Events, Workshops, and Communities
WMUx 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 WMUx Teaching and Learning Team to discuss your needs.
Upcoming Events
Jan 2
1 p.m.
Elearning Fundamentals
Elearning Fundamentals Part I: Setting up Your Homepage & Building Modules and Content
Date: Thursday, January 2 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.
Expertise Level: Beginner
Jan 3
10 a.m.
Elearning Fundamentals
Elearning Fundamentals for Students
Date: Friday, January 3 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!
Expertise Level: Beginner
Jan 3
1 p.m.
Elearning Fundamentals
Elearning Fundamentals Part II: Creating Discussions & Dropboxes
Date: Friday, January 3 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.
Expertise Level: Beginner
Jan 3
3 p.m.
Elearning Fundamentals
Elearning Fundamentals for Students
Date: Friday, January 3 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!
Expertise Level: Beginner
Jan 6
11 a.m.
Elearning Fundamentals
Elearning Fundamentals for Students
Date: Monday, January 6 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!
Expertise Level: Beginner
Jan 6
1 p.m.
Elearning Fundamentals
Elearning Fundamentals Part III: Quizzes & Quick Eval
Date: Monday, January 6 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.
Expertise Level: Beginner
Jan 7
12 p.m.
Course Design and Development
Semester Start Checklist
Date: Tuesday, January 7 Time: 12 p.m. Location: Online
Semester Start Checklist - Teaching Your First Semester at WMU? Been here before, but redesigning a new or existing course? Join WMUx Instructional Design for a 30-minute Ask Me Anything (AMA) Session where they will share their Semester Start Checklist, highlight key resources for managing the semester, and answer your questions. Note: A recording will not be available online due to the format and focus of this session.
Jan 7
1 p.m.
Elearning Fundamentals
Elearning Fundamentals Part IV: Gradebook
Date: Tuesday, January 7 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.
Expertise Level: Beginner
Jan 14
1 p.m.
Elearning Fundamentals
What's New in Mediasite
Date: Tuesday, January 14 Time: 1 p.m. Location: Online
Mediasite has been recently updated with new features and improved ways to integrate videos into Elearning. Join the ITC to explore these exciting features and learn how they can enhance your courses.
Jan 23
12 p.m.
Career Focus
Fulbright Opportunities for WMU Faculty
Date: Thursday, January 23 Time: 12 p.m. Location: Online
Learn more about Fulbright opportunities for faculty from the WMU Scholar Liaison, Dr. Michelle Metro-Roland. The Scholar Program provides opportunities in 140+ countries for faculty to spend 4-12 months teaching and/or researching. The Specialist Program sends faculty abroad to consult in their areas of expertise on short term projects lasting 2-6 weeks. This event is co-hosted by the WMUx Office of Faculty Development and the Haenicke Institute for Global Education.
Jan 23
1:30 p.m.
A Humanizing Pedagogy of Engagement: Practical Ideas for Educators
Date: Thursday, January 23 Time: 1:30 p.m. Location: Online
As part of WMU's campus wide Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration, we invite you to join the Office of Faculty Development and the Walker Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnic Relations for a virtual discussion exploring humanizing pedagogy and its practical applications in higher education. Dr. Bianca Nightengale-Lee will share insights from her work in humanizing pedagogy, connecting these principles to Dr. King's educational vision and contemporary teaching practices. Participants in this interactive session are invited to read the short article linked below before the discussion. During the session, we provide a facilitated space for participants to share experiences and develop practical strategies for implementing humanizing pedagogy.
Jan 29
12 p.m.
AI @ WMU
How to Create an AI Intelligent Agent for Your Course
Date: Wednesday, January 29 Time: 12 p.m. Location: Online
Join WMUx AI Graduate Fellow Enas Aref as she takes you through the step-by-step process to create an intelligent agent for your course and gives you the chance to try out an intelligent agent she has developed. After the session, participants can sign up for office hours with Enas to work on their own intelligent agents.
Feb 5
12 p.m.
Course Design and Development
Rubric Design
Date: Wednesday, February 5 Time: 12 p.m. Location: Online
New to rubric design or looking for a fresh approach? Join WMUx Instructional Design Team for a 30-minute Ask Me Anything (AMA) session where they will discuss strategies for designing rubrics that are aligned with learning goals, clarify expectations, and provide actionable feedback. Note: A recording will not be available online due to the format and focus of this session.
Feb 20
12 p.m.
AI @ WMU
“The University and the Algorithmic Gaze:" A talk by Dr. Lesley Gourlay
Date: Thursday, February 20 Time: 12 p.m. Location: Online
A professor in the Institute of Education on Culture, Communication & Media at University College, London, UK, Dr. Gourlay focuses on the ways in which digital data and algorithms are changing the face of higher education. She will examine their impact at both the macro scale of universities and systems worldwide, but also at the more subtle level of effects on academics and students, focusing on the day-to-day life of the university, examining how the digital is changing the way that we communicate, learn, and create new knowledge. In particular, she will explore the role of 'big data' and learning analytics, in addition to focusing on areas of academic life not normally considered to be part of datafication, such as the physical structures of surveillance on campus and the ways in which systems of 'quality' in research can morph into regimes of surveillance and algorithmic discipline.
In early February 2025, Dr. Gourlay’s open access book, The University and the Algorithmic Gaze will be released by Bloomsbury Academic.
Mar 11
12 p.m.
Course Design and Development
Designing Inclusive Courses
Date: Tuesday, March 11 Time: 12 p.m. Location: Online
Join the WMUx Instructional Design Team for a 30-minute Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on inclusive course design considerations. Topics will include setting classroom expectations, selecting accessible course content, and implementing inclusive design strategies. Bring your questions and let us help you make your classroom a welcoming space for all students. Note: A recording will not be available online due to the format and focus of this session.
Apr 16
12 p.m.
Course Design and Development
Preparing for Fall Now - Using Course Data to Inform Redesign
Date: Wednesday, April 16 Time: 12 p.m. Location: Online
Join WMUx Instructional Design for a 30-minute Ask Me Anything (AMA) Session about using data from previous courses to support iterative course design. In this brief session, IDs will highlight some easy ways to collect actionable data to support improved teaching and learning experiences. Note: A recording will not be available online due to the format and focus of this session.