Penn State University

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.

Rethinking Assessment in Age of AI
Facilitated by Logan Harvey, Research Faculty
Tuesday, 9/16/2025, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Via Zoom

Portrait Logan Harvey

The rise of generative AI is challenging traditional models of assessment. In this workshop, we will explore practical strategies for building flexible, resilient assessments that withstand evolving AI capabilities and harness AI to support learning.

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.

Universal Design for Learning Course
Facilitated by Mary Ann Tobin, Associate Research Professor
Wednesday, 9/17/2025 to Friday, 12/19/2025
World Campus Faculty Development Canvas Course

Mary Ann (portrait)

This Universal Design for Learning (UDL) course is self-directed and asynchronous. The course provides an introduction to the rationale for UDL, supporting research, applications of UDL. We welcome instructors and designers who embrace student variability, strive for equity, and seek to empower students. Participants will explore UDL terms, principles, structures, and applications, and ways to adapt teaching practices.

Apply anytime at the following link: https://psu.catalog.instructure.com/browse/wcfd/courses/ol-3600-universal-design-for-learning-2025. You will have 60 days to complete the course. 

Facilitated by Mary Ann Tobin, this course is a collaboration between the Schreyer Institute and World Campus Online Faculty Development.

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 physical 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 Decision Points: Especially for Grad Students and Postdocs Who Teach
Facilitated by Chas Brua, Associate Research Professor
Wednesday, 9/17/2025, 10:10 a.m. - 11:25 a.m.
Via Zoom

Portrait Chas Brua

In this interactive workshop especially for graduate students and postdocs, we'll explore decisions that instructors confront in relation to AI: when (or whether) to encourage students to use AI in a course; when (or whether) to constrain students from using AI; and how to communicate clear guidance and rationales to students.

Registration will close one hour before the workshop begins. Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 45 minutes before the event begins.

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.

Developing AI Literacy in Students
Facilitated by Logan Harvey, Research Faculty
Thursday, 9/18/2025, 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Via Zoom

Portrait Logan Harvey

As generative AI tools like ChatGPT become increasingly available, students need not only technical familiarity but also a critical understanding of how these tools shape thinking, creativity, and scholarship. In this workshop we will discuss strategies to introduce AI concepts in your courses and design activities that help students reflect on appropriate and ethical uses.

Registration will close one hour before the workshop begins. Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 45 minutes before the event begins.

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.

Endorsement: Inclusive and Equitable Teaching
Facilitated by Beate Brunow, Associate Research Professor
Friday, 9/19/2025 to Monday, 12/22/2025
Canvas

Beate (Portrait)

This endorsement is part of the Provost Endorsement Program.

This endorsement engages experienced instructors in implementing inclusive and equitable teaching in their current or upcoming course(s).  This program assumes participants already understand the need for inclusive and equitable practices. Eligible participants must have teaching responsibilities in the current or upcoming academic year so that they can most immediately benefit from the content of the program by applying program concepts to their teaching. Participants will revise a syllabus or assignments for future use, reflect on their teaching based on student feedback and peer interactions, and consider how they might cultivate belonging in their courses.  Once participants have registered, they will be added to a Canvas course and connected with a SITE faculty consultant. 

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 physical 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.

Curriculum Innovation and Renewal Program Community Meeting
Facilitated by Mary Ann Tobin, Associate Research Professor, Beate Brunow, Associate Research Professor, Larkin Hood, Associate Research Professor, Laura Cruz, Associate Research Professor,  Nicole Stokes, Professor of Sociology, Abington, and Peter Aeschbacher, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, University Park
Friday, 9/19/2025, 9:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Rider Building Room 315

Mary Ann Tobin (Portrait)Beate Brunow (Portrait)Larkin Hood (Portrait) Laura Cruz (Portrait)As part of the Curriculum Innovation and Renewal Program, project leaders, faculty consultants, and SITE consultants come together to support the leaders' work by sharing successes, processes, and challenges, as well as best practices, experiences and expertise in curriculum development and curriculum committee processes. 

This is a closed event customized for the CIRP community members. If you are interested in a Custom Workshop for your area, 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.

Writing Your Teaching Philosophy Statement
Facilitated by Chas Brua, Associate Research Professor and Deena Levy, Associate Research Professor
Monday, 9/22/2025, 12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Via Zoom

Portrait Chas BruaPortrait Deena Levy

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.

 
Registrants will receive the Zoom link at least 45 minutes before the workshop begins.

 
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.

  
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.


Practical Tips for Teaching in a U.S Classroom (Especially for International TAs, but All Are Welcome)
Facilitated by Alia Shalaby, Graduate Instructional Consultant, Jose Sandoval-Llanos, Graduate Instructional Consultant and Meredith Doran, Director of EPPIC and Associate Teaching Professor of Applied Linguistics
Tuesday, 9/23/2025, 10:35 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.
Via Zoom

Portrait Alia Shalaby

Portrait Jose Sandoval-Llanos

Meredith Doran (Portrait)

International instructors and TAs might sometimes find it challenging to navigate the pedagogical values and practices inherent in U.S. undergraduate education. In this interactive workshop, we'll explore practical strategies that international instructors/TAs can implement.

