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NEWS & UPDATES
  • Play, Learn, and Grow Together
Focus Story

Focus Story

Focus Stories on the latest and most current topics in Teaching and Learning.
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Community Spotlight

Community Spotlight

Community Highlights showcase the talents and diversity of the UBalt community.
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Excellence of Teaching and Learning

Excellence of Teaching and Learning

Find resources, reading bites, and professional growth opportunities to support Excellence in Teaching and Learning.
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Canvas Corner

Canvas Corner

Find LMS transition updates, trainings, and Canvas faculty spotlights.
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Student Nominated CELTT Excellence in Teaching Awards

CELTT invited UBalt faculty and staff to celebrate Thank A Teacher Week on Friday, May 12, 2023 at Checkerspot Brewery. As in previous years for Thank A Teacher Week,  CELTT sent out a call to students that they could submit a written or video recorded kudos to their faculty. This year, the kudos were also used to nominate faculty for the inaugural Student Nominated CELTT Excellence in Teaching Awards. Below you can review the 2023 recipients of these awards as well as an excerpt from a submitted student note:

CELTT Excellence in Teaching Award Recipient

Nusta Carranza Ko, CPA – She records lectures for students in online classes to watch, gives you leeway for opinions, and is always consistent in how she runs her classes. The consistency is especially important from a student’ point-of-view; you always know what you’ll get with her. She also genuinely cares. She’s a rare find in the vast world of Academia.

CELTT Excellence in Student Support

Irvin Naiman, MSBThank you, Professor Naiman, for making an otherwise confusing class and subject less confusing and understandable. Coming back to school after a 23-year hiatus is no small feat in itself but I do appreciate your patience and understanding for students like me who may have taken a little longer to catch on to the subject matter. The very best to you and thank you again.

CELTT Excellence in Teaching Innovation

Shelly Clay-Robison, CPAI appreciate your teaching style and how it is important to engage others in their thought processes. Thanks for believing in the power of dialogue and how impactful communications are to every area of conflict, negotiations, management and resolutions. If it wouldn’t take me another Year to earn this degree, I would’ve switched to this Discipline for my degree. Thank You!

CELTT Excellence in Creating an Inclusive and Supportive Learning Environment

Aaron Wachhaus, CPA Aaron Wachhaus curates an educational experience for his doctoral students. It can be a difficult task to lead leaders. His DPA students are all accomplished professionals in their respective professions; therefore, pep talks need to be revised. Finding innovative ways to teach complex concerns and string that content together with the rigor level that taps into his students’ critical thinking skills is a gift. High academic standards, intense academic rigor, technology, and practically lived experiences describe Dr. Wachhaus’ signature teaching style. He is uniquely gifted with the ability to inspire very accomplished people to dig deeper and show up for themselves, their peers, and for him.

Honorable Mentions

Jennifer Keohane, CASProfessor K, thank you for making CMAT 303 such a lively and fascinating class. To be honest, we need more professors like you at UB. This is one of the classes that feels like it’s worth the money I’m paying for. Your enthusiasm for teaching is clear in the way you assess our work in a timely manner and provide us with thorough feedback. Thank you so much; you are greatly appreciated.

Dennis Pitta, MSB- You have inspired me to continue my travels to continue my learning journey around the world. Diversity is so important, and along with that, exposure and immersion can only be beneficial.

John Donahue, CASWith subject matter that can be tedious and boring, you animate it with life and enthusiasm. The depth of your knowledge is great, yet you present it with such humility. The fact that you will access the fairness of questions on a test based on how many students got it right is rare, and reflects the justice that should extend into the rest of the world. Thank you for being awesome.

Sally Farley, CAS– You have encouraged me to be my full self wherever I am. As a closet nerd, I often hide my innate curiosity and acquired knowledge for fear of making others uncomfortable. But after being around you, I have more confidence to be more authentic and eclectic.

Kevin Vinson, CAS Dr. Vinson inspires me to pursue counseling with passion. He empowers me to be competent in the field of professional counseling. Dr. Vinson has made an impact on my present life by challenging me to move pass my insecurities to succeed. Dr. Vinson has made an impact on my future by equipping me with the academic tools necessary to fulfill my dreams as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor.

 

Call for SoTL Fellowships

The Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation is pleased to announce this call for applications for the newly established Elkins Fellowships for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning(SoTL). Up to 10 Elkins SoTL Fellowships of $1,000 each will be awarded for AY2023-24. Proposals are due to Dr. Zakiya Lee (zlee@usmd.edu) by 11:59 pm on Monday, May 22, 2023, for work to begin in the subsequent academic year.

