By Annette Finley-Croswhite

On September 28-29, 2023 the Center for Faculty Development will host its third round of Days of Teaching events. The Days of Teaching were created in 2021 and launched on September 17, 2021 as a means of offering faculty a forum to discuss innovations in pedagogy as well as learn about and reflect on what ODU colleagues are doing in the classroom. Essentially the Days of Teaching are a giant conversation about teaching.  They are hosted online to offer the greatest flexibility for participation. 

Each year the CFD Days of Teaching are built around a theme. This year Day 1 centers on Digital Literacy, Evaluation and Research while Day 2 focuses on Accessible Teaching Practices. Dr. Kevin Depew, Associate Professor of English with expertise in writing studies pedagogy and online writing instruction will kick off our Days of Teaching with a keynote session entitled “Look was you Made Me Do: Designing Digital Pedagogy.” The format for both days includes individual workshops and panel discussions.

All teaching faculty, administrators, and graduate students are invited to the CFD Days of Teaching. In fact, ODU alum Violet Strawderman will offer insight as a guest panelist on Day 2 of the event, joining us from the University of Delware where she is a Ph.D. student in the Department of English. If you are new to Old Dominion University, we especially encourage you to attend the Days of Teaching and inject your own experience and thoughts into the teaching conversation.

The session schedule for the Days of Teaching is posted below. You can go to the CFD events page to read more about the individual sessions, find ZOOM links, and register for the events.

Digital Literacy, Evaluation and Research

10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.
“Look What You Made Me Do, Designing Digital Pedagogy”

Presenter: Kevin DePew, Associate Professor, English

Emphasizing that instructors should first and foremost focus on their course goals, the Presenter will discuss how to choose programs, add-ons and instructional tools that support those goals. Participants will have an opportunity to practice examining programs and starting future course designs.

11:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
“Teaching Students Effective Ways to Evaluate Information”

Presenter: Lucinda Wittkower, Head, Teaching and Learning Initiatives, ODU Libraries

In this session, the presenter will discuss teaching students how to evaluate sources using critical reading skills through the lens of the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy. Attendees will have the opportunity to share their own struggles and successes with teaching students about source evaluation and to gain practical tips for classroom application.

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
“Course-based Undergraduate Research--Helping Students Create Knowledge in the Classroom”

Panelists: Lin Guo, Associate Professor, Marketing, Mahesh Gopinath, Associate Professor, Marketing, Cathleen Rhodes, Master Lecturer, Women’s & Gender Studies

Host and Moderator: Robert Strozak, Master Lecturer, Mathematics & Statistics

The three presenters were all funded in 2022 with CURE grants (Course-based Undergraduate Research). During the session, the panelists will discuss how they used undergraduate research in their courses, the hands-on research experience students received, and their instructor reflections on student learning. At the end of the session, an invitation will be made to participants to apply for this year’s 2023-2024 CURE competition.

2:00 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.
“Developing Digital Literacies and Accessible Practices through ePortfolios”

Presenters: Megan Mize, Director, ePortfolio & Digital Initiatives, Academic Success Initiatives & Support (ASIS) & Elle Tyson, Assistant Director, ePortfolio & Digital Initiatives, ASIS

This session will explore the relationship between ePortfolio practice and the cultivation of critical skills such as information literacy, digital communication, and multimedia literacy. Additionally, this session shares practical strategies for guiding students in creating ePortfolios with accessibility in mind, ensuring inclusivity for all audiences. The session will conclude by showcasing the resources available to support students as they compose ePortfolios and faculty as they integrate ePortfolio activities into their teaching methods.

Accessible Teaching Practices

9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
“Creating Accessible Teaching Pedagogies in the Classroom” 

Panelists: Courtney Gipson, Director, Office of Educational Accessibility, M’hammed Abdous, Associate Director, Center for Faculty Development, Ruth Osorio, Assistant Professor, English, & Women's & Gender Studies, Violet Strawderman, ODU Alum & English Ph.D. Graduate Student, University of Delaware

Host and Moderator: Annette Finley-Croswhite, Professor, History, University Professor & Director, Center for Faculty Development

Panelists discuss the importance of accessibility in the classroom, inclusive teaching pedagogies, creating classroom community, and technologies available to enhance student accessibility.

11:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
“Cultivating Diverse, Equitable, Inclusive, and Accessible Learning Environments Through Universal Design for Learning”

Presenter: Kevin Mallary, Assistant Professor, STEM Education & Professional Studies

Given students’ variability, faculty members are tasked with cultivating equitable, inclusive, and accessible learning environments that tap into students’ diverse preferences and abilities. Accordingly, instructors should consider adopting the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework, a robust instructional approach that empowers all students to take ownership of their learning (CAST, 2018). Principles of UDL include providing information in multiple formats, allowing students to engage materials in various ways, and encouraging students to demonstrate their mastery of knowledge and skills creatively.

1:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.
“Balancing Self-Care and Student Accessibility: Nurturing Faculty Well-being for Effective Engagement”

Presenter: Judith Wambui Preston, Clinical Assistant Professor, Counseling & Human Services

The demands of higher education can be both rewarding and challenging for faculty members. Striking the right balance between meeting the students’ needs and nurturing one’s own well-being is essential for cultivating a healthy and productive academic environment. In this interactive workshop, we'll explore strategies and tools that promote self-care and healthy boundaries while enhancing student accessibility. We’ll also delve into the critical role of faculty well-being and its direct impact on effective student engagement.