Center for Faculty Development
Plan, Prepare and Engage Workshop Series
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Schedule at a Glance
Tuesday, August 5, 2025 | 2-2:50 p.m. | Teams
Blueprints for Better Learning: Strategic Online Course Planning
• Chimene Gecewicz, Assistant Professor, School of Humanities
This interactive session will introduce (or reintroduce) participants to evidence-based active learning strategies that engage students and promote higher-order thinking in higher education. Participants will learn practical techniques for implementing active learning in their classrooms, including how to overcome common challenges like student resistance and time constraints. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies, implementation tips, and resources to create more engaging learning environments that foster critical thinking and collaboration across diverse academic disciplines.
Wednesday, August 6, 2025 | 9-9:50 a.m. | IC 319/Teams
Engaging Students Through Active Learning
• Jaclyn Rivard, Assistant Professor, School of Education
How often do you finish the week and wonder how you did so much but accomplished so little? Say goodbye to reactive time management! In this session you will learn how simple time blocking techniques can elevate your productivity and mitigate your to-do list anxiety.
Wednesday, August 6, 2025 | 10-10:50 a.m. | IC 319/Teams
Enhancing Professionalism & Success: Using Low-stakes/High-value Assignments
• Ragan Downey, Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Criminal Justice, Forensic Science, and Security
This presentation will focus on the value and utility of low-stakes assignments (LSAs). A series of example assignments will be used to frame the discussion on the purpose of LSAs, their benefits, and their risks.
Wednesday, August 6, 2025 | 12-12:50 p.m. IC 319/Teams
Level Up! Powered by Staff Council and AOP
• Briana Dubaz, President, Staff Council & Gayle Sollfrank, President, Association of Office Professionals
This session will introduce staff to key roles and opportunities within the Staff Council and the Association of Office Professionals (AOP) at 91°µÍøºÚÁÏ. It will provide insight into how participating in shared governance through Staff Council or engaging in professional development through AOP not only advances the goals of the university but also fosters individual growth in leadership, collaboration, and strategic planning. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the executive board members of each organization, and learn more about what each organization has to offer staff during the upcoming academic year.
Wednesday, August 6, 2025 | 1-1:50 p.m. |IC 319/Teams
91°µÍøºÚÁÏ Student Focus Groups from Fall 2021 to Fall 2024
• Michelle McLeese, Associate Teaching Professor, School of Social Science and Global Studies
From Fall 2021 through Spring 2025, I collected focus group data on three topics: the experience of returning to in person instruction in Fall 2021 from the Covid-19 pandemic (including general experiences of f2f and online class instruction), student definitions and general observations of college mental health, and experiences with peer mentoring. This is the most updated report on 4 years' worth (and 36 total) focus groups.
Thursday, August 7, 2025 | 9-10:50 a.m. | In-person only- EHH 120
Defining, Developing, and Pitching Your Research
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Office of Research Administration
In this interactive session, participants will explore fundamental concepts and best practices in research development to empower and equip them with tools to navigate the research landscape with confidence. Come discover practical insights and actionable steps to define your research initiatives, foster innovation, and more clearly define your scholarly goals.
Thursday, August 7, 2025 | 11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. | IC 319/Teams
FrameVR: Enhancing Engagement in Online Forensic Science Education
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Xuyang He, Assistant Professor, School of Criminal Justice, Forensic Science, and Security
In this workshop, I'll share how I used FrameVR in my asynchronous online forensic science course, helping students better grasp basic concepts regarding analyzing physical evidence through immersive experiences. The attendees will have concrete ideas for using FrameVR to boost student interaction and learning, making complex topics more engaging and accessible.
Thursday, August 7, 2025 | 1 - 1:30 p.m. | IC 319/Teams
Student Engagement and Community Building in Online Courses
- Stacy Creel, Associate Professor; Sarah Mangrum, Assistant Teaching Professor
- Brendan Fay, Associate Professor, School of Library and Information Sciences
What does student engagement look like in an online course? How do we get students to connect with one another, the course content, the faculty, and their community of practice? Being a distance learner does not have to mean being distant.