Summer Professional Growth Updates

The Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation is pleased to announce this call for applications for the newly established Elkins Fellowships for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning(SoTL). Up to 10 Elkins SoTL Fellowships of $1,000 each will be awarded for AY2023-24. Proposals are due to Dr. Zakiya Lee (zlee@usmd.edu) by 11:59 pm on Monday, May 22, 2023, for work to begin in the subsequent academic year.

It has been such a pleasure to talk with so many faculty during the CELTT’s Spring Teaching Talk Series: ChatGPT and AI. Our last session on May 10th from 12-1 pm will be hybrid! For those who want to meet in person, please join CELTT in BL027 , and those meeting online please register. Due to high demand interest on how to interact with ChatGPT and prompting, our last session will be dedicated to playing and interacting with various prompts in ChatGPT. However, if you are interested in how to create SoTL research around the use of AI and ChatGPT, please let us know and Jessica will be happy to meet with you.

Are you interested in learning more about AI? UC Irvine and the Spencer Foundation are sponsoring a free Pens & Pixels: Generative AI in Education National Online Conference. July 13, 2023 @ 9:00 am – 3:00 pm PST.

Sample AI Syllabus Language

The unprecedented changes and influence of ChatGPT and other AI technology got many instructors looking for ways to provide more guidance for their students and their course policies. Below we share different versions of what an AI syllabus statements on AI-generated material could say. The language presented are only suggestions. There are as yet no clear policy directives from UBalt or USM.

Three different AI tolerance approaches are described: the prohibitive statement, the use-with-permission statement, and the abdication statement.

Limited/guided use of AI is allowed
I recognize that there are many AI assisted programs available to assist with writing. However, AI programs are not a replacement for individualized creativity, originality, and critical thinking. We may use AI writing tools (e.g., ChatGPT) under guidelines as a class. You will be informed as to when, where, and how these tools are allowed to be used, along with guidance for attribution. Any use of AI tools outside of these announced instances, constitutes a violation of UBalt’s Academic Integrity Policy, and will result in appropriate consequences. 

All AI use is allowed
All AI Writing tools (e.g., ChatGPT) are welcome in this class, as long as you cite the tool, as well as when and how you used it to complete the assignment. 

[Instructor gives examples of how to cite use of this tool in student writing in their class.] 

No AI use is allowed
AI Writing tools are not permitted in this class. If you use these tools, your actions will be considered academically dishonest, which constitutes a violation of UBalt’s Academic Integrity Policy, and will result in appropriate consequences. 

Get ready – for UBalt Ready!

UBalt Ready, our new platform for student preparedness, online orientation, and campus resources, is reaching the final stages of development in preparation for a launch with incoming Fall 2023 students in all four schools. An overview of UBalt Ready content:

  • Getting Started with UBalt Ready
  • Navigating Every Class – Modality and Technologies
  • Universal Academic Skill Sets and Learner Mindset Training
  • Student Support Resources at the University of Baltimore
  • Getting Involved at UBalt
  • Wrap Up & Claim your Badge

CELTT is looking for input from faculty over the next three months as we put the finishing touches on the site, which will be in Canvas. If you are interested, please reach out to celtt@ubalt.edu and we will provide you access and prompts to help you review and navigate the site. We are eager for your feedback to help ensure that we have covered essential content. The dynamic nature of Canvas means that it will be a simple fix to add missing material to accommodate campus goals.

Faculty will be able to assign modules to students as part of course requirements to ensure that students are both ready to learn and aware of the support available to them. To engage and incentivize students, badges will be available to recognize completion of each module. These modules will take about 45-60 minutes each, and faculty are encouraged to review UBalt Ready to identify which modules would be appropriate for their incoming students.

It is important to note that students do not come to UBalt with the same degree of preparation. What may seem basic information might be entirely new for an incoming undergrad, grad, or law student. Student success is directly tied to student preparedness, and the goal of UBalt Ready is to assist faculty and students alike in bridging any gap between admission and completion of final degree. Thank you for your time, and we look forward to your input on UBalt Ready!

May News & Updates

Thank a Teacher Week has arrived! Shout out to all the wonderful faculty that engage, grow, and teach our students! This year we had 10 student nominated CELTT Excellence in Teaching Awards. We will celebrate those nominees and announce the award recipient on May 12th from 3-6 at Checkerspot Brewery. Please RSVP and celebrate with a drink and food on CELTT.

