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Save the Date!

The Provost's Retreat invitations are going out soon. This year's topic is Generative AI. 

Save the date on your calendar!

Thursday, August 29th from 8:30 - 2:00.

2023 Provost's Retreat attendees with CRP
Provost's Retreat webpage
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CTL Faculty Fellowship Applications Now Open

Would you like to grow as a teacher-scholar through a CTL Faculty Fellowship? You may propose to focus your fellowship on facilitating a learning community, conducting a pedagogical research project, or an alternative avenue of inquiry related to teaching and learning. The outcomes of these Fellowship projects may be shared with peers at Amherst College, at national or international conferences, and through possible publication.  

This call intends to identify two CTL Faculty Fellows to join the cohort in the Fall 2024 semester. Tenured, tenure-line, and other continuing faculty (including lecturers and senior lecturers) at Amherst College are eligible to apply. 
 Call for 2024-26 Faculty Fellows

Deadline: May 1st

Direct Link to Application Form Here

Spring 2024 CTL Consultation Opportunities

A smiling woman with long hair and a blue shirt

We are lucky to have two additional experienced educational developers in the CTL to support your teaching and learning this Spring --  Susannah McGowan (top) of Georgetown University, and Nancy Chick (bottom) of Rollins College.

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Visit our About Us page to learn more about Susannah and Nancy and to schedule an appointment. 

About Us

Strategies for Approaching Crises in the Classroom, Sensitive Topics, and Difficult Content

Sensitive and Difficult Topics

We are teaching and learning in challenging times, which may take an emotional, cognitive, and intellectual toll on students and educators. Instructors across disciplines are seeking out and using a range of classroom and pedagogical strategies that align with their goals for teaching and student learning. The CTL resource “Navigating Crisis in the Classroom” provides approaches, frameworks, and a variety of resources for creating a welcoming classroom environment, inclusive pedagogical practices, and course materials that prepare learners for potentially sensitive or difficult content. This resource recognizes that while there are often crises - acknowledged and unacknowledged - which we and our students are navigating, there are some enduring principles that center a holistic approach to intellectual development. 

Navigating Crisis in the Classroom
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Amherst College presents at ISSOTL

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Kristen Luschen, Sarah Bunnell, Riley Caldwell-O'Keefe and Eugene Lee recently presented How Students Navigate the Feedback Process in Pedagogical Partnerships at ISSOTL23 in The Netherlands. Their presentation highlighted Amherst College's successful Pedagogical Partnership Program and how it facilitated faculty/student partnerships thinking together about teaching and learning. Click to view the presentation slides and handout.

Kristy Gardner presented work that came out of her time as a CTL Faculty Fellow. Click here to view her presentation poster Teaching Math for Computer Science Success.

Exploring Alternative Grading Pedagogies through Interdisciplinary Faculty Learning Communities was  presented by Sarah Bunnell and CTL Faculty Fellows Kristina Reardon and Kristy Gardner. This presentation was also based on work done as part of the CTL Faculty Fellows Program.

CTL Faculty Fellows Program

Talking Teaching in Lewis-Sebring - Wednesdays from 12-1

Jallicia Jolly and Paul Schroeder-RodriguezEvery Wednesday this spring, please come join your colleagues and a member of the CTL for informal conversations about teaching. Charge your Val lunch to the CTL and join us! Look for the table in Lewis-Sebring with a placard marking our meeting place. 

Wednesday Write-Ins (Frost 211) 10 AM - noon

Grab a coffee or snack (or both) from the Frost Café, charge it to the CTL, and then head up to Frost 211 to write. This is a weekly time reserved this fall for faculty and staff to work quietly on their various projects in the company of colleagues.image

The Amherst College AI Learning Lab Lunch Series

The rapid advance of AI in education is undeniable; it is no longer a matter of whether we will incorporate AI but rather how we will navigate its widespread influence on our educational practices. As the era of Generation AI (Gen AI) is already upon us, the college is keen to proactively address the challenges of teaching and learning in this new landscape, and stay at the forefront of liberal arts education. 

This series will focus on teaching and learning and broader conversations about the future of education.  For event dates and to RSVP, the AI Learning Lab page. 

Generative AI in the Amherst College Classroom

How can we help you?

We are working on building up our available online resources.  Please visit our A-Z page. Can't find what you're looking for? We encourage you to reach out to us directly; we are happy to provide you resources tailored to your needs and goals. 

A-Z Teaching and Learning Resources
students in Frost during Amherst Uprising

Anti-Racist Pedagogy

Working toward being an anti-racist institution

The CTL is working to support reflection and action on being an anti-racist (pro-black), equity-minded educator and human. The links below have many resources including key take-aways and the reading list for Spring 2021's Anti-Racist Pedagogy Conversations. We continue to curate resources and are focused on building the capacity and infrastructure necessary for more accessible cross-departmental idea sharing and conversations.

We Offer Assistance Throughout the Semester

The academic year has a flow and we find that there are common needs and some commonly used resources at each time of the semester but please feel free to contact us for any teaching need at any time—there is no question too small or challenge too big. We are here to help you reach your goals for teaching. Please visit our Consultations page to find out more about consultation services we provide or to schedule a consultation. Please visit our A-Z Teaching Resources pages for a list of resources to support your teaching.

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Pre-Semester Semester Begins Mid-Semester Semester Ends Post-Semester

Course Design

 

Syllabus Design

"How to Teach a Good First Day of Class" (Chronicle)

 

Inclusive Curricular Practices (HSTEM)

Engage in Mid-Term Assessment

 

Toolbox for Difficult Dialogues

 This is a time to help students process their learning.

Meet with us to understand your students' feedback and consider writing about your teaching.