Instructors at an event working with sticky notes.

Events, Workshops, and Communities

WMU Teaching and Learning hosts a variety of events and communities throughout the academic year. These opportunities are geared toward instructors, graduate assistants, and any others involved in creating learning experiences at Western Michigan University. Can't make it to an event? No problem! Check out our past event archive, which includes materials shared during the session and/or a session recording.

Do you not see what you are looking for here, or would you like a training or event more specific to your needs? 

Our team is available to come to a department or group meeting to facilitate specific or targeted teaching and learning training. Reach out and let us know what challenges you are hoping to solve for instructors, learners, or both and we can support you by connecting you with resources and facilitating conversations around curriculum, course design, or instructional best practices. These can be single meetings or extended workshops depending on your goals.  

Contact the Teaching and Learning Team to discuss your needs.

Upcoming Events

Office of Faculty Development

New Part-Time/Professional Instructor Orientation

Date:  Friday, August 15     Time:  12:30 p.m.      Location: Hybrid

WMU welcomes all new part-time/professional instructors to attend New Part-Time Instructor Orientation. There is an in-person and virtual option for this orientation. During this event, you’ll receive information about your position, the PIO contract, WMU teaching and learning resources, and be able to ask questions. Co-hosted by the Office of Faculty Development and the Professional Instructors Organization. Participants attending the in-person event will be offered lunch. For more information, please refer to the sign-up form. All new part-time instructors should have received a personalized email.

Course Design and Development

Preparing for a New Semester: Functional Course Design and Start-Up Checklists

Date:  Thursday, August 21     Time:  11:30 a.m.      Location: Online

Join us for a 30-minute session focused on using two helpful checklists to support you in preparing for a new semester. We'll review the Functional Course Design Checklist, which helps you evaluate your course from a learner's perspective to improve navigation, access, and interaction, as well as the Semester Start Checklist, which provides an organized approach to common preparation tasks and resources—hosted by Instructional Design & Development. Faculty, instructors, and graduate teaching assistants are encouraged to attend. 

Course Design and Development

The WMU Syllabus Template

Date:  Thursday, August 21     Time:  12:30 p.m.      Location: Online

In this 30-minute mini-session, we take you on a tour of the accessible, ready-to-customize WMU syllabus template and also help you think about developing a course plan that results in a reasonable workload for you and your students—hosted by Instructional Design and Development. Faculty, instructors, and graduate teaching assistants are encouraged to attend. 

Interactive Learning

Ask Me Anything: Creating an Interactive & Engaging Classroom

Date:  Thursday, August 21     Time:  1:00 p.m.      Location: Online

This 30-minute session will focus on the act of “meeting students where they are.” Their tools, interests, and culture deeply affect engagement and retention within the classroom, which means that instructors should be willing to adapt and engage with students in new and innovative ways. We will discuss the use of pop culture to expand engagement and retention, and have a dialogue surrounding students’ use of AI both within the classroom and outside of it. Hosted by Katie Marshall Holland, faculty fellow in the Office of Faculty Development. Faculty, instructors, and graduate teaching assistants are encouraged to attend. 

Office of Faculty Development

Incorporating Wellness Resources into your Course

Date:  Thursday, August 21     Time:  1:30 p.m.      Location: Online

In this session, presenters share the current framework and strategic plan for being a health-promoting campus and advancing the well-being of people, places, and the planet at WMU. This model calls to action the whole campus community, including faculty and instructors. We will explore ways you can contribute to advancing well-being in your courses.  Faculty, instructors, and graduate teaching assistants are encouraged to attend. Members of the Well-Being Collective lead the session - Dr. Lillian Upton Smith, Dean of the College of Health & Human Services, and Cari Robertson, Director, Health Promotion and Education. 

Office of Faculty Development 

Special Session for Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA) My Place in the Classroom: Building Community and Fostering Positive Connections with Students

Date:  Friday, August 22     Time:  11 a.m.      Location: Online

GTAs: this workshop is designed specifically with you in mind, exploring how you can build an equitable classroom community that engages students while valuing their contributions and potential. We will talk about being purposeful in how you position yourself as a leader and collaborator in a variety of learning environments. While this session will be primarily activity-based, we will also share resources that will help you apply pedagogical theory to your future student interactions. Join Dr. Meghann Meeusen, faculty fellow in the Office of Faculty Development, for this engaging session. 

Meeting Students Where They Are

Mentoring Undergrads: Connect with Students and Connect Students to Extended Support Systems

Date:  Friday, August 22     Time:  12 p.m.      Location: Online

While faculty workloads can make student mentoring, relationship building, and retention efforts feel daunting, there are steps we can implement in four important spaces (our classrooms, our offices, our departments, and our communities) that develop expanding systems of support around students. Learning about our students while also facilitating their connections to scaffolding available from faculty colleagues, our institution as a whole, and even our communities increases the strength of the bonds that sustain academic and personal growth.  Implementing small changes in current practices can go a long way toward helping students feel supported, understood, and able to thrive. Hosted by Dr. Adrienne Redding, faculty fellow in the Office of Faculty Development. Faculty, instructors, and graduate teaching assistants are encouraged to attend. 

