Center for Teaching and Learning

Weekly CTL Teaching+Learning Lunches

Upcoming Events

All Brandeis faculty, graduate students, and post docs are invited to attend our weekly T+L Lunches:
  • Workshops explore specific topics of teaching and learning with practical applications (hybrid format);
  • Salons foster collegial conversations about teaching and learning (in-person).

Upcoming Events (Fall 2023)

Teaching with Archives

October 3, 2023

Interested in learning how Brandeis's archival collections might fit into your classes? Join us for this quick workshop to learn about the how the rare and unique books and archival collections held in Brandeis's University Archives & Special Collections can be used in graduate & undergraduate classes, both virtual & in-person.
Facilitator: Chloe Gerson (Reference and Instruction Archivist)

October 4, 2023

Oct 4, Wednesday, 10am - 12pm (This is an online event: please register here for the Zoom link.)

Faculty and staff are invited to join colleagues from the Prevention, Advocacy & Resource Center (PARC) to learn about the issues modern students are facing related to technology-enabled abuse and digital safety: online stalking, sexploitation, deep fakes, non-consensual image sharing, and more.  Adam Dodge, founder of Ending Technology Enabled Abuse (EndTAB.org) will discuss the ways that the digital world is evolving, the types of image-based and AI-based harm students are facing, and how to support those students who have experienced online abuse or tech-enabled trauma.

Please register in advance and reach out to PARC with any questions.

T+LL Salon

October 6, 2023

Oct 6, Friday, 12:30 - 1:50 pm, Gardner Jackson Classroom on the top-floor of Goldfarb Library (Mezzanine level)
Join colleagues for discussions about learning and teaching. These informal conversations are about issues that interest you – or with which you are wrestling. We’ll follow your lead, but we always have good topics on tap if there’s nothing on your mind at the moment. Bring a friend (or two)!
Facilitator: Irina Dubinina

RSVP HERE TO RESERVE YOUR LUNCH SPOT.

T+LL Workshop: What are Engaged Pedagogy and Scholarship, and How Do I Get Money to Do This?

October 20, 2023

Oct 20, Friday, 12:30 - 1:50 pm, Gardner Jackson Classroom on the top-floor of Goldfarb Library (Mezzanine level)
The Samuels Center for Community Partnerships and Civic Transformation (COMPACT) offers grants to support community engaged research and pedagogy.  In this workshop, we will discuss what community engaged scholarship is, how to begin a community engaged project, and how to get funding to support it.
Facilitators: Dr. Sara Shostak and Dr. Megan Ross

RSVP HERE TO RESERVE YOUR LUNCH SPOT.

REGISTER FOR A ZOOM LINK HERE.

T+LL Salon

November 3, 2023

Nov 3, Friday, 12:30 - 1:50 pm, Gardner Jackson Classroom on the top-floor of Goldfarb Library (Mezzanine level)
Join colleagues for discussions about learning and teaching. These informal conversations are about issues that interest you – or with which you are wrestling. We’ll follow your lead, but we always have good topics on tap if there’s nothing on your mind at the moment. Bring a friend (or two)!
Facilitator: Irina Dubinina

RSVP HERE TO RESERVE YOUR LUNCH SPOT.

T+LL Salon

November 17, 2023

Nov 17, Friday, 12:30 - 1:50 pm, Gardner Jackson Classroom on the top-floor of Goldfarb Library (Mezzanine level)
Join colleagues for discussions about learning and teaching. These informal conversations are about issues that interest you – or with which you are wrestling. We’ll follow your lead, but we always have good topics on tap if there’s nothing on your mind at the moment. Bring a friend (or two)!
Facilitator: Irina Dubinina

RSVP HERE TO RESERVE YOUR LUNCH SPOT.

T+LL Workshop: How do we grade?

December 1, 2023

Dec 1, Friday, 12:30 - 1:50 pm, Gardner Jackson Classroom on the top-floor of Goldfarb Library (Mezzanine level)
In this workshop, led by three Brandeis faculty members, faculty will learn about innovative approaches to grading, known as Specifications Grading and Mastery Grading. We hope that Brandeis faculty presenters will help you find inspiration to change the way you evaluate student learning and streamline the grading process.

Facilitator: Irina Dubinina (Russian Studies), Tim Hickey (Computer Science), Rebecca Torrey (Mathematics)

RSVP HERE TO RESERVE YOUR LUNCH SPOT.

REGISTER FOR A ZOOM LINK HERE.

Past Events

How to incorporate interactivity into your class: A conversation

October 28, 2022

Location: Goldfarb Vershbow Classroom
Introducing interactivity into the classroom has been shown to improve student learning while at the same time making the act of teaching more fun! Irina, Dan, and Marty will share their experiences and practical advice and look forward to learning new ideas from faculty attendees.

