Call for Applications

Apply Now: Sheridan Course Design Seminar

Apply here

During this semester-long seminar, participants are guided through an integrated course design process to develop a syllabus, signature assignments, and teaching strategies for a semester-long course. As participants move through the five modules of the seminar, they engage with colleagues from a variety of disciplines workshopping their course plans with one another. Registration is open to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who have successfully completed the Sheridan Teaching Seminar (Certificate I). The application is open now and closes on December 4, 2026; space is limited. For more information and to apply, please visit our Sheridan Course Design Seminar application form.

Fall Programs

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. Please register for an upcoming session.

Fundamentals of Canvas Accessibility Mini-Course 

Online and asynchronous
Register by October 15

Want to learn how to make your Canvas course accessible? Then enroll in Digital Learning & Design’s ‘Fundamentals of Canvas Course Accessibility’ mini-course. Open to graduate students, post docs, faculty, and staff, this two-week, asynchronous course covers the seven pillars of digital accessibility. During the mini-course, which begins October 19th, there will be an opportunity to participate in an optional synchronous session hosted by the Sheridan Center's DLD staff.

English Language Support Workshops for Multilingual Graduate Writers

Fundamentals of Academic Writing: The Hidden Curriculum of Graduate Writing 
Thursday, October 15, 12-1:15 pm 
Zoom
Register by October 13

Graduate school comes with many unspoken expectations about writing, which are rarely explained but strongly shape how your work is read and evaluated. In this workshop, we make those hidden norms visible. You’ll learn what “writer-responsible” writing means in U.S. academic contexts, why a clear through-line argument matters more than covering every detail, and how readers look for an explicit contribution and logical flow. You’ll leave with a clearer framework for understanding academic writing expectations, practical questions for analyzing unfamiliar writing tasks, and strategies for making more intentional choices in your own work.

Read Like a Writer: How to Read Academic Texts Strategically 
Wednesday, October 28, 12-1:15pm 
Zoom
Register by October 23

Feeling overwhelmed by the volume of reading in graduate school is extremely common. This workshop gives you practical strategies to read more efficiently while actually understanding what the author is trying to do. You’ll learn practical layered reading techniques that help you grasp an article’s structure and main purpose, recognize how writers organize their ideas, and identify both content and useful language patterns for your own writing. These approaches shift reading from passive consumption to purposeful, writer-oriented work.

From Sources to Synthesis: Building Your Own Argument in a Literature Review
Tuesday, November 10, 12-1:15 pm 
Zoom
Register by November 6

A strong literature review does far more than summarize previous studies, as it strategically positions your research within an ongoing scholarly conversation. However, many graduate writers struggle to move past “source reporting” (e.g., Smith said X, Jones found Y) to show why their work matters. This literature review workshop introduces proven rhetorical moves used in scholarly literature reviews to establish research gaps and frame your contribution. You will learn how subtle shifts in reporting verbs (e.g., claims vs. demonstrates vs. suggests) and citation placement can highlight your critical stance and keep your voice (not your sources) at the center of your paper.

CIRTL@Brown Fall Local Learning Community

Once monthly on Tuesdays at noon
Register here

The CIRTL@Brown Local Learning Community is an opportunity for participants in CIRTL (Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning), and/or for those who wish to be involved in CIRTL. Graduate students and postdocs at Brown are invited to come together to discuss unique topics and build skills in navigating teaching, learning, and professional development. As part of your participation in the CIRTL@Brown community, you will be eligible to receive your CIRTL Associate certificate.

The learning community will meet monthly on the following upcoming dates: 

• October 20th, 12:00pm

• November 17th, 12:00pm

Teaching@Brown: New Faculty Brownbags

October 29 & November 18, 12-1 pm
SciLi 720
Register here

New to teaching at Brown? Bring your lunch and your questions to an informal conversation with Sheridan Center colleagues. Each session, a Sheridan staff member will open the conversation with a few brief ideas on a focused topic, but most of the time will be available for general discussion about teaching at Brown. Whether you’re puzzling over the Open Curriculum, wondering how to handle grading, trying to get students to talk in your seminar discussions, or just want to compare notes with other new faculty, come ready to ask, share, and troubleshoot. No preparation needed, and drop-ins are welcome. See the Fall semester schedule below. Help us plan ahead by registering here.

• October 29, noon-1:00, Sciences Library (SciLi) 720. Topic: best practices for teaching writing (with Dr. Charlie Carroll, Sheridan Center Associate Director for Graduate Writing and Visiting Assistant Professor of History).
   

• November 18, noon-1:00, Sciences Library (SciLi) 720. Topic TBD.

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

CIRTL Network Fall Programming

The CIRTL Network has announced its fall courses, workshops, and events! Registration opens on a staggered basis, and you can now submit this form to request a just-in-time reminder as soon as registration opens for something you are interested in. This fall's programming covers teaching fundamentals, focused topics in teaching and learning (including assessment, design, accessibility, and AI), and academic job market preparation. In addition, you have access to more than ten self-paced opportunities. Completion of programming can make you eligible to receive a CIRTL Associate certificate. For questions, please contact Dr. Logan Gin (logan_gin@brown.edu).

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.