News from the Center

Learning Technology Updates

Sheridan’s Digital Learning & Design Hub released its updates article, highlighting changes in learning technologies for the Fall term. The feature we are most excited to share is Differentiation Tags in Canvas, which allow instructors to create and manage custom groups that are not visible to students. In addition to our technology updates, our article includes the announcement of our latest Canvas support resource, Canvas Community@Brown.

Programs and Resources for New Instructors

Teaching Essentials 

For Graduate TAs
Online and asynchronous
In this fully online, asynchronous, and self-paced program, Graduate Teaching Assistants engage in a reflective exploration of their own practices and beliefs about teaching. For more information and to register, visit our website. For questions, please contact Dr. Sara Misgen (sara_misgen@brown.edu).

For Undergraduate TAs
Online and asynchronous
For Undergraduate TAs interested in creating an inviting learning environment, the UTA Orientation will be facilitated through Canvas and made available for students beginning September 1. It consists of four modules: reflecting on your teaching values; preparing to teach; different teaching contexts; and resources. We strongly suggest that students be compensated by their departments at the unit’s hourly pay rate. Students can fill out the UTAO google registration form; registration is required to be enrolled in the Canvas site, which will be updated weekly. 

UTAs interested in an academic course that explores many of these same topics, with a community of other UTAs, may be interested in the Problem-Solving Fellows Program, which involves enrollment in UNIV 1110: The Theory and Teaching of Problem Solving this Fall. For questions about the UTA Orientation or the Problem-Solving Fellows Program, please contact Dr. Christina Smith (christina_smith2@brown.edu)

Fall Programs

Junior Faculty Teaching Fellows

Applications for the 2025-26 Junior Faculty Teaching Fellows Program close on September 1. We welcome Lecturers and Assistant Professors to join this learning community centered around evidence-based pedagogy in higher education. To learn more and submit an application, visit the Junior Faculty Teaching Fellows website.

The Sheridan Center invites faculty, post-docs, graduate students, and staff interested in assignment design to register for a series of self-paced Canvas modules on designing assignments in the age of AI. Over a two-week period, participants can engage with the modules that align with their interests. The modules are run mostly asynchronously with two optional synchronous sessions for participants to ask questions and share ideas.

The modules cover the following topics: arguments for and against AI use in coursework, considerations for forming your position, designing assignments to mitigate misuse of AI, and thoughtfully integrating AI into assignments. Email kristi_kaeppel@brown.edu with any questions.

Join the Fall 2025 Conversation Partners Program! 

In the program, international students and Brown staff members are paired for a semester and meet a minimum of twice per month for informal English speaking practice. Through participation, student partners can grow their English conversational confidence and fluency for everyday communication in an encouraging, low-stakes, non-judgemental environment; share their unique transnational and cross-cultural perspectives while discovering local cultural nuances and expressions that textbooks don't teach; and build meaningful relationships with supportive Brown staff members. International-identifying or multilingual students and visiting/postdoctoral scholars can register for the program no later than September 5th (Brown account required). Questions can be directed to Dr. Joy Shuyuan Liu at joy_s_liu@brown.edu.

CIRTL Self-Paced Teaching & Learning Courses (2025-2026 Academic Year)

Develop your teaching & learning knowledge and skills in one of CIRTL’s nine self-paced, asynchronous courses designed for graduate students and postdocs. These courses are now open for registration for the Fall 2025 term. You can read detailed descriptions of this programming and register by visiting the CIRTL website. If you have any questions, please email Dr. Logan Gin (logan_gin@brown.edu).

Fall Teaching and Learning Communities

STEM Ed Fridays

Select Fridays, Noon - 1:00 pm
SciLi 720 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. 

September 19: In our first meeting of the semester, we’ll welcome new colleagues, review and refine our community agreements, and collaboratively select the topics for discussion this academic year. Register for this session.

Please register for an upcoming session:

• Register for October 3 

• Register for October 17 

• Register for October 31 

• Register for November 14 

• Register for December 5 

Brown Learning Collaborative

The Brown Learning Collaborative provides opportunities for undergraduate fellows to collaborate with faculty and peer partners in key academic areas: Data Science, Problem Solving, and Writing.

Asynchronous Resources and Programs

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. For more information and to register, visit the Teaching Portfolio program website.