Events

March

This will be a hands-on time learning some advanced Qualtrics techniques. We will work on topics such as building a consent form the right way, creating anonymized raffle, and screen-out management using the Embedded Data technique. In partnership with Cook Library.

Generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot are already shaping how students learn—but many faculty are left wondering what appropriate use actually looks like in their own courses. This interactive workshop helps instructors move beyond vague or one-size-fits-all AI policies and instead connect AI expectations directly to their pedagogical values and learning objectives. Through hands-on activities, real-world examples, and guided reflection, participants will explore common student AI use cases, clarify what is acceptable (and why), and leave with practical tools—including sample syllabus language and an editable decision matrix—to create clear, defensible, and student-centered AI syllabus policies. Intended Audience & Skill Level: This workshop is designed for faculty across disciplines. No technical background is required. Discussion will focus on pedagogy, learning goals, and classroom decision-making rather than AI mechanics. 

Lunch will be provided. Laptops encouraged.

Preparation & What to Bring: No advance preparation is required. Participants are encouraged to bring a syllabus (or a course in mind) and be ready to reflect on their learning objectives and teaching values. 

April

Generative AI can feel overwhelming, ethically fraught, or simply like one more thing to learn - especially for faculty already stretched thin. This hands-on, beginner-friendly workshop is designed for instructors with little or no experience using AI who are curious, skeptical, or unsure where (or whether) it fits into their professional lives. Rather than focusing on student use or academic integrity debates, the session reframes AI as a low-risk productivity assistant that can support everyday academic work. Participants will explore what Microsoft Copilot can (and cannot) do within Microsoft 365 and practice using it for practical, time-saving tasks such as summarizing emails and meetings, drafting rubrics or quiz questions, creating slides from notes, and streamlining feedback and professional communication. Through guided practice, real-time experimentation, and structured reflection, faculty will build confidence with effective prompting, identify tasks where AI feels helpful versus risky, and consider how AI might support their own workflows, without changing their teaching or values. Participants will leave with concrete takeaways, including prompt templates and a quick-start guide, to continue experimenting at their own pace. 

Intended Audience & Skill Level: This workshop is designed for Towson University faculty with little to no prior experience using generative AI tools. It is especially well suited for instructors who feel skeptical, uncertain, or overwhelmed by AI, as well as those curious about whether AI has any practical relevance to their daily academic work. No prior knowledge of AI, prompt writing, or Microsoft Copilot is expected. 

Preparation & What to Bring: Participants should bring a laptop or tablet with access to their Towson University Microsoft 365 account. No advance preparation is required. Faculty are welcome (but not required) to bring a teaching or workflow artifact such as an assignment description, rubric, lecture notes, email, or meeting notes if they would like to experiment with applying Copilot to their own materials during the session.

In this interactive session, faculty will explore how AI can support an accessibility-first mindset in course design and content creation. After a brief demo of select tools, participants will share successes, challenges, and open questions around using AI to remediate materials and reduce barriers for learners and build more inclusive learning experiences. Register to join the conversation and share your AI remediation workflow! 

Join fellow TSEM instructors as they share how the pedagogical choices we make in our seminars like active learning, iterative feedback, and sustained faculty-student interaction align with what educational researchers call "high-impact practices" (HIPs). These evidence-based approaches have been shown to boost student engagement and success. This session offers a chance to approach TSEM teaching through a new lens and discover how intentional instructional design choices can amplify the impact of the first-year seminar experience as a HIP. 

Join us for this semester’s CURE Community of Practice (CoP) meeting. The session will feature a panel of faculty who have published scholarly work on their Course‑Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs).

We will also engage in discussion about how CUREs should be defined at TU and explore future directions for CURE CoP leadership. Lunch will be provided.

Join the High Impact Practice Community of Practice for lunch and a focused workshop marking the midpoint of Towson University’s 2020–2030 strategic vision. This session will provide a concise update on the current High-Impact Practices (HIPs) landscape at TU, highlighting strengths, gaps, and participation trends that impact student learning and degree completion. The workshop will also launch Degree Boost, a new platform to encourage student engagement in HIPs-based programming in both curricular and co-curricular areas, highlighting career readiness competencies. Through guided discussion, participants will explore opportunities within their own units and identify next steps for advancing high-impact learning at TU.

Past Events

ACCESSIBILITY
Accessible by Design: Creating Inclusive PowerPoint Presentations  Panopto 

(00:44:24 Video)

Accessibility in Action: Captioning and Transcription Tools You Already Have Panopto (00:50:06 video)
TEaching
Making Group Work Work: M365 + Bb Collaboration!  Panopto Video (00:46:59)
VoiceThread: Engaging Discussions Panopto Video (00:45:39)
Integrating AI Components into Course Syllabi and Assignments  Panopto (01:23:03 video)
Creating a Culture of Care in the Classroom Panopto Video (00:51:16)
The Power of Pause: Strengthening Student Wellbeing with Check-ins  Panopto Video (00:51:10)
Care and Connections: Empowering Students with Wellbeing Practices and Resources Panopto Video (00:54:53)
REsearch & Scholarship
Launching a Research Program at TU  Panopto (00:55:00 video)
Mentoring Award-Winning Students  Panopto (01:00:06 video)