We are just over two weeks into the new academic year and are already seeing so many ways that the innovations from last year are being carried forward. Lessons shared at the Pandemic Pedagogy Research Symposium remain relevant as some Duke undergraduate courses to temporarily return to remote teaching; the slate of available learning technologies has evolved and grown; and increased numbers of students in isolation highlight the continued need for empathy and flexibility in handling extended absences. We know that you will continue to innovate to provide an excellent educational experience for Duke students, and we remain available via email, office hours and consultations to support your explorations of new ways to teach at Duke.

The Teaching Support Network (TSN) is a collaborative effort of 12 Duke entities to enhance teaching and learning at Duke by promoting reflection and experimentation in educational practice. TSN’s just-launched website serves as a resource hub for instructors of all levels at Duke to find information about opportunities for funding, training, consulting, mentoring, and educational research.

There have been a lot of changes to learning technologies at Duke recently. We summarized the changes, answered some frequently asked questions about the new Conversations tool in Sakai, and reviewed how you can format accessible content with Sakai’s new text editor. And ICYMI: Hypothes.is is still available (with the Sakai integration) this year.

Crafting Effective Writing Assignments
Monday, September 13, 10 - 11:30 am EDT
How you articulate a writing task can have a large impact on what your students do and what they learn. Topics for this session include setting expectations, selecting an appropriate genre and audience for student writing, helping students identify a meaningful and manageable writing project. Hosted by the Thompson Writing Program's Writing in the Discipline as part of their Fall 2021 pedagogy workshop series.
Register Here

Holding Your Class Outdoors at Duke Gardens (IN-PERSON EVENT)
Thursday, September 16, 10 - 11:30 am EDT
Hear about past & ongoing collaborations and consider how you can use Duke Gardens in your class for COVID precautions, sharing course content in a new way, and enjoying some natural beauty as you enjoy a tour of our space.
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Effective Use of Video in Teaching and Learning
Thursday, September 16, 3 - 4 pm EDT
Learn how to effectively use video in your instructional role. We’ll explore options for creating video with a focus on Panopto. This includes providing feedback to students and creating knowledge checks (assessments) to facilitate learning. We'll also share best practices for recording video. This workshop is part of the Teaching Assistant (TA) Training Series but is open to all with an interest in using video in teaching and learning.
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Conducting an Inclusive Class (Inclusive Teaching Series, #2)
Friday, September 17, 10 - 11 am EDT
How do you set a tone for respect and inclusion in your course? How do you create class activities that increase learning and engagement for everyone? How do you build trust with your students to maintain an equitable course for all learners and support your students when difficulties arise? In this session of our Fall series on inclusive teaching, we will look at best practices and share ideas to make your class engaging and centered on student needs.
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Conducting Research on Teaching and Learning at Duke
Wednesday, September 22, 1 - 2 pm EDT
Duke Learning Innovation supports faculty members and course support staff who want to conduct research on teaching and learning ranging from projects that evaluate tools and pedagogies to complex learning science analyses. This workshop will provide an overview of how to get started with teaching research and how Learning Innovation experts can help you along the way. Topics covered include developing your research questions, obtaining IRB approvals, collecting and managing data, and publishing your results.
Register Here

We have many more events scheduled to help you with teaching, using educational technology, and more, so be sure to check out the full calendar.

Do you want to reconnect with what called you to medicine in the first place, and find ways to align your daily work with your calling as a Christian physician? “Intentional Practice for Christian Physicians” (October 24 – November 21, 2021) is a 4-week learning experience designed with the working, Christian physician in mind. This course is eligible for 10.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s).

We will soon be announcing our 2021-2022 cohort of Bass Digital Education Fellows, but first here’s a look back on the great work of last year’s Fellows: the Spotlight Series is a collection of their presentations along with summaries about their work.