Syllabus Spotlight Week - Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence

Hello and happy summer from the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence! As you plan and prepare your Fall classes, I hope you will join us for one or more of the programs we have planned for our brand new “Syllabus Spotlight” week August 17-21. Below is the schedule and registration information.

Workshop: Reduce Fear and Promote Process with Productive Error Syllabus Design

This workshop will begin with a brief overview of some specific course design principles such as scaffolding, low-stakes assignments, student reflection and self-assessment, and regular in-class practice time, as well as pedagogical practices such as co-creating community agreements and demonstrating approachability, that help create a “productive error” classroom climate. This kind of learning environment helps reduce students’ fears (such as fear of failure) and promotes the importance of process in authentic learning. Students build durable skills such as metacognition and growth mindset by trying new things, making mistakes, getting formative feedback, reflecting on their own learning, and trying again. We’ll touch on small, specific ways to increase students’ understanding of the vital role of mistakes in learning how to do anything new, and how many aspects of standard schooling and traditional grading feeds students’ fears about making errors. Then, after some group brainstorming, participants will have time to engage in their own course and assignment adjustments and revisions through the lens of normalizing mistakes and reframing errors as an essential part of building durable skills. Participants are encouraged to have readily available a syllabus and/or assignments that you would like to use for this portion of the workshop. Facilitated by Jessamyn Neuhaus, Director of the CTLE and Professor in the School of Education.

August 17, 9:00-10:30 a.m., Zoom

Workshop: AI Usage Statements and Citations for Teaching and Learning

The ways we utilize generative AI is expanding so rapidly, it’s hard to keep up. Come to this hands-on workshop for implementing practical and immediately applicable best-practice strategies for ethical and responsible AI use in teaching and learning next semester. We will review the benefits of AI citation, disclosure, usage, and process statements–for learners and for educators–including promoting a classroom culture of academic integrity and building trust between students and faculty at this challenging moment in higher ed. Facilitated by Jessamyn Neuhaus.

August 17, 1:00-2:00 p.m., Zoom

Workshop: Helping Students Build Academic Integrity Skills

The Academic Integrity Office is excited to invite faculty to a 60-minute virtual workshop designed to give faculty practical tools and foundational knowledge for fostering a culture of integrity in their classrooms. During this session, the academic integrity team will facilitate the exploration of why students struggle with academic integrity, Syracuse University’s policy, the case submission process, and classroom strategies that can be used immediately to help students thrive.

August 17, 3:00-4:00 p.m., Zoom

Workshop: Co-Creating Classroom Civility

How can college educators work together with students to create and maintain respectful and productive learning environments? Encouraging and ensuring civility between students, and between students and ourselves, can be challenging at times, and politically/socially divisive events and issues create additional pressures on classroom interactions. This workshop explores one high-impact strategy: co-creating with students, and incentivizing ongoing use of a classroom standards, values, and/or “rules of engagement” document. Facilitated Jessamyn Neuhaus.

August 19, 9:00-10:00 a.m., Zoom

Workshop: Writing AI into the Syllabus: Clear Expectations for Ethical, Transparent, and Responsible Use

This workshop explores how faculty can move beyond generic AI policy statements and write syllabus language that gives students clear, practical guidance. Participants will consider how to communicate expectations for ethical, transparent, and responsible AI use in ways that align with course goals, support student learning, and preserve accountability. Facilitated by Doug Yung, Teaching Professor of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering and current Meredith Professor Faculty Fellow in artificial intelligence.

August 19, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Zoom

Workshop: The Value of Classroom Guest Speakers

How can we make the most of guest speakers in our teaching? The presenter shares SU students’ perspectives on speakers’ contributions to their learning. The session includes multiple practical ways to complement your class lessons by integrating different kinds of guests into your plans. Facilitated by Collie Fulford, Associate Professor in the Department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric, & Composition and Director of SU’s Writing Center.

August 19, 1:00-2:00 p.m., Zoom

Info Session: Why You Should Use the New Midterm Course Grade Feature in Orange SUccess 2.0

Syracuse University faculty now have the ability to enter, via Orange SUccess, a midterm class grade. We at the CTLE strongly recommend that every single person teaching a class next semester utilize this new Orange SUccess feature. The midterm class grade will not appear on a student’s transcript, but it is the most transparent and high-impact way to meaningfully communicate a students’ standing in your class. Assigning midterm grades also makes our teaching lives easier. It is also one of the single most effective ways to reduce end-of-semester panic and grade disputes. Come to this information session to learn more and to begin planning for implementing this new Orange Success feature.

