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Sheridan Newsletter
March 2024
March Programs
Invited Teaching Consultant Speaker: Embodied Pedagogies to Promote Community Building and Meaning Making
with Dr. Theresa Ronquillo (Amherst College)
Part 1: Wednesday, March 6 from 4:00-5:30 PM (Petteruti)
Part 2: Thursday, March 7 from 11:00 AM-12:30 PM (via Zoom)
Building community in the classroom is critical for sustaining equitable student engagement throughout the semester. Embodied learning and pedagogical practices can be a powerful community building, content learning and meaning making tool, offering a range of techniques that educators across all disciplines can adapt and integrate into their teaching. (For these sessions, we operationalize embodied pedagogies as centering the engagement of the senses, emotions, the body, movement, and the environment in the learning process.) How can we use embodied pedagogies to get back into our bodies, strengthen the mind-body connection, and develop connections to ourselves, our students, and to each other? How can we use embodied pedagogies to deepen understanding of course material? And how can we use these practices in both in-person and virtual settings?
Please join Dr. Theresa Ronquillo in an experiential exploration of embodied pedagogical practices drawn from interactive theater, Theater of the Oppressed, improv, and other techniques.
Participants may register for one or both parts:
Part 1 (March 6, 4:00 - 5:30 PM) focuses on collective learning and community building in person. Register for Part 1
Part 2 (March 7, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM) opens up embodied possibilities in a virtual environment – including a discussion of applications/adaptations to online teaching and facilitation, as well as potential challenges and creative ways to address them. Register for Part 2
Dr. Ronquillo is Associate Director at Amherst College’s Center for Teaching and Learning. Prior to joining Amherst, she worked at the teaching and learning centers at Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Washington, providing pedagogical and curricular support to faculty and departments across the disciplines. At the University of Washington, she co-founded and co-directed Theater for Change UW, a program that uses social justice theater techniques to promote community dialogue, problem solving, and multi-level change in teaching and learning environments.
‘The New Landscape in Higher Education’: A Conversation with Dr. Mary Wright and Other Higher Ed Leaders on the Future of Educational Development
Wednesday, March 13, 3:00 - 4:30 PM (EDT)
On Zoom (link to be provided)
Please join over 300 colleagues from around the world for this 90-minute session exploring the current state of educational development in the U.S. and imagining its future. Opening remarks will be provided by Provost Frank Doyle. A panel moderated by Dr. Debie Lohe, Associate Provost & Chief Online Learning Officer (Saint Louis University), will respond to and build on Dr. Mary Wright’s new book, Centers for Teaching and Learning: The New Landscape in Higher Education (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2023). Panelists will include: Dr. Tracie M. Addy, Associate Dean of Teaching & Learning (Lafayette College); Dr. Isis Artze-Vega, Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs (Valencia College); Dr. Jennifer Frederick, Executive Director of the Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning & Associate Provost for Academic Initiatives (Yale University); and Dr. C.
Edward Watson, Associate Vice President for Curricular and Pedagogical Innovation & Executive Director of Open Educational Resources and Digital Innovation (AAC&U).
Please register.
CIRTL: Writing Your Diversity/Inclusion Statement for the Academic Job Market
Friday, March 15, 4:00 - 5:00PM
What is a diversity statement? Who reads it? How do I write it? Together we will define its function; explore its controversies; and learn from real examples. This is the fifth event in our eight-part series “The Joyful Journey: Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Scholar Professional Development Series.” Register here.
Spring Break Graduate Writing Group
March 25, 27, 29, 10AM - Noon
SciLi 520
The Sheridan Writing Center will be hosting three two-hour graduate writing group sessions during the upcoming spring break. These in-person writing sessions offer space, time, and community to help graduate writers make progress on their writing projects in the company of other writers. Each session begins with a brief daily goal-setting exchange and concludes with a brief conversation of our day’s progress. Coffee, tea, and light snacks will be served. Space is limited; register here by March 18. For more information email graduate_writing@brown.edu.
