The Center for Teaching and Learning is excited to announce the launch of the Active Learning Workshop Series, a key programming element of UGA’s Active Learning Initiative. This initiative aims to promote a university-wide culture of active learning. This flexible, à la carte workshop series aims to empower and equip instructors to successfully implement active learning practices and related evidence-based teaching practices in learning environments across UGA.
The Active Learning Workshop Series consists of four introductory workshops (Active Learning Fundamentals) and eight advanced workshops (Special Topics in Active Learning). Each academic year, the Center for Teaching and Learning will offer all four Fundamentals workshops and a rotating selection of Special Topics workshops. Although the workshops are numbered to help you track your participation, you can complete these workshops in any order you wish!
The Active Learning Workshop Series is one of two on-ramps to UGA’s Active Learning Leader Certificate program. Instructors who complete a minimum of eight Active Learning workshops, including all four Active Learning Fundamentals workshops and a selection of four Special Topics in Active Learning workshops, will be eligible to apply for the Course Redesign Experience (learn more here).
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS – Spring 2025
These workshops are open to all UGA faculty, staff, and post-doctoral scholars.
Designing and Facilitating an Effective Learning Environment
2:20 pm – 3:45 pm, Thursday, January 23, 2025
(Zoom link will be provided after registration)
Facilitated by Sheryl Meskin, Assistant Director for Teaching Engagement
As an instructor, you have more control over the learning environment in your classroom than you might guess. Research tells us that when students feel a sense of belonging in your classroom and a sense that their instructor is invested in their success as learners, they are more likely to attend class, participate in discussions, and engage in learning activities. Importantly, there is also a great deal of reciprocal synergy between using active learning strategies and cultivating an effective and engaging classroom environment. This workshop will explore concrete strategies instructors can use to shape a learning environment that promotes student motivation, intellectual focus, and a sense of belonging.
Leveraging Active Learning to Foster Student Metacognition
11:00 am – 12:15 pm, Tuesday, February 18, 2025
(Zoom link will be provided after registration)
Facilitated by Sheryl Meskin, Assistant Director for Teaching Engagement
Have you noticed that students who plan, monitor, and evaluate their thinking are more likely to perform better academically? These metacognitive practices are linked with self-regulated learning and improved student academic outcomes. Likewise, in an active learning environment, students are empowered to construct knowledge and become increasingly aware of their learning process. In this session, we will explore specific active learning techniques that both engage students cognitively and prompt students to engage their metacognitive skills.
Small Teaching, Big Impact: Integrating Lectures with Active Learning
11:30 am – 12:30 pm, Wednesday, March 12, 2025
(Zoom link will be provided after registration)
Facilitated by Meg Mittelstadt, CTL Director & Assistant Vice President for Learning Initiatives
Did you know that some comparably small (but powerful) changes can have a big impact on student engagement and success? Drawing upon James Lang’s “Small Teaching” book, participants will explore an inventory of small teaching practices that can be used in classes of all sizes (including high-enrollment courses). Participants will then customize a combination of small teaching practices to incorporate into their teaching.
Designing and Facilitating an Effective Learning Environment
11:00 pam – 12:15 pm, Tuesday, March 25, 2025
(Zoom link will be provided after registration)
Facilitated by Ching-Yu Huang, Associate Director for Active Learning Initiatives
As an instructor, you have more control over the learning environment in your classroom than you might guess. Research tells us that when students feel a sense of belonging in your classroom and a sense that their instructor is invested in their success as learners, they are more likely to attend class, participate in discussions, and engage in learning activities. Importantly, there is also a great deal of reciprocal synergy between using active learning strategies and cultivating an effective and engaging classroom environment. This workshop will explore concrete strategies instructors can use to shape a learning environment that promotes student motivation, intellectual focus, and a sense of belonging.
Integrating Writing to Activate Learning in Any Class
9:30 am – 10:45 am, Tuesday, April 1, 2025
(Zoom link will be provided after registration)
Facilitated by Elizabeth Davis and Lindsey Harding, Department of English
Active learning has been shown to promote improved student writing skills, but did you know that writing itself is a key active learning strategy? In this workshop, we’ll explore how writing activities can be an integral part of your active learning classroom. During the session, the facilitators will model various writing strategies, and participants will have the opportunity to brainstorm ways writing-to-learn activities can support student learning in a variety of instructional scenarios.
Keep track of your attendance with this Active Learning Workshop Series tracking form:
For additional information, contact Dr. Ching-Yu Huang, Associate Director for Active Learning Initiatives at chingyu@uga.edu.