It has been such a pleasure to talk with so many faculty during the CELTT’s Spring Teaching Talk Series: ChatGPT and AI. Our last session on May 10th from 12-1pm will be hybrid! For those who want to meet in person, please join CELTT in BL027 , and those meeting online please register.  Due to high demand interest on how to interact with ChatGPT and prompting, our last session will be dedicated to playing and interacting with various prompts in ChatGPT. However, if you are interested in how to create SoTL research around the use of AI and ChatGPT, please let us know and Jessica will be happy to meet with you.

Don’t forget to nominate for 2023 The Excellence in Transformative Teaching Award. All faculty are eligible who has transformed the learning experience in the classroom. This might include a new, immersive experience; the use of high impact practices; the integration of an emerging learning technology; a curricular revision; an inventive tradition; an exemplary project; or any teaching practice, project, or process that transforms the students or learning experience.  The recipient will be celebrated in the Fall 2023 and will receive $2000 cash award as well as recognition. Nominate Now!

Take a look at the new faculty Research & Scholarship LibGuide! This guide is designed to help you navigate the extensive library resources of research and publishing available to you as a faculty member. From finding relevant articles and books to discovering new tools for teaching and research, this guide covers everything you need to know regarding the publication process.

We are excited to announce that we will be implementing a new consultation form to improve our communication and support for faculty. This form will be included in an automatic reply you will receive when emailing CELTT, and it will help us track and efficiently respond to your needs. By using this form, we can provide more effective support to you, allowing us to address your questions and concerns in a timely manner. Thank you for choosing CELTT, and we look forward to working with you!

 

New Faculty Research & Scholarship LibGuide

Welcome to the new faculty Research & Scholarship LibGuide! This guide is designed to help you navigate through the extensive library resources of research and publishing available to you as a faculty member. From finding relevant articles and books to discovering new tools for teaching and research, this guide covers everything you need to know regarding the publication process.

2023 The Excellence in Transformative Teaching Award

Don’t forget to nominate for the 2023 Excellence in Transformative Teaching Award. All faculty are eligible who have transformed the learning experience in the classroom. This might include a new, immersive experience; the use of high impact practices; the integration of an emerging learning technology; a curricular revision; an inventive tradition; an exemplary project; or any teaching practice, project, or process that transforms the students or learning experience. The recipient will be celebrated in the Fall 2023 and will receive $2000 award and recognition. Nominate Now!

 

May Community Spotlights

Please take a few moments to learn more about your colleagues’ motivation, beliefs about the value of learning, research expertise, and the role and impact they share as members of the UBalt community. This week we feature Nicole Marano and Ronald “Ron” Castanzo

Decompressing after a Semester: Reflecting on Courses and Preparing for the Future

The end of the semester is just around the corner, and we can feel the stress and excitement floating through the air! The hustle and bustle of arriving to the last day of classes, giving and grading final exams, emails from students asking if they can still submit assignments or earn extra credit… Sigh! Another semester is gone. What now?

It is a good time to decompress, allowing yourself the opportunity to breathe and unwind, respite from all the expectations that you did or did not meet throughout past academic year. I can give you a list of activities that we all know can help us relax, such as taking a break, going on a long-awaited vacation, spending time with friends or family, treating yourself to a spa day, or going to happy hour. While all of these things are great and I suggest trying as many as possible, what often gets overlooked is taking the time to reflect on your courses.

Often faculty return each semester to teach the same courses, possibly with one or two new preps for the new academic year. It is helpful to review what was and was not successful in the course while the memories are still fresh, before the ‘dreaded’ course evaluations appear and we become momentarily jaded. As I have heard many of my colleagues say, “I don’t even read them”, “they don’t ask the right questions”, “I prepare a whiskey, and then brace myself for the reviews”. Though there is truth and validity in all of these feelings, there can be value in the course evaluation if done with the right instrument asking the right questions. Since redesigning course evaluations is a work in progress, here are some things you can do to reflect and plan for next semester.

  1. Plan to review course evaluations. Consider asking someone you trust for a summary or contact CELTT for an alternative approach. This may help decrease bias and promote a positive perspective.
  2. Take notes on changes and ideas for future courses.
  3. Ask students for permission to use exemplary projects in future courses.

As you reflect on your courses and plan for the future, it is important to remember a few things. Whether you are enjoying your favorite drink by the beach or sitting in your office, remind yourself that you are worthy of your own time and other people’s time, and you are constantly growing in everything you do. Remember that everyone is doing the best they can, including you. There is always tomorrow to try again.

Enjoy the break!

Cheers,

Jessica