Difficult Conversations Series:
Events in March/April
How to Help Your Students Have Difficult Conversations
Tuesday, March 12, 12:00 - 1:30PM
SciLi 720
Difficult conversations - those that elicit emotional reactions, surface ideological disagreement, or involve complex identities - can be central to many courses across the disciplines. Discussions of genetics, biology, or neuroscience may come up against sexuality or disability; other courses may tackle complex political issues and differing perspectives on topics like gender, race, and class. In this workshop, we will discuss how to prepare our students to engage in and succeed at difficult conversations in the classroom. By focusing on the skills of listening, contributing, self-awareness, and facilitating, we will break down how to help students develop their capacities for engaging in complex dialogues. Participants will reflect on their goals for student learning, examine evidence-based strategies, and explore how they can teach difficult materials successfully and
sustainably. Lunch provided. This program is open to faculty, staff, graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars. Please register.
Canvas Module: Having Difficult Conversations Online
Open March 3-15 (Asynchronous and online)
Difficult conversations are difficult because the stakes are high, meaning the participants care deeply about the topics being discussed. The online classroom poses unique challenges when it comes to having these conversations, and both diplomacy and vigilance are key. This two-week, facilitated online discussion features a guide and resources to help you have these types of conversations virtually, as well as discussion prompts that give you the opportunity to share your thoughts and experiences with fellow faculty. This asynchronous module will be co-facilitated by Christine Baumgarthuber (Senior Learning Designer) and Greg Dillon (Learning Designer). Participation is open to faculty, graduate students, staff, and postdoctoral scholars. Please register.
Faculty Discussion Series on Difficult Conversations in the Classroom
We teach in difficult times. Using Parker Palmer's The Courage to Teach, this series will engage Brown instructors in reflecting on why we teach, who we are as teachers, and how we can engage our students in sometimes challenging conversations in our classrooms. Participants are welcome to attend just one meeting of the series or all of them. Each meeting will be co-facilitated by Mary Wright (Associate Provost for Teaching and Learning and Professor [Research] in Sociology) and a guest facilitator. We will reflect on purpose-related themes raised in the book -- why we teach and who we are as teachers -- while "trying on" different discussion approaches. Discussion will take place Noon - 12:50 PM, with lunch served for takeaway or continued conversation. Participants are encouraged to read a chapter of The Courage to Teach (sent in advance to registrants; available online to Brown community members) but pre-reading is not required.
On Wednesday, March 20, please join us for a discussion with Dean Thomas (Tal) Lewis (Religious Studies). Please register.
On Friday, April 5, please join us for a discussion with Professors James (Jim) Valles (Physics) and Ruth Colwill (Cognitive and Psychological Sciences) at STEM Ed Fridays. Please register.
On Tuesday, April 9, please join us for a discussion with Professors Laura Snyder (Education) and Brad Gibbs (Economics). Please register.
Call for Applications
Apply to be an Equitable Learning Inquiry Fellow
ELI Fellows examine what equitable learning means in foundational courses they teach; consider course-level data disaggregated by race, gender, first-generation, and other factors; develop and pilot an evidence-based change to their course; and assess the impact of their intervention. Faculty teaching foundational undergraduate courses in the 2024-25 academic year are eligible to participate. Applications for the ELI Program open March 1. For more information and to apply, visit: https://go.brown.edu/SheridanELI.
Collaborative Research and Scholarly Experiences (COEX) Course Design Institute - June 2024
Are you interested in designing or revising a Collaborative Research and Scholarly Experiences designated course (COEX)? During June 4-6, 2024, the Sheridan Center will host a 3-day COEX Course Design Institute to provide support for course development including professional training on course design based on emergent practices within the COEX model, individual consultation and feedback, a supportive cohort of peers, easily adaptable course materials, and standardized assessment of your course. Please submit an application by Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 9:00am. For more information, visit the COEX Course Design Institute website.
Sign Up for a Problem Solving Fellow Consultation or Teaching Observation!
Are you a UTA, tutor, or professor who wants a student perspective on your teaching? Sign up for a Problem Solving Fellow (PSF) Teaching Consultation or Observation! PSFs are undergraduate students trained to give feedback on any and all elements of teaching or assisting in teaching a course. If you are a professor, TA, or tutor and you are looking to increase the effectiveness of your assignments, lecturing, or general teaching strategies, consider reaching out! Each consultation or observation is confidential, personalized, and led from a student-based perspective! Please fill out our interest form to get started.
OPEN Spring Sheridan Center Learning and Writing Communities
These learning communities are still accepting registration.
