Professional Development Workshops

dB-SERC Faculty Retreat May 2016 - Focus on Undergraduate Assessment

People in a room sitting at tables

At this retreat, discussions focused on course-level assessments for undergraduate majors and how to align learning objectives, instructional design, and assessment. Departments shared ideas and got feedback on their own department's course-level assessments. Click here to see pictures and a summary of the event: 2016 dB-SERC Faculty Retreat

Workshop for New Faculty Members (usually held at the end of August)

Group of faculty members discussing a question

  • In this workshop we discuss
    • basic strategies to improve student learning based on cognitive research and practical considerations
    • strategies to assess the extent to which course goals have been achieved

Workshop for New Graduate Teaching Assistants (usually held at the beginning of September)

Graduate teaching assistants in a classroom

  • In this workshop we discuss ​evidenced based strategies for improving the effectiveness of recitations including
    • improving use of formative feedback
    • assessing student learning
    • improving student participation
    • fostering collaborative learning
    • creating a TA teaching community
  • The workshop ​builds upon CIDDE’s workshop for new TAs

Workshop for New Undergraduate Teaching Assistants (usually held at the end of January)

Undergraduate TAs sitting in a classroom

  • In this workshop, we will discuss evidence-based strategies for improving the effectiveness of homework sessions and recitations/labs including
    • creating a UTA teaching community
    • fostering collaborative learning 
    • improving student participation
    • tailoring help provided based upon students' prior knowledge

Past Professional development workshops organized by dB-SERC:

  • May 5, 2014, dB-SERC conducted a workshop titled "Improving Student Learning in Large Classes" (see Home page, events).

people at tables and looking at papers

  • August 19, 2014: dB-SERC conducted a workshop for new Natural Science faculty members at Pitt.
  • August 29, 2014, dB-SERC conducted a workshop for new Natural Science TAs at Pitt.
  • October 16, 2014: ​dB-SERC/CIDDE Workshop: "Practical In-Class Formative (Ungraded) Assessments"​
    • Workshop leader: Meiyi Song, Teaching and Learning Consultant, CIDDE

People in a hall sitting at tables

  • November 13, 2014: "Implementing a simple solution to improving science education"
    • ​Workshop leader: Dr. Robin Wright, current Director of the Division for Undergraduate Education at the University of Minnesota.

people sitting at tables

  • January 23, 2015: dB-SERC will conduct a workshop for Undergraduate TAs in natural science departments
  • February 9, 2015: Workshop on Modelling Instruction pedagogy
    • ​Workshop leader: Dr. Eric Brewe, now Drexel University
  • ​March 19, 2015: Incorporating writing in STEM disciplines
    • ​Workshop leader: Dr. Kathleen Harper, now Case Western University

people sitting at tables listening to a speaker

  • August 28, 2015: workshop for new Natural Science faculty members at Pitt
  • September 4, 2015: workshop for new Natural Science graduate teaching assistants at Pitt
  • January 22, 2016: workshop for New Natural Science undergraduate teaching assistants at Pitt 

Future Professional development workshops organized by dB-SERC:

dB-SERC Faculty Retreat: May 2023

dB-SERC New Faculty Training: August 2023

dB-SERC New TA Training Workshop: August 2023

dB-SERC New UTA Training Workshop: August 2023