Course Design and Development

Design Considerations in the Age of AI

Date:  Friday, August 22     Time:  1:30 p.m.      Location: Online

Join us for a 30-minute session where we discuss some design considerations for courses in the age of AI. This session will explore how instructors can address AI in their classrooms. We will begin by examining both faculty and student perspectives on generative AI tools, then discuss practical approaches for developing clear course policies that distinguish between appropriate AI use and academic dishonesty. Rather than focusing solely on detection or restriction, we will explore how to redesign assignments through strategies such as incorporating reflections, peer-review activities, and scaffolded assignments. There will be time to ask questions after the 30-minute time block. Hosted by the Office of Faculty Development and the Instructional Design & Development. Faculty, instructors, and graduate teaching assistants are encouraged to attend. 

Elearning Fundamentals

Elearning Fundamentals Part I: Setting up Your Homepage & Building Modules and Content

Date:  Monday, August 25     Time:  1 p.m.      Location: Online

Our Elearning Fundamental workshops are perfect for anyone looking to build or expand their knowledge of Elearning. These sessions cover the essentials across a range of topics, helping you create a welcoming and functional online space that enhances teaching and learning.

Whether you're teaching online, hybrid, or in-person courses, these workshops are designed to support all modalities. Attend one session, or join us for the entire series—it's up to you!

Our goal is to help you connect with your students and make the teaching experience more engaging and enjoyable.​ 

Elearning Fundamentals

Elearning Fundamentals for Students

Date:  Tuesday, August 26     Time:  11 a.m.      Location: Online

The Elearning Fundamentals for Students workshop is designed for any student who wants to learn how to use Elearning effectively.

We'll guide you through the basic areas in Elearning that you may encounter in your courses, such as discussions, dropboxes, gradebook, groups, and the content area. Whether your classes are online or in person, this workshop will help you make the most of Elearning. Each session covers the same material, so you only need to sign up for one.

Join us to build your Elearning skills and set yourself up for success!

Elearning Fundamentals

Elearning Fundamentals Part II: Creating Discussions & Dropboxes

Date:  Tuesday, August 26     Time:  1 p.m.      Location: Online

Our Elearning Fundamental workshops are perfect for anyone looking to build or expand their knowledge of Elearning. These sessions cover the essentials across a range of topics, helping you create a welcoming and functional online space that enhances teaching and learning.

Whether you're teaching online, hybrid, or in-person courses, these workshops are designed to support all modalities. Attend one session, or join us for the entire series—it's up to you!

Our goal is to help you connect with your students and make the teaching experience more engaging and enjoyable.

Elearning Fundamentals

Elearning Fundamentals for Students

Date:  Tuesday, August 26     Time:  3 p.m.      Location: Online

The Elearning Fundamentals for Students workshop is designed for any student who wants to learn how to use Elearning effectively.

We'll guide you through the basic areas in Elearning that you may encounter in your courses, such as discussions, dropboxes, gradebook, groups, and the content area. Whether your classes are online or in person, this workshop will help you make the most of Elearning. Each session covers the same material, so you only need to sign up for one.

Join us to build your Elearning skills and set yourself up for success!

Elearning Fundamentals

Elearning Fundamentals Part III: Quizzes & Quick Eval

Date:  Wednesday, August 27     Time:  1 p.m.      Location: Online

Our Elearning Fundamental workshops are perfect for anyone looking to build or expand their knowledge of Elearning. These sessions cover the essentials across a range of topics, helping you create a welcoming and functional online space that enhances teaching and learning.

Whether you're teaching online, hybrid, or in-person courses, these workshops are designed to support all modalities. Attend one session, or join us for the entire series—it's up to you!

Our goal is to help you connect with your students and make the teaching experience more engaging and enjoyable.

Elearning Fundamentals

Elearning Fundamentals Part IV: Gradebook

Date:  Thursday, August 28     Time:  1 p.m.      Location: Online

Our Elearning Fundamental workshops are perfect for anyone looking to build or expand their knowledge of Elearning. These sessions cover the essentials across a range of topics, helping you create a welcoming and functional online space that enhances teaching and learning.

Whether you're teaching online, hybrid, or in-person courses, these workshops are designed to support all modalities. Attend one session, or join us for the entire series—it's up to you!

Our goal is to help you connect with your students and make the teaching experience more engaging and enjoyable.

Elearning Fundamentals

Elearning Fundamentals for Students

Date:  Friday, August 29     Time:  10 a.m.      Location: Online

The Elearning Fundamentals for Students workshop is designed for any student who wants to learn how to use Elearning effectively.

We'll guide you through the basic areas in Elearning that you may encounter in your courses, such as discussions, dropboxes, gradebook, groups, and the content area. Whether your classes are online or in person, this workshop will help you make the most of Elearning. Each session covers the same material, so you only need to sign up for one.

Join us to build your Elearning skills and set yourself up for success!

Elearning Fundamentals

Elearning Fundamentals Condensed

Date:  Friday, August 29     Time:  1 p.m.      Location: Online

Couldn't join us earlier this week now is the time to get a crash course in Elearning. The ITC will cover a overview of Elearning including homepages, discussions, gradebook, quizzes and dropboxes.