SoTL

The Abbot SoTL Lab (ALL)
The Abbot SoTL Lab seeks student co-researchers interested in learning more about SoTL and Student-Faculty Partnerships this Spring 2026. We will spend the spring semester conducting a scoping review of the reflective writing that has been published in the International Journal for Students as Partners in preparation for an article in honor of the journal’s 10 year anniversary. This is an excellent opportunity for students new to SoTL to learn more about the field, participate in an authentic research and co-writing experience, and have the opportunity to add a publication (and possible presentation) to their growing CVs.

Application Deadline: Friday, January 30th
Time: TBD
Location: TBD
Application & More Information

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SoTL Community of Practice (ALL)
The SoTL Community of Practice is for any instructor–full-time, part-time, or graduate!–to come together to share ideas for and/or current projects in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. Collectively, we will share resources, troubleshoot challenges, and provide mutual support and accountability for folks who are interested in exploring or currently embarking on SoTL research.

Date: Meets every other week on Tuesdays, beginning Jan. 27th. The last meeting will be on April 21st.
Time: 12:30pm – 1:30pm
Location: In-person, Tyler Hall Rm. 225
Registration & More Information

Classroom Instruction

Adult Learning Strategies for Today’s College Classroom (ALL)
How can you design learning experiences that effectively support young college students on their path to becoming self-directed adult learners? In this interactive one-hour workshop, participants will explore the key principles of adult learning and discover clear, practical strategies for supporting students’ growing autonomy, motivation, and responsibility. You’ll leave with adaptable tools and activities you can use immediately to foster more engaged, self-directed learners in any discipline.

Date: February 4th & February 5th 
Time: 2/4 from 2:30pm – 3:30pm & 2/5 from 11:00am – Noon
Location: Zoom
Registration & More Information
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AI Teaching Circles (ALL)
Join an AI teaching circle this spring if you are interested in exploring ways to use AI in your classroom. Fill out the registration form and ATL will match you with one to two colleagues and together you can navigate the ever-changing AI landscape. Past teaching circle participants explored the ethical integration of AI in assignments and teaching students disciplinary uses of AI while others experimented with available tools. It can be difficult to find the time to keep up with AI. A teaching circle is a great way to be efficient with your time while also connecting with colleagues. Deadline to apply: January 20th at 5:00pm

Optional Meeting Dates: Jan. 30, Feb. 27, Mar. 27, & Apr. 24
Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Location: Zoom
Registration & More Information

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Blended Teaching Toolkit (ALL)
In this workshop we will explore strategies to seamlessly integrate face-to-face and online instruction, while enhancing student engagement and assessment in blended learning environments

Dates: February 10th & February 11th 
Time: 11:00am – Noon
Location: February 10 on Zoom; February 11 in Tyler Hall 225
Registration & More information

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Experienced Part-Time Faculty Panel Discussions (PTF)
Curious to learn from your PT faculty peers? Join us virtually for a panel discussion with experienced PT faculty who will share tips for successfully teaching at URI. You’ll also have an opportunity to ask your own questions during a Q&A. Repeat participants are welcome!

Dates: TBD
Time: TBD
Location: Virtual
Registration & More information

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Faculty Tools to Support Students (ALL)
Join us for a conversation about URI software and tools for instructors to use in suport of student success (Starfish, eCampus, Report It).

Date: February 24th
Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm
Location: Zoom
Registration & More information

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Grading for Growth Book Club (ALL)
Have you ever wished grading could be different? Participants will become familiar with alternative grading practices (such as standards-based grading) and how it can encourage students to make mistakes, revise their work, and increase their understanding of course material. We will discuss both smaller steps to incorporate alternative grading and full course revision.

Dates: TBD 
Time: TBD
Location: In-Person, TBD
Registration & More Information

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Graduate Student Learning Community (GTA)
Are you a Grad student teaching assistant who is looking to deepen your inclusive and effective teaching practice in a community of motivated graduate student instructors? This spring, we will be forming a learning community for graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) at URI. We have four scheduled meetings (on campus, in person) for GTAs to come together and explore their teaching practice. Our community is limited to 15 participants, to facilitate thoughtful conversation and relationship building. For each meeting, there will be about an hour of work to do after each session to practice implementing what we discussed.

Dates: Jan. 26, Feb. 23, Mar. 30 & Apr. 27
Time: 10:00am – 11:00am
Location: In-Person, Tyler Hall Rm. 225
Application & More Information

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Help me! I’m Teaching in a New Modality Next Fall (ALL)
In this workshop we will explore URI’s options for teaching modalities, including best practices and strategies to enhance student engagement.