Materials from today's workshop:
New Faculty Informal Mid-semester Get-together 1

November 2, 2022

Location: Farber 2 Classroom
The CTL cordially invites new faculty to an informal meeting as an opportunity to meet colleagues, share successes, challenges, and advice, and learn about the programming we’re planning for next semester. We are offering two times in hopes of accommodating our widely varying teaching schedules.
New Faculty Informal Mid-semester Get-together 2

November 3, 2022

Location: Vershbow room (Goldfarb)
The CTL cordially invites new faculty to an informal meeting as an opportunity to meet colleagues, share successes, challenges, and advice, and learn about the programming we’re planning for next semester. We are offering two times in hopes of accommodating our widely varying teaching schedules.
How can I get quiet students to speak up in class?

November 11, 2022

Location: Goldfarb Vershbow Classroom
CTL program director Marty Samuels will present current research on ways to help students feel more confident speaking up in class. We will then consider how to apply such techniques in our classrooms.

Materials from today's workshop:

T+LL Workshop: Active Learning

January 27, 2023

Friday, 12:30 - 1:50 pm, Goldfarb Gardner Jackson room in the Library
Research has shown that active learning significantly improves student learning, but how can we best incorporate it into our classes? In this workshop, we will discuss a variety of easy-to-implement active learning techniques from a variety of disciplines, and discuss how to apply some recent research about what makes active learning work best and how to get student buy-in.
Facilitator: Dr. Marty Samuels

Materials from today's workshop:

T+LL Salon

February 3, 2023

Friday, 12:30 - 1:50 pm, Goldfarb Gardner Jackson room in the Library
Join colleagues for discussions about learning and teaching. These informal conversations are about issues that interest you – or with which you are wrestling. We’ll follow your lead, but we always have good topics on tap if there’s nothing on your mind at the moment. Bring a friend (or two)!
Facilitator: Dr. Dan Perlman
The AI/chatGPT Challenge

February 6, 2023

Monday, 1:00 - 2:00 pm, Goldfarb Vershbow Classroom in the Library
Given the recent advent of chatGPT and other AI-generative tools, the CTL has drafted a preliminary set of evolving guidelines for reconsidering assignment and course design to emphasize student learning in light of these new technologies. We know each course and discipline will face its own unique challenges, and we are ready to help you find acceptable solutions.  Please reach out to us at ctl@brandeis.edu or fill out a CTL Help Request form with your specific questions!
Facilitator: Dr. Timothy Hickey
The AI/chatGPT Challenge

February 8, 2023

Wednesday, 9:00 - 10:00 am (Virtual)
Given the recent advent of chatGPT and other AI-generative tools, the CTL has drafted a preliminary set of evolving guidelines for reconsidering assignment and course design to emphasize student learning in light of these new technologies. We know each course and discipline will face its own unique challenges, and we are ready to help you find acceptable solutions.  Please reach out to us at ctl@brandeis.edu or fill out a CTL Help Request form with your specific questions!
Facilitator: Dr. Timothy Hickey
T+LL Discussion: The AI/chatGPT Challenge

February 10, 2023

Friday, 12:30 - 1:50 pm, Goldfarb Gardner Jackson room in the Library
Given the recent advent of chatGPT and other AI-generative tools, the CTL has drafted a preliminary set of evolving guidelines for reconsidering assignment and course design to emphasize student learning in light of these new technologies. We know each course and discipline will face its own unique challenges, and we are ready to help you find acceptable solutions.  Please reach out to us at ctl@brandeis.edu or fill out a CTL Help Request form with your specific questions!
Facilitator: Dr. Timothy Hickey
T+LL Workshop: Using Growth Mindset to Improve Teaching and Learning

February 17, 2023

Friday, February 17, 12:30 - 1:50 pm, Goldfarb Gardner Jackson
Growth mindset—the belief that your skills and intelligence are malleable and can be improved with hard work and practice —has been shown to be a vital aspect of learning (including recently in Yeager, et al. Nature (2019) and Canning, et al. Sci Adv. (2019)). In this workshop, we will discuss how we can support our students to develop a growth mindset to help them recognize that intellectual abilities are not “fixed,” but are capable of growth in response to dedicated effort, trying new strategies, and seeking help when appropriate. It is often all too easy to think of ourselves as finished products with set skills, but this can hinder our attempts to be willing to learn new knowledge and skills. Fostering a “growth mindset” can motivate us- and our students- to focus on the process of learning, to embrace challenges as learning opportunities, and to improve our abilities through practice. Teaching students to have a growth mindset has been shown to improve student performance and reduce achievement gaps between student groups, and in this workshop we’ll discuss how to put some of these principles into practice in our classrooms.
Facilitator: Dr. Marty Samuels

Materials from today's workshop:

T+LL Salon

March 3, 2023

Friday, 12:30 - 1:50 pm, Goldfarb Vershbow Classroom in the Library
Join colleagues for discussions about learning and teaching. These informal conversations are about issues that interest you – or with which you are wrestling. We’ll follow your lead, but we always have good topics on tap if there’s nothing on your mind at the moment. Bring a friend (or two)!
Facilitator: Dr. Dan Perlman
T+LL Journal Club: Teaching Students How to Study in Your Course

March 10, 2023

Friday, 12:30 - 1:50 pm, Goldfarb Vershbow Classroom
It can be easy to focus our attention on what students are learning and doing during class time, but how do we want them to study and make use of course and University resources outside of class time? In this journal club, we’ll discuss study strategies that have been proven to be most effective for student learning, and studies that investigate the impact faculty have had on their students by briefly explaining how to study effectively in their courses. 
Facilitator: Dr. Marty Samuels

