Newsletter (September 2025)

Fall Retreat | Navigating Challenges & Finding Common Ground: Teaching & Learning in Divided Times

Friday, 3 October, 9–11:30 am, DeLuca Forum (WID) & online | REGISTER

In an era of polarization, technological change, and evolving communication landscapes, how can educators foster genuine listening, bridge differences, and help students connect across diverse perspectives, disciplines, and experiences? Join us to reflect and build practices that foster resilience and reaffirm the vitality of education in divided times.

Panelists include:

• Lynn Glueck, Program Director, The Discussion Project & the UW-Madison Deliberation Dinners
• Carol Spoehr, PhD Candidate, Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education
• Travis Wright, Faculty Director, Morgridge Center for Public Service & Associate Professor, Counseling Psychology

Questions about the Retreat? Want to volunteer?
Contact Dan Pell: dan.pell@wisc.edu

Web Resource for Instructors Working with TAs

• Compiled by the L&S TA Training & Support Team, this Web Resource for Instructors Working with TAs provides practical tips, instructor examples, and templates to help instructors work effectively with TAs throughout the semester.
• Questions about these TA Resources?
  Contact Lynn Prost lprost@wisc.edu

Language Institute | Fall Workshops & Townhalls

• Sustaining and Strengthening Less Commonly Taught Languages (LCTLs) in the Big Ten in Precarious Times: A Grassroots Town Hall

  Friday, 10 October, 2–3:15 pm | LEARN MORE & REGISTER
  This grassroots town hall meeting is for faculty, instructional staff, advisors, and administrators at Big Ten universities who teach, support, or advocate for programs in less commonly taught and Indigenous languages (LCTLs) to come together to share innovative program models, information about institutional strengths, and interests in forming new inter-institutional partnerships to strengthen LCTL programs.

• Connect and Share: Instructional Projects with AI

  Wednesday, 15 October, 11 am-noon | LEARN MORE & REGISTER
  A panel with recipients of Language Institute Spring 2025 instructional awards to share the outcomes of projects to pilot instructional activities or develop materials using generative AI

• AI and Questionable Research Practices: Ethical Considerations for Authors, Journal Editors, and Reviewers

  Thursday, 6 November, 11:30 am-12:30 pm | LEARN MORE & REGISTER
  A brown bag for UW-Madison researchers led by Luke Plonsky, Northern Arizona University

• What Do you Mean by ‘Questionable’? The Ethics of Study Quality in Applied Linguistics

  Thursday, 6 November, 2025, 3-4 pm | LEARN MORE & RSVP
  Invited lecture by Luke Plonsky, Northern Arizona University

• Questions about the Language Institute?
  Contact Jana Martin jcmartin4@wisc.edu

Sustainability Education Event

Thursday, 25 September, 3–4:30 pm, 311 Wendt Commons | REGISTER

• For faculty and staff who teach about sustainability:
  • Learn about sustainability through the lens of education from peer professionals.
  • Connect with other sustainability educators.

  Questions about the Event?
  Contact Andrea Hicks, hicks5@wisc.edu

WISCIENCE Teaching Fellows | Applications Now Open

• Scientific Teaching Fellows
  Applications open: 15 September-10 November | LEARN MORE
  Virtual info sessions: Join 7 October, 1230–115pm | Join 5 November, 10–10:45 am

  Are you a grad student or postdoc in STEM pursuing a career that includes college-level teaching? If so, we have two unique, year-long professional development programs that offer in-depth training and hands-on experience with inclusive, evidence-based teaching.

• Madison College Teaching Fellows
  Applications open: 15 September – 10 November | LEARN MORE
  Virtual info sessions: Join 18 September, 2:30-3:30 pm | Join 13 October, 11 am-noon

  For those interested in teaching biology, chemistry, physics, math, or computer science. Get in-depth training and hands-on experience instructing a 4-credit course at Madison College.

• Questions about WISCIENCE?
  Contact Brigitte Boucher brboucher@wisc.edu

The Discussion Project

• REGISTER for The Discussion Project in person courses in January 2026.

  The Discussion Project is a professional learning course to support instructors in designing, implementing, and facilitating high-quality classroom discussion. The course is designed to support instructors teaching classes of up to 40 students although many instructors who teach large classes have taken the course and found it effective for considering how to run interactive lectures and how best to prepare their TAs to run effective discussion sections.

  In Person Cohort Dates:

  • January 7, 8, 9, 830am–430pm in Merit Library, Teacher Education Building, Room 350 (for Faculty & Academic Staff)
  • January 13, 14, 15, 830am–430pm in Educational Sciences, Room 259 (for Faculty & Academic Staff)
  • January 13, 14, 15, 830am–430pm in Merit Library, Teacher Education Building, Room 350 (for Graduate Student Teaching Assistants)
• REGISTER for The Discussion Project Virtual, which starts in early February 2026.

  A free online course, The Discussion Project Virtual supports UW-Madison instructors and leaders in designing and implementing high quality discussion. The focus of the course is online synchronous video conference discussion, and the skills are also relevant and transferable to in-person teaching and facilitating discussions in meetings.

  Virtual Cohort Dates:

  • Wednesdays, 1PM-3PM CST: 2/4, 2/11, 2/18, 2/25, 3/3, 3/11, 3/18
  • Each Wednesday Zoom session is preceded by 1 hour of asynchronous work in Canvas.
• Questions about the Discussion Project?
  Contact discussion-project@education.wisc.edu

Have something to share? Academy members work in diverse roles and learning environments across our university. If you have news, events, training, or opportunities you would like to share with the Academy, contact Dan Pell & Sarah Pultorak  editor-uwta-newsletter@g-groups.wisc.edu Messages received by the second Monday of the month may be included in that month’s newsletter.

