Teaching practices to integrate Effective Communication into your teaching and help students master this Core Competency
Faculty Development & Instructional Support
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Faculty Development and Instructional Support
AI&e, CAFE, and CCEL support faculty and provide professional development opportunities. Explore this combined website to learn about effective teaching strategies, course design, community discussions, faculty best practices, learning communities, and more. We help faculty cultivate student learning across UAA!
Evolve your pedagogy. Teach with technology. Invest in your community.
Upcoming Opportunities
Wednesday, November 17, 7:00 - 8:30 PM | Books of the Year Replay: How to Talk with People with Whom You Disagree
In a world divided by political and social issues, how do you get people on the other
side to listen to you? Join us virtually to hear a replay of a talk given in September
by Justin Lee, author of UAA Book of the Year, Talking Across the Divide: How to Communicate with People You Disagree with & Maybe
Even Change the World. He’ll discuss the psychological principles behind people’s resistance to new ideas
and share simple, proven strategies for discussing controversial issues without losing
friends. We’ll have a facilitated discussion/Q and A following the recorded presentation.
Learn more and access the Zoom session at Green & Gold News.
Thursday, November 18, 2:30 - 3:45 PM | Supporting LGBTQ+ Student Success
Last of three learning community sessions! Open to faculty and staff, this community's
discussions will be based on the book, Supporting Success for LGBTQ+ Students: Tools for Inclusive Campus Practice (free eBook available via the Consortium Library). Learn more and register on our Upcoming Events page.
Thursday, November 18, 2:30 - 3:45 PM | Graduate Education Learning Community
The 2021-2022 Graduate Education Learning Community is designed to engage all those
concerned with graduate education in inspired conversation centered on topics of relevance
and compelling interest. Join facilitator Dr. Mary Jo Finney, Dean of the Graduate
School for conversation # 3, Scholarly Projects and Theses: Similarities that Ensure
Rigor. Learn more on our Upcoming Events page!
Ongoing Programming
Tuesdays, 8:15 - 9:30 AM | Headwaters
Headwaters is our onboarding and support series for new/junior faculty. Building on
topics introduced at New Faculty Orientation, we cover a range of essentials and provide
opportunities for new and junior faculty to raise questions and discuss areas of uncertainty.
Tuesdays, 10:00 - 11:15 AM | CAFE Focus Sessions
CAFE Faculty Associate Stasia Straley is leading weekly sessions to help faculty accomplish their goals.
Each session will start with a quick (1-2 minute) productivity tip, goal-setting,
and then we’ll leave our cameras on (optional!), microphones off, and work for 65
solid minutes. Learn more and register on our Upcoming Events page!
Fridays (2nd of the month), 1:00 - 2:00 PM | Contemplative Practices in Higher Education
Starting September 10, our community of practice exploring contemplative practices
in higher education will run the second Friday of the month from 1:00 - 2:00 PM. Learn more and register on our Upcoming Events page!
Wednesdays (3rd of the month), 2:30 - 3:45 PM | Academic Leaders Development and Support Series
This series for chairs/directors of academic departments and associate deans includes guest speakers and conversations designed to help academic leaders address
some of their most pressing concerns. If you have or are a new chair/director this
fall, please send the updated information to uaa_cafe@alaska.edu.
Excellence in Teaching & Learning
Assessment best practices and instructor testing support
Learn to use Blackboard, UAA’s learning management system
Make your course fully accessible to students
Embracing UAA's Role as a Community Partner
Since 2006, UAA has been recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a “Community Engaged Institution.”
UAA uses the Carnegie Foundation's definition of community engagement for our work with communities: "Community Engagement describes the collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity."
The Center for Community Engaged Learning serves as a central locus for the intersection of student learning, faculty research, and community engagement.
Help Resources
For assistance preparing your courses for the new semester, check out the guidance under Teaching Resources and Learning Technologies. If these don’t answer your questions, please contact us! Due to a transitional reduction in capacity, AI&e instructional support will give priority to new instructors, meeting accessibility requirements, selecting appropriate tools/activities to meet course goals, ePortfolio, and remote test proctoring (RPNow).
If you need further assistance with Blackboard functions (including course copies, developmental shells, editing and publishing courses, and troubleshooting) or other UAA core tools, please contact IT Services. Kenai Peninsula College instructors should start with the KPC Educational Technology Team.
Visit our Help page to sign up for a course design or RPNow testing consultation.
Faculty Development & Instructional Support
Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence, Academic Innovations & eLearning, and Center
for Community Engaged Learning
Library 213 • (907) 786-4496 • uaa_ai@alaska.edu • Mon – Fri, 8a – 5p