Materials from today's workshop:
T+LL Workshop: Equitable and Inclusive Teaching

March 17, 2023

Friday, 12:30 - 1:50 pm, Goldfarb Vershbow Classroom
What does it mean to foster learning environments that are equitable and inclusive, promoting all of our students to succeed and thrive? In this workshop, we will discuss several strategies for teaching equitably and inclusively and for helping students feel like they belong in our classrooms. We will also address several challenges that can prevent classrooms from feeling inclusive and consider solutions.
Facilitator: Dr. Marty Samuels

Materials from today's workshop:
T+LL Workshop: Conquering Complex Accommodations

March 24, 2023

March 24, Friday, 12:00 - 1:00 pm, Goldfarb Vershbow Classroom
As the proportion of students with documented disabilities continues to rise, faculty need support for implementing the wide range of accommodations. Join us for tips on managing accommodation letters, communicating with students about their needs, effectively implementing complex accommodations, and collaborating with Student Accessibility Support.
Facilitator: Dr. Cara Streit

Materials from today's workshop:

T+LL Salon

April 21, 2023

Friday, April 21, 12:30 - 1:50 pm, Goldfarb Vershbow Classroom
Join colleagues for discussions about learning and teaching. These informal conversations are about issues that interest you – or with which you are wrestling. We’ll follow your lead, but we always have good topics on tap if there’s nothing on your mind at the moment. Bring a friend (or two)!
Facilitator: Dr. Dan Perlman

 

Feedback for Multilingual Writers from a Language Justice Perspective

April 26, 2023

Wednesday, April 26, 12:00 - 1:00 pm, Goldfarb Gardner Jackson
How can we help multilingual students approach writing assignments in English more confidently as they use their various language skills as an asset? In this workshop we will discuss multilingual teaching from a language justice perspective and think of strategies through the lenses of “access, assets, and agency” for multilingual students. The workshop is directed to graduate student instructors and tutors whose roles include providing feedback to students on writing assignments across disciplines. We will discuss best practices for effective feedback focusing on empowering multilingual students to improve their clarity and building up their repertoire to succeed across genres of academic writing.
Facilitators: Emiliano Gutiérrez Popoca and Rachel Kramer Theodorou

Organized by the Center for Teaching and Learning and the Writing Center with the support of the International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life. Learn more about the Ethics Center’s 2022-23 programming around language justice in higher education.

Materials from today's workshop:

May 5, 2023

Friday, May 5, 9:00 - 2:30, International Lounge in the Usdan Student Center
The Center for Teaching and Learning invites Brandeis community to celebrate the ways that faculty are transforming their courses and pedagogies to support and advance learning. 

The Celebration of Teaching at Brandeis will include:
  • Honoring teaching award recipients
  • Faculty panels on teaching and learning
  • Lunch, hors d'oeuvres, and raffles
  • Faculty Appreciation Reception by seniors!!!
T+LL Salon

May 12, 2023

Friday, May 12, 12:30 - 1:50 pm, Goldfarb Gardner Jackson room in the Library
Join colleagues for discussions about learning and teaching. These informal conversations are about issues that interest you – or with which you are wrestling. We’ll follow your lead, but we always have good topics on tap if there’s nothing on your mind at the moment. Bring a friend (or two)!
Facilitator: Dr. Dan Perlman

 

Course Design Institute

May 22, 2023

Mon-Thurs, May 22 - May 25, 9:30am - 2:00pm each day, G'zang (Gerstenzang) 135
Want to revise an existing course or create a new course? Interested in exploring and enhancing your teaching? If you answered ‘Yes’ to either of those questions, then the CDI may be exactly what you want!
Dan Perlman, the CTL faculty advisor and the Center’s founder, will facilitate this year’s CDI; Marty Samuels and Irina Dubinina will help lead the workshop.

What will you get out of the CDI?
  • an opportunity to reflect on your courses with 20-25 dedicated colleagues;
  • a chance to design a course that is rewarding for you and your students;
  • a tune-up for your course and your teaching (recommended every five years or 60,000 miles);
  • a promising course syllabus that invites students to learn!
The CDI will run from Monday, May 22 through Thursday, May 25, from 9:30am to 2:00pm each day. We recognize and appreciate that four days is a lot to ask of people. To help the learning sink in, and to decrease the daily exhaustion factor, we have shortened the days compared with previous years. Participants will receive a $200 honorarium for taking part in the CDI.
T+LL Workshop: Conquering Complex Accommodations

September 22, 2023

Sept 22, Friday, 12:30 - 1:50 pm, Gardner Jackson Classroom on the top-floor of Goldfarb Library (Mezzanine level)
As the proportion of students with documented disabilities continues to rise, faculty need support for implementing the wide range of accommodations. Join us for tips on managing accommodation letters, communicating with students about their needs, effectively implementing complex accommodations, and collaborating with Student Accessibility Support.
Facilitator: Dr. Cara Streit

Materials from today's workshop: