How do we bring joy back into our teaching as a way to support faculty and student learning in a world that is increasingly marked by disruption and uncertainties in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, economic upheavlas, the future of U.S. politics and more? How can we engage the difficult issues of our times and turn them into opportunities for innovative transformation?
The purpose of this meeting is to share and celebrate how higher education professionals are creatively addressing challenges posed by the sutdent mental health crisis, shifting expectations about higher education, continued racial and gender disparities across fields of study, and faculty burnout. Learn how your colleagues are incorporating new techniques and ideas to inspire and activate the next generation of STEM professionals, particularly diverse students, and maintaining joy in teaching.
Schedule
*Click on session name for Zoom link, abstracts, and author information.*
8:45AM – 9:00AM Opening and Welcome
Kelly Mack, VP for Undergraduate STEM Education and Executive Director of Project Kaleidoscope (PKAL) at the American Association of Colleges and Universities
Thomas Kling, Professor of Physics, Bridgewater State University on behalf of the MA PKAL Regional Network
Catherine Dignam, Professor of Chemistry, Framingham State University on behalf of the MA PKAL Regional Network
Ashley Smith, Program Associate, PKAL/STEM at the American Association of Colleges and Universities
Kirsten Helmer, Director of Programming for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion with the Center for Teaching & Learning, UMass Amherst
Paula Rees, Assistant Dean, College of Engineering, UMass Amherst
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM Plenary Workshops
Workshop 1: Intentional, Joyful, and Affirming Course Beginnings and Endings [Strand A: Course Design]
Caralyn Zehnder & colleagues, UMass Amherst, Georgia College, Evergreen State College
Workshop 2: JEDI and the Joy of STEM Storytelling [Strand B: Teaching with Joy]
Jill Halpern, Jennifer Rodriguez, University of Michigan
Workshop 3: Teaching for Social Justice: Facilitating Posttraumatic Growth in the STEM Classroom [Strand C: Advancing Equity]
Erica Light, UMass Amherst
10:15AM – 10:30AM Break
Workshop 4: Keeping It Real in College: Building Case Studies for STEM Courses Based on Real-World Problems [Strand A: Course Design]
Scott Auerbach, UMass Amherst
Workshop 5: Engineering New Worlds Through Afro-Futurism [Strand B: Teaching with Joy]
Erika Dawson-Head and Steve Fernandez, UMass Amherst
Workshop 6: Teaching Science Communication Through Student-Created Podcasts [Strand C: Advancing Equity]
Ellen Wisner, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Lightning Talk Session 1: Reflection as a Critical Part of Learning
[Strand A: Course Design]
Engaging Students with Short In-Class Writing, Maureen A Morrow, SUNY New Paltz
Supporting Students with Empathy and Connection: Using Weekly Interactive Overviews to Support Compassionate Self-Regulation Between Faculty and Students, Jacquelyn Kelly, Tomáš Oberding, Dianna Gielstra, University of Phoenix
If you don’t use it, you lose it! A Way to Encourage Students to Review Course Material over Academic Breaks, Carla van de Sande, Arizona State University
Lightning Talk Sessions 2: Revisioning the Classroom for Joyful Learning I
[Strand B: Teaching with Joy]
Thinking Out Loud: Catalyzing a Mathematist's Revolution Using the Commognitive Framework, Madeleine Chowdhury, Mesa Community College
Growing Together as Mathematicians in Discrete Math, Debra K Borkovitz, Boston University
Ungrading Analysis, Christophe Gole, Jennifer Beichman, Smith College
Lightning Talk Session 3: Fostering Equality and Social Justice Empowering Curricula
[Strand C: Advancing Equity]
Centering Racial Equity in Honors, Jenny Shanahan, Jibril Solomon, Bridgewater State University
Curriculum Development with a Multicultural Perspective, Emrah Pektas, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Critical Media Literacy as a Strategy to Demystify Systemic Inequities and Empower Students, Ali Söken, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Listening Session for Non-Tenure Faculty by invitation
Workshop 7: Engaging Neurodiverse Students in Online Learning [Strand A: Course Design]
Sheryl Burgstahler, University of Washington
Workshop 8: Beyond Scrolling: Students Creating Social Media and Podcast Content as Learning Tools [Strand B: Teaching with Joy]
Lisa Raymond-Tolan, Alison Rebels, Pace University
Workshop 9: Interactive and Agile Pedagogy with the Discovery Teaching Platform [Strand C: Advancing Equity]