Friday, August 8, 2025 | 9-9:50 a.m. | Teams
Expanding Your Teaching Toolkit with Open Educational Resources
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Josh Cromwell, Scholarly Communications Manager for University Libraries
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Michele Frasier-Robinson, Education and Human Sciences Librarian, University Libraries
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Emileigh McCardle, Lecturer, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
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Michael Vera, Associate Professor, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Open educational resources (OER) are instructional materials such as open textbooks and other related materials that are available at zero cost to students. This session will discuss some of the ways that faculty can use OER to make their course preparation more efficient while also improving student outcomes. It will also provide attendees with strategies for both locating existing sources of OER as well as tips for creating their own.
Friday, August 8, 2025 | 10-10:30 a.m. | Teams
All Students, All Campuses: Financial Wellness Resources for Undergraduate and Graduate Students in Hattiesburg or Gulf Park
91°µÍøºÚÁÏ Financial Wellness Taskforce:
Zach Taylor, Jasmine Coleman-Miller, Bridgette Davis, Tobi Ejalonibu, Gretchen Goode , Andrew Herridge, Julie Howdeshell,Michael King, Summer Pannell ,Vivek Paudel , Micki Posey, Kaity Prieto
Financial stress is one of the most significant barriers to student success, affecting academic performance, retention, and overall well-being. This 30-minute session, All Students, All Campuses: Financial Wellness Resources for Undergraduate and Graduate Students in Hattiesburg or Gulf Park, will introduce faculty and staff to a range of financial wellness initiatives designed to support students across both campuses. As institutions increasingly recognize the importance of holistic student support, financial literacy has emerged as a critical component of student development. This presentation will highlight collaborative efforts between academic affairs, student services, and campus partners to provide accessible, inclusive, and practical financial education. Attendees will learn about key financial challenges students face today—including budgeting, debt management, and emergency funding—and how these issues impact their academic journey. The session will showcase campus-specific resources such as workshops, one-on-one coaching, online tools, and referral systems that are available to both undergraduate and graduate students. Special attention will be given to strategies that ensure equitable access to these resources, regardless of a student’s location or learning modality. Faculty and staff will also explore ways to integrate financial wellness into their own roles, whether through classroom discussions, advising conversations, or co-curricular programming. Participants will leave with a toolkit of ready-to-use materials, outreach templates, and ideas for promoting financial confidence and resilience among students. By equipping educators and support staff with the knowledge and tools to address financial wellness, this session aims to foster a more supportive and success-oriented campus culture. Whether you work directly with students or influence policy and programming, this session will provide practical insights to help you prepare for the fall semester with a renewed focus on student financial well-being.
Friday, August 8, 2025 | 11-11:50 a.m. | Teams
Re-Thinking AI Assessments: What Can We Do?
- Michelle McLeese, Associate Teaching Professor, School of Social Science and Global Studies
- Bridgette L. Davis, Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Education
- Charles T. Walter, Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Social Science and Global Studies
Generative Artificial Intelligence programs keep evolving more rapidly than many of us can keep up. Faced not only with temptations to use AI but also the ease of using these platforms for assignments in place of learning and growth, we wish to help disrupt this 'culture' of dependence on AI. While there is certainly a place for these "tools," we want to focus on engaging ways to encourage students to continue learning and thinking separately from generative AI platforms.
Friday, August 8, 2025 | 1-1:50 p.m. | Teams
Right Where They Need It: How Canvas-Integrated Course Guides Support Student Success
- Hali Black, Associate Professor, Univeristy Libraries
This session introduces the University Libraries' Course Guide Program, which integrates customized research support directly into Canvas to enhance teaching and improve student research skills. Participants will learn how these guides are developed in collaboration with faculty, how to request one, and how to make the most of this service to support course learning outcomes. The presentation will also highlight data demonstrating the impact of these guides on student engagement.
Friday, August 8, 2025 | 2-2:50 p.m. | Teams
Canvas Grades/Assignments with Tips to Make It Run Better
- Susan Rayborn, Instructional Designer, Office of Online Learning
In this session, learn how to:
- Assignments controls the Grades
- Set up columns,
- Add weights to assignments using Groups
- Add extra points
- Gradebook Settings
- Column controls
- Grade Posting Setting/Hide Grades
- Message students who…
- Student Pop Out tools
- Get rid of the clutter and how to restore a mistaken delete