assessments that align with your course learning outcomes to foster creativity, critical thinking, and personalized learning experiences.

• By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:• Apply prompt writing in the context of assessments.
• Differentiate between traditional assessment methods and generative AI-powered assessments.
• Design effective assessments that measure student mastery and promote meaningful learning outcomes.

This is a required session for the Teaching and Learning with Generative Artificial Intelligence digital badge.  Register

Tuesday, April 8, 11:45am - 1:00pm - In-Person

This Mutual Expectations discussion will focus on the benefits and practical steps that faculty/staff can take on developing meaningful professional relationships with one another. How students can approach faculty, why developing professional relationships matter, how this may be different than a mentor relationship and more. Join this fun discussion with fellow students and faculty over a free lunch!

RSVP is required.

Sponsored by the Carolina Experience and the Center for Teaching Excellence.

This is an elective session for a certificate of completion in Understanding USC Student Populations and Experiences.  Register

Wednesday, April 9, 10:50am - 11:40am - Webinar

In an era where education is increasingly seen as a dynamic, interactive process, narrative pedagogy offers an innovative approach to teaching and learning that centers on the power of storytelling. This session will explore how integrating narrative techniques into educational practices can deepen student engagement, foster critical thinking, and create meaningful connections between learners and content.  Register

Wednesday, April 9, 1:10pm - 2:00pm - Webinar

The Virtual Environments Community of Practice is planning ways to integrate virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality into teaching and learning environments at USC. Meetings are open to faculty, staff and students. This month's meeting focuses on VR in Sports Marketing with Keshav Gupta and Brian Mihalik from the Department of Sport and Entertainment Management.

If you are interested in participating in the Virtual Environments CoP or would like to be on the email list for further information, please email Charles Andy Schumpert at schumpca@mailbox.sc.edu. RSVP

Thursday, April 10, 10:00am - 11:30am - In-Person

Join us for the 3rd module of Career Champions. In this session we'll learn about the career competencies employers are looking for within our students and how to incorporate those into our academic lessons, student employment, internships, etc. You'll also know how to help students see these competencies within themselves and how to advocate their talents, abilities, and experiences.

This is an elective session for a certificate of completion in Integrative and Experiential Learning.  Register

Thursday, April 10, 2:30pm - 3:30pm - Webinar

This workshop is designed for Blackboard users who are familiar with the new Ultra Course View but want a more intensive look at the UCV Gradebook. In this 60-minute session, a consultant from eLearning Services will share best practices and tips & tricks for setting up a Gradebook that works for you, present a live demonstration, and answer questions.  Register

Friday, April 11, 12:00pm - 1:30pm - Webinar

A teaching philosophy statement provides a concise description of an instructor’s teaching approach, methods, and experience. Colleges and universities request a teaching philosophy statement from applicants for faculty positions, and some higher education institutions require one as part of the tenure and promotion consideration process.

What is your teaching philosophy? What should you write or include? What if you have limited teaching experience? This workshop will help you articulate your teaching philosophy in a concise, effective essay. We will discuss the statement’s purpose, different aspects of your teaching experiences that can be included, and best practices and strategies for composing the statement. This is a working webinar, requiring that you do some reflective writing in advance, so that the webinar itself can include individual writing, group discussion, and feedback. Participants will leave with an outline of their statement, written components, and guidance to continue crafting it.

This working webinar is designed for graduate students and postdocs who teach or are planning careers in academia after graduation. Students nearing the end of graduate school and preparing to apply for academic positions may find this workshop particularly helpful.  Register

Monday, April 14, 2:00pm - 3:00pm - Webinar

In this session you'll learn how to transform your Blackboard Ultra course from ordinary to extraordinary! Discover how best to organize your content to make your course visually engaging and user-friendly and then take it a step further with customization to add some pizazz. Whether you're looking to streamline your course structure, add some creative touches, or both, this session will give you the tools to make your course stand out.  Register

Monday, April 14, 2:20pm - 3:10pm - Webinar

A teaching philosophy statement provides a concise description of an instructor's perspective on teaching, student learning, methodologies, and implementation, and institutions typically request a teaching philosophy statement from applicants for faculty positions and as part of the tenure and promotion process.

What, then, is your teaching philosophy? What aspects should you reflect upon, write, or include? And how has the writing of this document changed as a result of ChatGPT, both in the document construction as well as your perspective on this fundamental shift in higher education? This will be a working webinar, where we will discuss strategies for composing the statement, incorporating time for theme development, group discussion and feedback, and ChatGPT prompt exploration. Participants will leave with a thematic outline of their statement, a draft of the opening paragraph, and guidelines to continue crafting it.

