Ahmad Jumah, Professor of Accounting, will discuss the strategies he employs to develop his students into self-directed learners—those who can plan, monitor, and adjust their learning processes on their own. These include:
Natalya Zinkevich, Assistant Professor of Biology and recipient of the 2025 Pearson Faculty Award, has mentored students in the life sciences as they have engaged in research, applied for grants and fellowships, presented papers, and authored peer-reviewed work. Her talk will cover her approach to mentorship and her experiences helping students to strengthen:
When the COVID-19 pandemic exploded across the globe in the spring of 2020 and continued into 2021, colleges and university campuses closed, face-to-face classes were moved online, and instructors and students struggled with learning at a distance.
Online discussion are vital to building a community in an online course. In order to achieve that goal, we need students to engage in these online discussions. Join COLRS staff as we explore some strategies for making the most of your online discussions. We'll think about different thinking routines and prompts, post length, frequency, and more!
Understanding how our students are feeling about our classes is important, but survey fatigue might prevent them from sharing those thoughts--especially multiple times in a course. Journaling is a strategy we can use to find out how our students are doing in a low-stakes and personal way (and for so much more!). Join COLRS staff to learn more about how journaling can be leveraged in your courses.
While generative AI can be a powerful tool, it can also keep students from meeting course objectives and developing necessary skills in our courses. Join COLRS staff to discuss ways that we can build assignments to prevent students from turning to AI tools.
In this session, Tarah Sweeting will highlight the strategies CASA is using to help students achieve their academic goals and improve retention at UIS. Participants will learn how CASA leverages key resources such as academic tutoring, supplemental instruction, and intensive first-year advising to create meaningful support pathways for students.
Tarah will also walk through CASA’s initiatives funded by the Strengthening Institutions Grant, including:
Join Kara McElwrath for a walkthrough of the tools available in our classrooms. You’ll get to explore:
We’ll also highlight the software available for you and your students, plus the instructional tech support resources you can lean on throughout the semester.
New to UIS? Curious about classroom tech?
Whether you’re just getting started, need a quick refresher, or want to explore new ways technology can enhance your teaching, this session is for you!
Join Kara McElwrath for a walkthrough of the tools available in our classrooms. You’ll get to explore:
We are excited to announce the first meeting of the Central and Southern Illinois Faculty Development Network for the 2025-2026 academic year.