Why Workshops?

Instructors are always seeking ways to expand their current skill sets and increase engagement in the learning space. Workshops offer a great opportunity for instructors to see pedagogical practices in action, test-drive technology tools, engage in reflective practices focused on teaching effectiveness, exchange ideas, and gain feedback from colleagues. The Grove Center offers a variety of workshops that span a range of contexts and audiences, from disciplinary specific to interdisciplinary and from novice to more-experienced instructors.

Teaching and Learning Workshops

Since 2012, the center has hosted over 100 workshops on research-based teaching practices that include curricular design, student engagement, creating instructional teams, using technology to increase student learning, creating an inclusive syllabus, and instructor reflection to annual reporting, to name a few. The topics chosen for workshops come from instructor requests and have been developed for interdisciplinary and department-specific audiences. Our workshop audiences include faculty, postdocs, graduate students, learning assistants, and staff. We partner with our Grove Center colleagues in the college and demonstrate authentic strategies used in our classrooms. If an instructor, administrator, or instructional support staff member would like to collaborate on creating a workshop, the Grove Center team is available to support the development and facilitation of the experience.

Our Workshops

Sprout: Teaching Readiness Workshop 

A half-day workshop for those getting ready to go into a Penn State classroom for the first time or for those that want a quick refresher on effective teaching strategies. This workshop is offered the week before the start of the fall semester and covers topics ranging from student motivation, engaging students in the classroom, available resources and Penn State teaching related policies.  Our aim is to increase your confidence in the classroom and to provide suggestions that are easily implemented in your teaching practices. 

Evidence Based Teaching Academy (EBTA)

The Evidence-Based Teaching Academy (EBTA) is an annual weeklong academy that focuses on introducing and modeling research-based teaching and learning practices in STEM education. This experience was developed for novice and experienced instructors and has an embedded project component that leads participants through the process of editing a specific aspect of a current course they will be teaching soon.

Ethics

The Ethics Workshop is a weeklong program that equips faculty with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to integrate ethical analysis into their courses, thereby strengthening students’ professional development. Participants receive a concise introduction to key ethical theories and explore topics relevant to Penn State Eberly College of Science faculty and their students. The workshop highlights practical, effective teaching strategies for incorporating ethics into classroom instruction.​

Who should participate

The organizers aim to include one faculty representative from each department. Any faculty member who is committed to enhancing course materials by building and integrating ethical analysis into their teaching is encouraged to participate.​
 

Midweek Sparks

Summer series to spark your imagination and teaching. These are developed in response to current needs.

Course Prep Bootcamp

Coming soon.

How to Schedule a Workshop

Please contact our team for more information about creating a workshop and check our calendar for details on previous and upcoming workshops.