Registration will close one hour before the workshop begins. Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 45 minutes before the event begins.

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.
   

How Culturally Relevant Teaching Can Benefit Your Students
Facilitated by Beate Brunow, Associate Director and Associate Research Professor and Alia Shalaby, Graduate Instructional Consultant,
Tuesday, 9/23/2025, 1:20 p.m. - 2:35 p.m.
Via Zoom

Portrait Beate Brunow

Alia Shalaby (Portrait)In this interactive workshop, participants will explore the role of culture in shaping classroom dynamics; the academic foundations of culturally relevant teaching; and how cultural (mis)alignment can impact the learning environment.

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.

 

Identities We Inspire in Our Students
Facilitated by John Elia, Graduate Instructional Consultant
Wednesday, 9/24/2025, 10:10 a.m. - 11:25 a.m.
Via Zoom

Portrait John Elia

Do you view the people in your classroom as students ... or as learners? As those there for the grade ... or as those who will become future colleagues? In this workshop, we will discuss and investigate the ways we can nurture positive, productive identities in our students. We will explore topics such as identities, their effect on students’ experience in the classroom, and ways that we as teachers can play a role in identity development.   

Registration will close one hour before the workshop begins. Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 45 minutes before the event begins.

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.

Rethinking Assessment in Age of AI
Facilitated by Logan Harvey, Research Faculty
Wednesday, 9/24/2025, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Via Zoom

Portrait Logan Harvey

The rise of generative AI is challenging traditional models of assessment. In this workshop, we will explore practical strategies for building flexible, resilient assessments that withstand evolving AI capabilities and harness AI to support learning.  

Registration will close one hour before the workshop begins. Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 45 minutes before the event begins.

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.

Getting Started with Teaching and Learning Scholarship
Facilitated by Laura Cruz, Research Professor
Thursday, 9/25/2025, 10:35 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.
Via Zoom

Portrait Laura Cruz

Have you ever considered publishing on your teaching and learning practice? In this interactive workshop, you will learn more about what Teaching and Learning Scholarship (also called SoTL) is, how you can integrate it into your scholarly work, and reasons why you might want to. During the session, you will have the opportunity to explore new and existing research in your discipline while also getting a head start on potential projects of your own.

Registration will close one hour before the event starts. Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 45 minutes 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.

Inclusive and Ethical Pedagogy Series: Teaching Larger Classes
Facilitated by Beth Seymour, Teaching Professor, Anthropology, Penn State Altoona. Panelists include: Tim Miyashiro, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University Park & Fernanda Bonafini, Associate Teaching Professor, Department of Mathematics, University Park
Thursday, 9/25/2025, 12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Via Zoom

beth seymour penn state from altoona.psu.edu

The Inclusive and Ethical Pedagogy Series explores how instructors might implement inclusive and ethical pedagogy, as described in the Elements of Effective Teaching. Teaching larger courses presents unique challenges and opportunites. Fostering interaction and connecting with students can be challenging in a potentially impersonal environment. Larger courses can also create dynamic and supportive learning experience. 

Join us for a discussion in which a panel of experienced educators will share their approaches to teaching larger courses. This session is ideal for instructors seeking to explore practical ideas, and participants are encouraged to share their own questions and experiences.

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.

How CIRTL Can Benefit Grad Students and Postdocs
Facilitated by Chas Brua, Associate Research Professor
Friday, 9/26/2025, 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Via Zoom

Portrait Chas Brua

Penn State is part of the international CIRTL Network, which focuses on preparing the next generation of faculty to teach effectively. Join us for this brief overview of how CIRTL programming—both at Penn State and through the 45-university network—can help grad students and postdocs to 1) strengthen their teaching skills and 2) document their professional development through CIRTL certification.

Registration will close 1 hour before the event starts. Registrants will receive a Zoom link at least 45 minutes before the presentation begins.

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.

Gen Ed Colloquium: Alternative Grading in Gen Ed Courses
Facilitated by Laura Cruz, Research Professor and Maggie Slattery, Assistant Dean and Director, Office for General Education
Friday, 9/26/2025, 12:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Zoom

Laura Cruz (Portrait)Maggie Slattery (Portrait)

In the next installment of the popular General Education Colloquium series, we invite you to get inspiration from a panel of Penn State faculty who have integrated alternative forms of grading (e.g., specifications, contract, collaborative, mastery grading approaches) into their Gen Ed courses.

Registration for this event can be found at:  https://forms.microsoft.com/r/4rvqBSWpbF

For more information, and other events, please see the Gen Ed page at: https://gened.psu.edu/faculty-staff/events

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, 9/29/2025 to Friday, 10/31/2025, 08:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Canvas - Teach to Reach with Universal Design for Learning

Portrait Mary Ann Tobin

Lauraine Hawkins (portrait)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. 

Visit https://www.schreyerinstitute.psu.edu/teachtoreach for eligibility requirements. 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.

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