Searching for Academic Staff & Graduate Co-Chairs 

The Executive Committee (ExComm) of the Teaching Academy seeks to fill multiple leadership positions:

• Graduate Student (Future Faculty Partner) Co-Chair
• Graduate Student (FFP) Executive Committee Members
• Faculty Executive Committee Member

The Co-Chairs of the Academy are Faculty, Academic Staff and Graduate Students who share an equal role in leading and setting the agenda for meetings. Co-Chairs typically serve 2-year terms and help build relationships, uphold the Mission and Bylaws, and guide the direction of the Academy.

The UW-Madison Teaching Academy Executive Committee is composed of elected Fellows and Future Faculty Partners who actively work towards the betterment of teaching and learning. Academic Staff and Faculty are typically chosen from existing members of the ExComm. Graduate Students may join as an FFP and directly take the position of Co-Chair. Elections will be held in the weeks before the Fall semester. | LEARN MORE

Questions? Interested in applying?
Contact the ExComm teachingacademy@wisc.edu

Teaching at UW | LEARN MORE & REGISTER

Expand your teaching horizons with time-saving tips and evidence-based strategies for developing critical thinking, creating authentic assessments, and more.

The Reflection Space | LEARN MORE | JOIN

Join to receive thought-provoking writing prompts throughout the semester and reflect on your teaching and your students’ learning. Engage with other UW–Madison instructors by reading their insights and sharing your own.

Exploring AI In Teaching | LEARN MORE & REGISTER

Whether or not you plan to use AI in your course, these programs will help you understand its capabilities and limitations while considering potential applications.

Enhancing Online Education | LEARN MORE & REGISTER

This series offers specialized support for online and hybrid instructors with developing course materials, course management, and more.

If you’re looking for a different kind of engagement or instructional support, please contact CTLM with your request – we look forward to working with you! To learn more about these programs or to register, visit the CTLM’s Professional Development Opportunities.

Workshop for Planners of Continuing Education for Clinicians

Tuesday, 9 December, 3:30-5 pm, G5/152 Clinical Sciences Center (CSC) | REGISTER
The UW-Madison Interprofessional Continuing Education Partnership (UW-Madison ICEP) offers “Planning with Artificial Intelligence, Teaching with Integrity: Strategies for Continuing Education Planner.” This in-person workshop develops continuing education planning skills using practical artificial intelligence prompts for all aspects of educational design, including documenting practice gaps and learning needs, writing measurable objectives, and mitigating bias and conflict of interest.

UWSMPH Education Scholarship Retreat

Wednesday, 29 October, noon–4:30 pm, Health Sciences Learning Center | REGISTER
The Office for Faculty Affairs and Development offers Education Scholarship Retreat. This annual event explores topics in education scholarship and provides an opportunity to learn, network, ask questions, and share experiences. This year a keynote speaker will address generative artificial intelligence—a theme that will be carried across other sessions.

Clinical Teacher Learning Community | Articles for Discussion

Participate in discussion of articles featured in the Clinical Teacher Learning Community. Topics include learner assessment, precision education, serious games, and medical education and artificial intelligence. This online community also offers connections, news, and resources for clinical teachers. | LEARN MORE

Courses | Education Essentials

Education Essentials is a collection of 7 modules aimed at developing key skills for all interprofessional health science teachers, in various teaching settings. Registration is free and these courses can be completed at your own pace. | REGISTER

Funding Opportunity 

Letters of Intent DUE: Monday, 1 December | LEARN MORE & APPLY
The Society for Academic Continuing Medical Education (SACME) issued the call for proposals for the Phil R. Manning Research Award in Continuing Professional Development. Funding up to $50,000 is available over two years for research projects addressing topics important to the field of continuing professional development/continuing education of healthcare professionals.

Explore

• Clinical Teacher Learning Community
• SMPH Faculty Central
• University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education (UW CIPE)

Questions? Topics you would like to see? Announcements for the next issue?
Contact Marianna Shershneva marianna.shershneva@wisc.edu

Now is the perfect time to honor a colleague or nominate yourself!

For over 30 years, the Academy’s mission has been to promote, recognize and support excellence in teaching and learning among faculty, staff and students across campus and beyond. The Teaching Academy welcomes nominees who work in traditional classrooms, clinical practice, field instruction, or instructional support.

There are three types of membership: Future Faculty Partner (FFP), Fellow, and Clinical Affiliate. Learn how to become a Member.

Questions about membership?  Are you an FFP who has moved on to another position in the University?
Contact uwta-membership@g-groups.wisc.edu

Fall and Winter Retreats

Join the Retreat Planning Committee to organize & facilitate campus-wide teaching development events.
Contact Dan Pell dan.pell@wisc.edu

Members+ Events

The Members+ Committee seeking Fellows who are interested in organizing one-per-semester roundtable discussions among members and guests on issues surrounding teaching & learning.
Contact Claire Barrett claire.barrett@wisc.edu

Newsletter

Have ideas or events to contribute? Want to add someone to the mailing list?
Contact Sarah Pultorak & Dan Pell editor-uwta-newsletter@g-groups.wisc.edu

Membership Committee 

The Membership Committee seeks Fellows (Faculty & Academic Staff) and FFPs to help review nominations. Honor great campus educators & promote excellence by helping to review nominations.
Contact uwta-membership@g-groups.wisc.edu

U-CLaSS 

Take part in U-CLaSS sessions to explore teaching and learning from the student perspective.
Contact jamie.henke@wisc.edu