Date: April 8th and April 9th (choose 1)
Time: 10:00am – 11:00am
Location: 4/8 In-Person, Tyler Hall Rm. 225; 4/9 via Zoom
Registration & More Information

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IDEA: More Than Just a Number, Self-Paced Course (ALL)

This self-paced Brightspace training will take you through four interactive modules highlighting the purpose of the IDEA Survey and how to effectively choose questions and interpret results.

Time: Asynchronous 
Location: Brightspace

Registration 

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Innovative Grading Community of Practice (ALL)
All are welcome to join the Innovative Grading Community of Practice. We have monthly meetings and a listserv to share ideas. This is for any URI instructor currently engaged in or considering innovative/alternative grading in your courses – — this could include standards-based grading, specifications grading, contract grading, badge grading, or ungrading. We are working on building a community to share resources, discuss best practices, and learn collectively. Send an email to teach@uri.edu to join the listserv today!

Date: TBD
Time: TBD
Location: Hybrid 
Registration & More Information

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Large Lecture High-impact Teaching Seminar: Motivated to Learn (ALL)
This seminar is for you if you are looking for ways to motivate students in large lecture classes. We will apply research-based strategies to address common concerns, such as: attendance, engaging students in deep learning, and completing assignments. Equipping and motivating students to be self-efficacious learners can be difficult when you do it on your own. Register for this seminar if you would like to work on strategies for your class with colleagues from across campus who understand. Deadline to apply: January 27th at 5:00pm

Dates: Feb. 9, Feb. 23, Mar. 9, Mar. 23, Apr. 6, & Apr. 20. 
Time: 1:00pm – 2:30pm
Location: In-Person, Tyler Hall, Rm. 225
Registration & More Information

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Part-time Faculty Community of Practice (PTF)
Designed for all Part-time Faculty teaching at URI, this four-session Community of Practice will help you develop relationships with colleagues, explore teaching successes and challenges, and further establish your teaching practice. Repeat participants are welcome!

Sessions will be held from 5-6pm via Zoom
Session #1, Wed, Jan. 28 – Program welcome, community-building, and a general teaching-related Q&A (during each session).
Session #2, Wed, Feb. 25 – Mid-semester challenges and recognizing early successes
Session #3, Wed, March 25 – Reflective teaching practice and gearing up for end-of-term.
Session #4, Wed, April 29 – Celebrate successes and strategize ongoing reflective teaching practice.

Date: Jan. 28, Feb. 25, Mar. 25, & April 29
Time: 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Location: Zoom
Registration & More Information
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Strategies & Tools for Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA)
Are you ready to elevate your teaching skills and make a lasting impact in the classroom? Join us for a series of dynamic workshops crafted to empower your teaching journey. Attend at least 4 out of the 6 workshops and earn an esteemed certificate/badge recognizing your commitment to professional development.

• All Sessions will be held on Wednesdays from 9am – 10am:
• Session #1 January 21st: Connecting with Students and Establishing Belonging
• Session #2 February 4th: Providing Feedback on Student Work
• Session #3 February 25th: Supporting All Learners: Accessibility, Accommodations and Campus Resources
• Session #4 March 11th: Active Learning in the Classroom
• Session #5 March 25th: Choose Your Own Adventure (Participants will determine the topic based upon interest)
• Session #6 April 15th: Gearing up for the final push of the semester

Dates: Jan. 21, Feb. 4, Feb. 25, Mar. 11, Mar. 25, & Apr. 15
Time: 9:00am – 10:00am
Location: Tyler Hall, 225 or Virtually 
Registration & More Information

Online & Hybrid Teaching

Help me! I’m Teaching in a New Modality Next Fall (ALL)
In this workshop we will explore URI’s options for teaching modalities, including best practices and strategies to enhance student engagement.

Date: April 8th and April 9th (choose 1)
Time: 10:00am – 11:00am
Location: 4/8 In-Person, Tyler Hall Rm. 225; 4/9 via Zoom
Registration & More Information

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Blended Teaching Toolkit (ALL)
In this workshop we will explore strategies to seamlessly integrate face-to-face and online instruction, while enhancing student engagement and assessment in blended learning environments

Dates: February 10th & February 11th 
Time: 11:00am – Noon
Location: February 10 on Zoom; February 11 in Tyler Hall 225
Registration & More information

Faculty Vitality & Well-being

Book Club – The Slow Professor: Challenging the Culture of Speed in the Academy (ALL)
Academic life can be frenetic and sometimes overwhelming. Could slowing down help us better connect with our professional purpose? Join us for a 4-session book discussion on The Slow Professor: Challenging the Culture of Speed in the Academy (Berg & Seeber, 2016). This short book explores how embracing principles of the “slow” movement can create a more reflective, balanced, and meaningful academic environment. The authors also present ways of alleviating stress while improving teaching, research, and collegiality. Connect with fellow instructors and share ideas for slowing down in a fast-paced academic world.

