News from the Center

Canvas Community@Brown Resources

The Digital Learning & Design's Learning Technologies team invites you to explore our Canvas Community site, a resource that highlights Canvas-related announcements, quick links to our most utilized guides, as well as a place to provide feedback. Our latest "Updates for Summer 2026" article is available now on the Community site, highlighting important platform changes such as the newly enabled Enhanced Rubrics feature, which introduces a drag-and-drop building experience for assignment rubrics. As you plan for the Fall semester, exploring these resources will now ensure you are well-positioned for the next round of Canvas features and updates. If you prefer to receive a monthly digest of our Canvas Community updates, you can subscribe to the Canvas Community listserv via this form.  

Summer Programs

Summer Dissertation and Thesis Writing Retreat

August 3-7, 9:00am - 4:00pm (full day option) / 9:00am - noon (half day option)
SciLi 520
Apply here (by July 10)

This week-long in-person writing retreat will provide graduate writers with intentional structure and supportive community for productive writing. Lunch and coffee/tea will be served each day. Our new half-day retreat is designed to accommodate especially graduate writers in STEM who need to spend time in their lab each day, as well as writers who are balancing childcare needs. Half-day retreaters are welcome to stay for lunch when their schedule permits.

The retreat is co-sponsored by the Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning and the Graduate School. Graduate students must apply by July 10 to participate. Please direct questions to graduate_writing@brown.edu.

Dissertation Accelerator

August 13, 9:00am - 5:00pm
SciLi 720/Zoom
Apply here (by July 24)

Is your dissertation stuck? You’re not alone, and you don’t have to figure it out by yourself. The Dissertation Accelerator is a full-day intensive program designed to help dissertation writers think more clearly, write more confidently, and make meaningful progress on their dissertation. Through interactive workshops, feedback sessions, and dedicated writing time, you’ll sharpen your argument, meet fellow writers who understand the struggles of dissertation writing, and leave with a concrete plan for what comes next. Open to all graduate students currently writing their dissertation. Facilitated by Dr. Charlie Carroll ‘19 and fellow graduate students. Available in-person and on Zoom. Lunch, coffee/tea, and snacks will be provided to in-person participants.

Teaching at Brown for the First Time

Wednesday, August 26, Noon - 1:00pm 
SciLi 720 or Zoom
Register here

Are you teaching at Brown for the first time this semester? In this one-hour workshop, Dr. Charlie Carroll (Associate Director, Graduate Writing/Visiting Assistant Professor of History) and Claire Streckenbach (Learning Technologist) will review strategies for creating a motivating, inclusive, and accessible learning environment; provide an overview of Sheridan’s digital teaching resources; and demonstrate how to get support from the Center and other campus partners throughout the semester.

Fall Programs

Announcing the Seminar on AI Literacy

The Sheridan Center announces the new Seminar on AI Literacy (SAIL), a program that will support faculty and departments in building critical AI literacy in their curricula by leveraging the expertise of discipline-specific teams of faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates. Through partnerships with students, instructors will gain critical insights into how to design and achieve their course objectives in ways that engage student interests and perspectives. Participants will meet in-person in the Sheridan Center on six Fridays (12:00-2:00 pm) starting in October 2026. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis beginning June 22. If your department or program has questions about this program, please email sheridan_center@brown.edu.

Sheridan Teaching Seminar Registration Now Open

Registration for the 2026 Sheridan Teaching Seminar is open now on a first-come, first-served basis. The Sheridan Teaching Seminar is a fall-semester certificate program designed to enhance participants’ instructional skills and build interdisciplinary teaching communities. Please read the Sheridan Teaching Seminar program information before completing the Sheridan Teaching Seminar registration form.

2026-2027 Junior Faculty Teaching Fellows Program

The Sheridan Junior Faculty Teaching Fellows program is a yearlong, cohort-based learning community that provides the opportunity for a small interdisciplinary group of junior faculty to develop and reflect on their teaching. For more information, visit the Junior Faculty Teaching Fellows website and complete the JFTF application form by September 2nd.

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.