August 20, 9:00-10:00 a.m., Zoom

Workshop: Classroom Phone and Device Policies

It’s a vexing issue for every instructor: The almost irresistible distractions of phones and devices that can interfere with student engagement and learning. While there is no easy solution or one-size-fits-all strategy, some classroom policies are more effective than others, particularly when we want to promote an inclusive, welcoming classroom learning environment. In this workshop, we’ll discuss the challenges of cultivating attention in the classroom and explore options for phone and device policies that can build trust, facilitate student self-efficacy, and reduce our own frustration. Facilitated by Jessamyn Neuhaus.

August 20, 1:00-2:00 p.m., Zoom

Question and Answer Session with the Academic Integrity Office

As you prepare for the start of the fall semester, the Academic Integrity Office invites you to a Q&A session dedicated to answering your questions. Whether you’re still learning about Syracuse University’s academic integrity policy, or you just need a refresher, this is an informal space for you to ask about what matters to you. There is no formal agenda, and the team will be happy to discuss Syracuse University’s academic integrity policy, how to submit a case and what to expect once it is filed, the annual goals of our office, or anything else that is on your mind. We know that navigating academic integrity can feel complex, and we are here to make it easier. We look forward to connecting with you and supporting you as the semester begins.

August 20, 2:00-3:00 p.m., Zoom

Workshop: Turning Your Syllabus Into a Podcast

From length and complexity to depressingly low readership, there may not be a single member of the campus community who doesn’t find the traditional written syllabus wanting in some way. This workshop will cover how faculty can judiciously harness technology to complement written syllabi with engaging audio content. More than just creating a recorded reading of the document, the seminar will discuss creative ways to leverage commonly used recording applications as well as recent advances in AI to enrich syllabus drafts with succinct, substantive conversational audio outputs focused on specific syllabus content, such as learning objectives, abstracts, topics, policies, assessments, and strategies for class success. The session will feature multiple examples, include opportunities for practice, and cover important considerations in technology implementation and accessibility. Facilitated by Zach Huitink, Associate Teaching Professor in Public Administration and International Affairs and a current Meredith Professorship Faculty Fellow in online learning.

August 20, 3:00-4:00 p.m., Zoom

CTLE + AIO Open House: Coffee and Cake with Jessamyn and Kate

Start the fall semester with good company and even better refreshments! Join Jessamyn Neuhaus, Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence, and Kate Marzen, Director of the Academic Integrity Office, for a relaxed morning open house in their beautiful CTLE space next to the Faculty Commons in Bird Library 550. Whether you’re new to campus and still finding your way around, a returning faculty member looking to reconnect, a longtime CTLE enthusiast, or someone who’s never stopped by before–this event is for you. Enjoy delicious morning treats while getting to know the people and resources available to support your teaching and your students. No agenda, no pressure — just coffee, cake, and good conversation to ease you into the semester ahead.

August 21, 9:00-10:00 a.m., 550 Bird Library (CTLE)

Workshop: Alternatives to Timed Exams

Looking for a teaching strategy that will maximize accessibility in your classes while simultaneously hugely reducing stress for you and for your students? Consider using, whenever possible, assessment alternatives to high-stakes timed exams and quizzes! In this workshop, we’ll review some of the drawbacks to utilizing timed exams for assessing student learning and explore a variety of other options for encouraging and measuring authentic student learning. Facilitated by Jessamyn Neuhaus.

August 21, 10:00-11:00 a.m. Zoom

Drop-In Syllabus Assistance Hours

Need some support and assistance for brainstorming syllabus language, designing an assignment, or finalizing your class policies? Stop into Bird Library 550 (CTLE), August 21, any time between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and talk with Jessamyn Neuhaus, Kate Marzen, Ebony Graham, CTLE Faculty Developer and Coordinator of Students Consulting on Teaching (SCOT) or Ashley Jimenez, Assistant Director of the Academic Integrity Office. No registration or appointment needed.

August 21, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., 550 Bird Library (CTLE)

Workshop: Syllabus Language and Policies that Support Student Wellness

Recent surveys across the University have highlighted a number of concerns regarding student wellness: anxiety, disconnection, depression, and stress. As instructors, we sometimes feel powerless to stem the tide of these issues among our students or invest a lot of time on single students that we can identify as needing help. But we are not as powerless as we think and we can help more students than we think we can. By implementing a few, simple best practices on our syllabi and in our course design, we can have a noticeable impact on student mental and physical health (and on our own mental and physical health as well). Facilitated by Mark Brockway, Assistant Teaching Professor in political science and a current Meredith Faculty Fellow in active learning and student-centered classroom practices and course design.

August 20, 2:00-3:00 p.m., Zoom