Logistics:
-Books will be provided for each participant.
-To help us slow down and connect with colleagues, we will meet in-person in Tyler Hall 225.
-Session times & dates are from 3:30-4:30pm on Thursdays, Jan. 29, Feb. 12, Feb. 26, March 12.
-While participation in all four sessions is preferred, we understand you may need to miss a session.

Dates: Jan. 29, Feb. 12, Feb. 26, & March 12.
Time: 3:30 – 4:30pm
Location: In-Person, Tyler Hall, 225
Registration & More Information

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Well-being/Vitality Workshop: Setting Boundaries by Defining your Scope of Practice (ALL)
Are your work boundaries fuzzy? Clarifying your scope of practice as an educator may help. A scope of practice focuses on (re)defining your role qualifications and responsibilities. Join us for this virtual workshop so you can be better positioned to support students while preserving your own well-being.

Dates: February 2nd and February 3rd
Time: 2/2 from 3:00pm – 4:00pm & 2/3 from 11:00am – Noon
Location: Zoom
Registration & More Information

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Well-being/Vitality Workshop: Cultivating Vitality Through Intentional Rest (ALL)
Feeling exhausted, more cynical, or less effective in your work? Burnout may be knocking at your door. Come learn about preventing (or managing) burnout by recognizing the signs and deepening your understanding of the importance of rest. Leave with a personalized plan for intentional rest and improved well-being.

Dates: March 3rd and March 4th
Time: 3/3 from 11:00am – 12:00pm & 3/4 from 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Location: Zoom
Registration & More Information

New Faculty Teaching Pathway

Classroom Observation Orientation Meeting  (NF)
This meeting is in preparation for Peer observations as part of the new faculty pathway program.

Dates: TBD
Time: TBD
Location: Zoom
Registration & More information

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Innovative Education Conference (ALL)
ATL is looking forward to hosting its third annual Innovative Education Conference on April 1, 2026. This year’s theme, Flourishing Together: Teaching & Learning in Higher Education Today, brings educators, scholars, and practitioners from around the world to share ideas, explore innovations, and build connections.

Date: April 1st 
Time: 9:00am – 4:15pm
Location: Virtual 
Registration Coming Soon! & More Information

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Tell Your Teaching Story  (NF)
This workshop is designed to help new instructors intentionally think about their teaching practice and how it can be used to evidence their effectiveness in the classroom. Participants will explore research-backed criteria for teaching effectiveness and then practice connecting those criteria to their teaching. 

Dates: January 8th and January 13th
Time: 1/8/26 from 9:30am – 10:30am; 1/13/26 from 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Location: Zoom
Registration & More information

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Using UDL  (NF)
Using Universal Design to adopt a +1 approach to course improvement. This workshop is designed to help new instructors think intentionally about accessibility and how they can foster an inclusive learning environment in all of their courses.

Dates: TBD
Time: TBD
Location: TBD
Registration & More information

Writing Across URI

Winter Writing Retreat (ALL)
Writing Across URI (now housed in ATL) invites all writers to join our Winter Writing Retreat. Keep the momentum going on your academic article, grant proposal, or creative project! There’s no formal program: just bring your laptop and other materials, plus your own lunch/snacks. We will provide coffee and tea! The retreat will be on Friday, February 27th from 9 AM – 3 PM. Feel free to join us for an hour or stay all day!

The retreats will be held in the Large Conference Room of the Coastal Institute overlooking Narragansett Bay (for directions and a map to the Bay Campus). The Coastal Institute is Building #6 on the map (you can park in the lot shaded in blue directly in front of the building).

All are welcome! You will simply be asked, in confidence, to check in with a brief statement of your writing goal and to check out with a brief statement of what you accomplished.

Please let us know if you will be joining us by registering HERE.

Any questions? Reach out to us at teach@uri.edu.

Date: February 27th 
Time: 9:00am – 3:00pm
Location: In-Person, Large Conference Room of the Coastal Institute (Bay Campus)
Registration & More Information

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Writing Across URI Listening Sessions (ALL)
This fall, ATL wants to hear from you about what you’d like to see through Writing Across URI. What programs would be helpful to support your writing practice? What kinds of resources have you found beneficial? Listening Sessions will be offered multiple times over the fall semester, both in-person and virtually. Join a Listening Session to share your thoughts and preferences. We’ll incorporate a consensus into future programming and resource development.

Dates/Time/Location: 

• New Dates/Times TBD

Registration & More information