2024 Campus-Wide New Faculty Orientation Program

Resource Title:

New Faculty Orientation Program

Wednesday, August 21, 2024
8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Michigan League
911 N. University Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104

8:30 a.m.	Registration and Continental Breakfast - Ballroom, Michigan League
9:00 a.m.	Plenary Session: Welcome to Michigan
9:40 a.m.	CRLT Players, an interactive theatre troupe, present Act for Equity
10:30 a.m.	Break
10:45 a.m.	Concurrent Sessions

Research-Based Practices for College Teaching

In this interactive session, faculty will learn about and discuss a set of research-based principles to promote learning. Throughout the session, participants will identify strategies informed by these principles that they can use to foster student learning in an upcoming course. Examples will be drawn from a wide variety of teaching contexts, including undergraduate, graduate, and clinical teaching.

Tech with a Purpose: UM Instructors using Digital Tools to Tackle Common Teaching Challenges

While new technology can be intimidating, instructional tech can make your teaching more equitable, manageable, engaging, and enjoyable. These outcomes occur particularly when instructors adopt a tool intentionally, to address specific teaching challenges and goals. In this panel discussion, instructors from across UM share their motivation for and experiences with adopting a common type of instructional technology, including Canvas quizzes, social annotation software, classroom polling, and online discussion platforms. In addition, we will share some introductory information about where to go and who to reach out to for instructional technology support at UM. We will focus on faculty stories, drawing inspiration and motivation to improve our teaching as part of an engaged community of instructors and instructional support at UM.

Teaching to Promote Student Mental Health and Well-Being

Data from a range of sources indicates that high numbers of college students are experiencing mental health challenges. In this session, faculty will reflect on a range of structural and interpersonal issues that exacerbate mental health challenges for students, and consider role-appropriate approaches faculty can take to proactively promote their student's mental health and well-being. They will also see a preview of a new Canvas course designed to provide a more in-depth exploration of this topic.

Leveraging Group Work and Teams to Enhance Student Learning

Effective use of teams and group work in the classroom can increase student learning, improve retention of course material, and enhance students’ problem-solving ability. It is often difficult, though, to ensure that all students are engaged, included, and successful in teams. In this session participants will explore a continuum of collaborative assignments and will identify research-based strategies and tools for the creation and assessment of student groups.

Introduction to Equity-Focused Teaching

How can instructors deliberately cultivate learning environments (face-to-face and remote) where all students are valued, respected, and supported in their learning? This interactive session will introduce participants to CRLT’s research-based framework for Equity-Focused Teaching, provide structured opportunities for instructors to reflect on their goals and practices related to equity, consider how to incorporate key research-based strategies in their teaching, and exchange ideas with colleagues to support the deliberate cultivation of equitable learning environments.

Strategies for Clinical Teaching in the Health Sciences

In this session, faculty from several health science disciplines will discuss best practices for clinical/bedside teaching. Attendees will hear from experienced colleagues about effective time management when teaching in the clinic, best practices for providing feedback to trainees, and facilitating effective small group discussions.

12:00 p.m.	Lunch and Welcoming Remarks, Ballroom
12:45 p.m.	Information Fair, Vandenberg/Concourse Staff representing various U-M offices will be available to distribute printed materials and answer questions.