William Tarimo, Alexia Balentine, Connecticut College
Lightning Talk Session 4: The Importance of Cultural Awareness in Early College STEM Programs
[Strand A: Course Design]
A Sample of Joyful and Engaging Teaching Practices shared by Faculty Taking Part in a Culturally Inclusive Teaching Project, Bernadette Sibuma and Meredith Watts, Massachusetts Bay Community College; Raul Madeira, Westwood High School
Making the Jump: Early College Student to STEM Major, Russ Olwell , Merrimack College
Lightning Talk Session 5: Inspiring Joy with Engaging Teaching Practices
[Strand B: Teaching with Joy]
Inspiring Joy with Toilet Paper, Rollerblades, Chickens, and the Unexpected, Allison Daubert, Bridgewater State University
Building Infrastructure to Support Joyful Mathematical Experiences, Jordan Kostiuk, Brown University
Before Joy Comes Acceptance: A Personal Journey through Burnout, Amy Flanagan Johnson, Eastern Michigan University
Lightning Talk Session 6: Students and Faculty Collaborating to Advance Inclusion
[Strand C: Advancing Equity]
Laying the Groundwork for Inclusion: Development of a Biology Department DEI Committee, Kimberly Berman, Robin White, Jessica Stephens, Kathryn Weglarz, Mao-Lun Weng, Westfield State University
Building Inclusive Academically-Engaged Communities, Kathi Crow, Salem State University
Addressing student needs proactive and personal interventions to promote student success in the setting of absenteeism, Lita Yu, Ursuline College
Workshop 10: Designing Engaging Online Courses: From Interactive to Reflective, Collaborative Learning Experience [Strand A: Course Design]
Sam Yousefifard, McMaster University
Workshop 11: Transforming Non-Traditional Teaching Pedagogy Utilizing Social Emotional Learning Techniques [Strand C: Advancing Equity]
Lynn Miles, Quienton Nichols, Fayetteville State University
Lightning Talk Sessions 7: Improving Learning by Expanding Access to Research Experiences
[Strand A: Course Design]
“We need to do this:" Early College Student Summer Research Experiences as a Way to Encourage STEM Majors and Careers, Russ Olwell, Merrimack College; Cindy Santana and Ambar Tavares, Lawrence High School
BCEENET: Sharing a Passion for Natural History Collections Through CUREs Using Digitized Collections Data, Kathryn Weglarz , Westfield State University; Carly JordanThe George Washington University; Janice Krumm, Widener University
How to make an upper division lab course as fun as experimental research is, Sara Mueller, Brown University
Lightning Talk Session 8: Using Technology for Joyful Learning
[Strand B: Teaching with Joy]
Standing TALL: Using Technological Advances to Drive the Passion for Lifelong Learning during Challenging Times, Sundaram Ramakrishnan, Gannon University
Video games for STEM education, Neelam Soundarajan, The Ohio State University
Impacts of Instructional Methods on Approaches and Perceptions of College Students towards Mathematical Creativity, Bartu Bingol (Math, FYS, creativity, attitudes)
Lightning Talk Session 9: Centering Student Success with Career Awareness
[Strand C: Advancing Equity]
Road Map for Student Success Planning, Verleen McSween, Lawanda Cummings, University of the Virgin Islands
Celebrate finding joy in teaching non-majors, Colby King, Justin Travis, University of South Carolina Upstate
Workshop 12: Motivation for Learning: Boosting Academic Performance Through a Post-Exam Intervention [Strand B: Teaching with Joy]
Anne Spain, Bridgewater State University
Workshop 13: Zines of Joy - A Collaborative Approach to Inclusive STEM Education
[Strand C: Advancing Equity]
Stephen Fernandez, Kitty Lovell, and Brady Bell, UMass Amherst; Sarah Brownell, Rochester Institute of Technology
Lightning Talk Session 10: Empowering Faculty and Student Voices in Course Design
[Strand A: Course Design]
Combating faculty burnout through engagement: Using formative feedback loops between faculty and administration to guide program evolution, Jacqueliyn Kelly, Tomas Oberding, Dianna Gielstra, University of Phoenix
HyFlex Teaching in an Evolving World, Raffi Manjikian, Hudson County Community College
Lightning Talk Session 11: Revisioning the Classroom for Joyful Learning II
[Strand B: Teaching with Joy]
Can we make grace the norm in our classrooms? Miloš Savić, University of Oklahoma, Candice Price, Smith College
Engaging math-anxious first-years, Calvin Cochran, Wellesley College
Integrating Student Experiences into the Classroom: A Meta-Reflective Opportunity, Fatih Cetin, University of Massachusetts Amherst
***Following the conclusion of the meeting, you will receive an email from AAC&U about an evaluation. Please fill it out to provide feedback about your experience!***