Teaching for the Next 100 Years: Reflect, Innovate, Inspire

As we approach UBalt’s centennial celebration, we find ourselves in a unique moment—one that asks us to reflect on our past, rethink our present practices, and imagine the possibilities for the future of teaching and learning.

On October 25, 2024, the RLB Library will host Teaching & Learning Day, an annual event that brings our faculty together for a day of meaningful conversations and workshops designed to inspire the work we do in the classroom. This year’s theme, “Teaching for the Next 100 Years,” is both a celebration of the university’s rich teaching tradition and a call to action for the journey ahead.

The day will offer much more than just workshops. It’s a space to pause and reflect on what has worked in our classrooms, to share the innovative strategies we’ve tried, and to consider the challenges we all face—whether it’s navigating the complexities of AI in education or managing sensitive conversations with students.

• Our Teaching Scholars in Residence, faculty who have dedicated their efforts to advancing the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), will set the stage for conversations about how reflective teaching practices can transform not only the classroom but also our relationships with students.
• We welcome Claire Baytas and Dylan Ruediger from Ithaka S+R to guide our thinking on the role of AI in the classroom. Their insights, combined with input from UBalt’s own AI Professional Learning Community, will help us navigate the complex, often overwhelming, task of integrating AI tools into our pedagogy while ensuring our students’ learning experiences remain personal and meaningful.
• The program includes a session on best practices with Canvas, where we’ll explore how to make the most of our learning management system to support student success.
• In today’s polarized world, we know that managing difficult conversations in the classroom can be daunting—so we’ll tackle that, too, in a workshop designed to offer tools and strategies for creating productive, respectful dialogue with students.
• Of course, teaching doesn’t end when the class does. A session on service learning will explore ways to engage students within and beyond the classroom, encouraging them to connect their learning to real-world challenges and opportunities for civic engagement.

Whether you’re looking to explore new ideas, refine your teaching practice, or simply connect with colleagues who share your passion for teaching, Teaching & Learning Day offers a chance to pause, reflect, and move forward together. We’ll break for lunch to honor the Excellence in Transformative Teaching Award recipient—a moment to celebrate the meaningful work happening every day in our classrooms.

Join us on October 25th as we step into the next 100 years of teaching at UBalt. Register today to ensure your place in this important conversation: bit.ly/TLDay2024.