STEM Ed Fridays
Fridays, Noon - 1:00 PM
SciLi 720 (lunch provided) and Zoom
Are you interested in discussing STEM education at Brown? STEM Ed Friday is a vibrant learning community where STEM instructors and staff members share ideas, experiences, and challenges related to STEM education.
Friday, March 8: In this session, we will reflect on the semester thus far and discuss the value in asking your students for feedback at this point in the semester. Register for this session.
Friday, March 22: Are you interested in exploring ways to enrich STEM learning environments or coursework beyond traditional student deliverables like discussion boards or exams? Are you looking to add a bit more social context to the exploration of STEM concepts, or more accurately replicate authentic, professional activities within your STEM classes? In this session, Heather Cole (Head of Primary Source Instruction at the John Hay Library) and Jason Cerrato (STEM Instructional Librarian) will discuss instructional approaches, logistical considerations, and some of the challenges to integrating primary sources within STEM courses, as well as share some of our experiences working to support faculty across a variety of disciplines incorporating special collections materials. Register for this session.
For more information, please contact sheridan_center@brown.edu.
Faculty Writing Group
Open to all faculty and staff
Fridays, 10:00 - 11:50 AM; Starts February 9
Zoom
Faculty of any rank and staff are invited to participate in a Faculty Writing Group. Writing groups can be an invaluable source of motivation and accountability, and the Faculty Writing Group is a “guilt-free” group that prioritizes spending time in community and goal-setting together. Each group meeting begins with a brief goal-setting exercise and concludes with a short reflective conversation. Writing projects can be any works in progress and historically have ranged widely from articles to dissertations to letters of reference. Questions can be directed to Jeremy Lehnen (Center for Language Studies; Provost’s Faculty Teaching Fellow) at jeremy_lehnen@brown.edu.
Please register for Zoom link.
Large Class Learning Community
The Large Class SIG is an interdisciplinary group of faculty members that meets monthly to discuss issues surrounding the teaching of high-enrollment classes. Provost Faculty Teaching Fellow and Economics Senior Lecturer Brad Gibbs organizes and facilitates these meetings. If you are interested in joining these conversations, please complete this form.
"I know I’m not alone in needing a little more accountability and a little more kindness in my day. The writing community provided both in great measure!"
"I felt so validated and supported during this challenge, 10/10 recommend."
Join the 14-Day Graduate Writing Challenge!
Are you a graduate student hoping to make progress on a writing project? Join the 14-Day Writing Challenge! Hosted by the Sheridan Writing Center, the Spring challenge will run from April 15-29. The challenge helps writers meet their writing goals by providing community support and accountability. Participation will be virtual with optional in-person gatherings. Participants will be asked to share their writing goals with other participants, write for at least 30 minutes per day during the challenge (weekends are optional), post their progress at the end of each daily writing session (participants pick their own writing session times), and cheer on other participants as they try to meet their writing goals. Space is limited; register here by April 9. For more information email graduate_writing@brown.edu.
Asynchronous Programs
Recorded Talks Available Upon Request
Recorded presentations available upon request for the Brown community include:
Designing Creative Assessments in the Age of AI (Brown faculty panel)
Fostering Student Mental Wellness
AI and Teaching (Brown faculty panel)
Rigor as Inclusive Practice
Relationship-Rich Education
A Call to Innovation: Hope, Joy, and Risk
Towards Anti-Racist Pedagogy
To view these recordings, please complete this brief request form.
Creating a Teaching Portfolio
This online, self-paced Canvas workshop from the Sheridan Center guides participants through the process of writing a teaching statement and creating a teaching portfolio. This workshop culminates with the opportunity for graduate students and postdocs to receive peer feedback on a draft teaching portfolio. For more information and to register, see the Sheridan website.
Photo by Colton Sturgeon on Unsplash
Designing and Teaching for Online
This online self-paced Canvas tutorial guides Brown instructors through the design or redesign of an online or hybrid course. There are three pathways (Developing an Online Course, Structuring an Online Course in Canvas, and Teaching an Online Course) that allow instructors to work through the sections at their own pace based on their own needs and interests. The tutorial can be accessed anytime with this direct link (you must be logged into your Brown Canvas account): Designing and Teaching for Online.
Planning Resource: Sheridan Calendars
Interested in knowing when Sheridan Center programs typically run during the year? Please see the calendars below.