The Health Sciences Deans Council, in collaboration with the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT), U-M’s teaching excellence and faculty development center, are delighted to offer the Health Sciences Teaching Academy (HSTA), a program designed to support faculty who are new to teaching at U-M. The academy is held each year as a synchronous online learning community plus personalized coaching from CRLT consultants to develop individual teaching skills and practices. Together, these activities and resources will: 

• Deepen participants’ understanding of how students learn 
• Demonstrate strategies participants can use in various teaching contexts
• Provide opportunities for participants to learn from colleagues and educational experts
• Foster an interdisciplinary cohort of faculty engaged in teaching
• Increase participants’ access to university resources and support for effective teaching

The program has been offered annually since 2011 and consistently receives high ratings from participants. Faculty report that the Academy provides them with practical strategies and support for a broad range of relevant teaching contexts and offers them an opportunity to connect with new and experienced colleagues from across U-M’s health science schools and colleges.

If you are interested in learning more about HSTA, please contact Dr. Tazin Daniels, Associate Director, CRLT.  

Participant Feedback

“This was a great opportunity to learn new techniques and skills to increase confidence and impact in teaching. Excellent opportunity to consider strategies from how to set the stage from the beginning to have an inclusive opportunity for all students and learning and participation styles.”

“This was a fantastic experience especially for newer faculty at UM. They'll meet faculty from lots of different areas on campus and learn new strategies for teaching.”

“A very enlightening course that will likely change your approach to education.”

2025 HSTA Curriculum

Winter coaching session (30 min, scheduled individually)

• Overview of the Academy
• Review of teaching history, strengths and weaknesses
• Setting individual goals for the academy 

Workshop 1: Equity-focused Teaching (1/28/25 from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. via Zoom)

• Instructor identity and teaching approaches
• Student identity and development theory
• Creating inclusive learning environments

Workshop 2: Learner-Centered Course Design (2/4/25 from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. via Zoom)

• Instructor-centered v. learner-centered teaching
• Backward design and curriculum design
• Writing student learning outcomes

Workshop 3: Assessment of Student Learning (2/11/25 from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. via Zoom)

• Formative v. summative assessments
• Classroom assessment techniques
• Equitable grading and feedback practices

Workshop 4: Active Learning Strategies (2/18/25 from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. via Zoom)

• Interactive and student-centered lecturing
• Presentation design for engagement and accessibility 
• Active learning techniques and liberating structures 

Workshop 5: Teaching Challenges (2/25/25 from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. via Zoom)

• Setting up and facilitating inclusive discussions
• Addressing common facilitation challenges
• Dealing with conflict in the classroom and clinic

Spring Coaching Session (30 min, scheduled individually)

• Debrief of the Academy, including feedback on content and structure
• Review of lessons learned from the academy and lingering questions
• Setting individual goals and next steps for the year