News from CTL

We want to welcome back our CTL faculty members who recently gathered at the 43rd annual POD Conference in Pittsburgh, where insights, strategies, and collaborative efforts were shared. The POD Conference is an annual educational event that brings together educational professionals and experts from across the globe.

Our minds and hearts are full of many things as November begins. We are offering an updated collection of resources to address teaching in times of crisis. In addition, generative AI support, applying to the PTF program, and several campus academic technology updates are covered below. Finally, we are moving and hope to see you in the new space for the 50th anniversary celebration!

How are UT faculty, instructors, and graduate students employing generative AI tools in innovative ways? During the recent "Image Text Code" session, we asked three innovative teachers and researchers to share their use of these tools with the UT community.

On Oct. 26, Provost’s Teaching Fellow Katie Tackett (Special Education) and Ashley Richardson-Minnitt (Longhorn TIES) facilitated a PTF Think Tank titled Teaching Neurodiverse Students, during which participants discussed neurodiversity and how to support neurodiverse students in classroom environments.

Save the date for our 50th Anniversary Celebration in January where you will have the opportunity to peruse the CTL Book Fair and take home a title for yourself. Each month in our newsletter we will be sharing out reads that will be featured at the book fair.

The resource includes topics for framing and revisiting difficult conversations, as well as suggestions for content warnings, linking to mental health resources, and responding to student feedback. This approach is critical for educational care, growth, and mutual accountability, emphasizing the importance of assisting students during difficult times.

This week the Provost’s Teaching Fellow Ruth Shear (Chemistry) facilitated a PTF Think Tank titled Learning From Mistakes, during which participants discussed the important role mistakes and failures play in learning environments, and how the new UT Honor Code emphasizes the need to embrace mistakes.

Rain could not keep people away for the Experiential Learning Excellence Awards Brunch that took place on October 5. The purpose of the event was to recognize the accomplishments of Experiential Learning Initiative Course Developers and Ambassadors and hear about next steps for experiential learning at the University of Texas at Austin. The celebration was held at the Kendra Scott Center in the Doty Fine Arts Building. The Kendra Scott Center is a student-focused space designed as a hub for creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

October brings us to the midpoint of fall semester. See below for a variety of resources to support student learning. In addition, what can you do this month to maintain or adjust your current practices?

Save the date for our 50th Anniversary Celebration in January where you will have the opportunity to peruse the CTL Book Fair and take home a title for yourself. Each month in our newsletter we will be sharing out reads that will be featured at the book fair.