NOTE: For you and other participants to benefit the most in the time available, this webinar requires that you do some reflective writing in advance of the session.

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Reflect on and clarify their values about teaching and learning.
• Expound upon these values and craft a working thematic outline.
• Explore the ethical usage of ChatGPT in teaching statement construction.

This is a required session for the Teaching and Learning with Generative Artificial Intelligence digital badge.  Register

Tuesday, April 15, 9:40am - 10:30am - Webinar

Engaging in conflict is challenging whether you are an experienced instructor or new to your role. A common strategy is to ignore the behavior due to our own discomfort, concern over retaliation or fear that our intervention may cause more harm or disruption. We will identify what our fears are about classroom disruption and use case study examples to practice strategies to stretch participants' comfort zones. This workshop will also explore Gerald Amada's research from Coping with Misconduct in the College Classroom and provide participants with tangible strategies to prevent and respectfully address disruptive behavior.

This is a required session for a certificate of completion in Fostering Proactive Learning Environments. Register

Tuesday, April 15, 1:15pm - 2:30pm - In-Person

Reflecting upon your mentoring relationships is a vital part of becoming a more effective mentor. This is especially important immediately following a mentor-mentee training sequence like Entering Mentoring as it allows you to consider how to implement changes in your mentoring practice based on the training you have received. The ability and practice of reflecting on your mentoring at regular intervals is strongly encouraged.

This is a required session for the Entering Mentoring certificate of completion. Register

Wednesday, April 16, 2:20pm - 3:10pm - Webinar

The Resilience in the Classroom training is a 50-minute training that focuses on three major components of resilience:

• Self-compassion
• Dealing with failure, and coping skills, and
• How to incorporate these components into the classroom.

Resilience is associated with academic success and psychological well-being. This session will help instructors identify how they can strengthen students' resilience and help them adapt to change and hardships by integrating these core competencies into their curriculum.

This is a required session for a certificate of completion in Mental Health and Well-being Competency.  Register

Thursday, April 17, 10:00am - 11:00am - Webinar

• Backing up important VoiceThread content before the discontinuation date
• Explore Panopto for lecture capture, video-based discussions, video assignments, and content sharing
• Explore Zoom for live discussions, breakout rooms, and recorded presentations
• Explore Blackboard for built-in discussion boards, video assignments, and course content sharing.
• learn about alternative tools to support interactive and collaborative learning
• Additional learning technologies may be available based on specific needs, and our team will provide expert recommendations on the best solutions for your courses  Register

Tuesday, April 22, 12:00pm - 1:30pm - In-Person

This meeting of the GenAI CoP is an opportunity for faculty, staff, and graduate students to reflect on the ways Generative AI is - or could be - used in their work. It's a space to explore ideas, share insights, and discuss ethical considerations or policy-related questions that may arise in practice, rather than focusing on creating or debating institutional policy. Lunch will be provided.

The Generative Artificial Intelligence Community of Practice (GenAI CoP) at the University of South Carolina is a collaborative initiative designed to explore and discuss the implications of GenAI in higher education. This community brings together faculty, staff, and graduate students to share insights, strategies, and experiences related to the integration of GenAI across administration, research, teaching, and learning.

The GenAI CoP meets regularly to provide a platform for participants to:

• Discuss Practical Applications: Explore how GenAI can be utilized across administration, research, teaching, and learning.
• Explore Emerging Trends: Stay informed about the latest developments and share best practices in GenAI.
• Develop Integration Strategies: Formulate responsible approaches for incorporating GenAI into higher education.
• Share Experiences: Exchange challenges and successes to collectively shape the future of this transformative technology at USC.

We invite faculty, staff, and graduate students at the University of South Carolina to join us in this exciting initiative.  Register

Tuesday, April 22, 1:15pm - 2:30pm - In-Person

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a proactive approach to making course materials more accessible, but its principles can also enhance how students express their understanding of course content. In this workshop, we will explore strategies for engaging with students who may approach assessments in unexpected ways and how to design more inclusive assessments that allow for diverse demonstrations of learning. We will also focus on designing assessments efficiently, prioritizing student agency while minimizing instructor burnout.  Register

Wednesday, April 23, 10:50am - 12:05pm - In-Person

This presentation aims to empower educators with effective strategies to cultivate an engaged and dynamic classroom environment that fosters mutual respect, enthusiasm, and deep learning. To achieve this, we will explore practical techniques such as: visual cueing to improve memory retention; storytelling and music-based activities to create an engaged and energized—even in in early-morning classes—atmosphere and strengthen instructor-student connections; and gamification techniques such as badges and competitions to enhance participation and motivation. Through subsequent reflection on their own teaching practices, participants will be able to connect and improve upon their own strategies and enhance their impact on student learning. Register