February instructional workshops highlight Gradescope, Brightspace, student success, AI tools, diversity in the classroom

The Innovative Learning Team at West Lafayette, the Center for Faculty Excellence and the Office of Instructional Technology at Purdue Northwest, and the Purdue Fort Wayne Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT) offer several workshops and sessions in February to help instructors with Gradescope, Brightspace, student success, AI tools, and diversity in the classroom.

Purdue West Lafayette

You’ll Fall in Love with Gradescope
Tue., Feb. 14, 11 a.m.-12 noon ET
Feeling broken hearted over grading free-response questions, diagrams, mathematical problem sets, and other traditionally paper-based assessments? Ready to embrace AI-assisted grouping and adaptable rubrics? Find your perfect match with efficient, flexible options, and provide better feedback for your students.

Seeking assistance with your Brightspace course? Have questions about a TLT-supported technology? This includes tools such as Gradescope, Kaltura, Circuit, iClicker, Hotseat, Respondus LockDown Browser/Monitor, and Variate. Daily drop-in sessions are offered every weekday throughout the semester. For drop-in session days/times, see the Training & Consultations calendar.

Purdue Fort Wayne

Diversity in the Classroom
Thurs. Feb. 9, 1:30-2:30 p.m. ET
Exploring the trends, issues, and problems of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the college classroom. Learners will reflect on their own experiences, and share ideas for how to make their classes/spaces welcome, inclusive and a celebration for diverse persons and perspectives.

Create Teaching Presence for Student Success
Mon. Feb. 13, 10-11 a.m. ET
Teaching presence is essential for building community and promoting student success in online and face to face classes. In this session, we’ll explore strategies that instructors can start using now to create teaching presence in their own classrooms.

Navigating the Opportunities and Challenges of Teaching the AI-Powered Age
Mon. Feb. 20, 10-11 a.m. ET
Join us for an introductory and informative webinar as our CELT consultants present what we are learning about AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT) and AI-generated content. There will be a discussion on the potential advantages and considerations for course and assessment designs. CELT will develop and offer additional sessions on the topic of teaching in the era of AI, to empower and support our faculty.

Purdue Northwest

Foundational Technology for Faculty
Ongoing
Explore the core components of instructional technology in the Foundational Faculty Training module in the PNW Brightspace Instructor Training Course. These self-paced topics include: creating Brightspace content and communication, flexibility in modality, grading, and using activities. Earn a badge for each completed area. This module is part of a series of competencies created for you by the Office of Instructional Technology.

Functional Technology for Faculty
Ongoing
Advance beyond the core components of getting started in Brightspace in the Functional Faculty Training module in the PNW Brightspace Instructor Training Course. These self-paced topics include: lecture capture; course transparency using communication, grade book settings, and organization; and efficiency in Brightspace. Earn a badge after sharing to the discussion board. This module is part of a series of competencies created for you by the Office of Instructional Technology.

Writing Retreat
Fri., Feb. 3, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. CT
Sales Lab (HTM 183)
A writing retreat provides a focused block of time and supportive environment for you to commit to and have some level of accountability for accomplishing a research goal. There will be no planned programming, instead it will be a time for you to focus on your research/writing goals and hopefully be very productive! The Writing Retreat is in-person and virtual.

Work Sprints
Wed., Feb. 1, 9-11 a.m. CT
Thurs., Feb. 2, 1-3 p.m. CT
Tues., Feb. 7, 12 noon-2 p.m. CT
Fri., Feb. 10, 1-3 p.m. CT
Mon., Feb. 13, 1-3 p.m. CT
Thurs., Feb. 16, 10 a.m.-12 noon CT
Mon., Feb. 20, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. CT
Fri., Feb. 24, 10 a.m.-12 noon CT
A Work Sprint provides a focused block of time and supportive environment for you to commit to and have some level of accountability for accomplishing a task-specific goal. Attend any or all sessions. These are virtual meetings.

For questions and support at your campus, contact:
Purdue Global: Direct teaching-related questions to askctl@purdueglobal.edu. Technical support questions should be directed to TechSupport@purdueglobal.edu or 866-522-7747 (toll-free).
Purdue Fort Wayne: Teaching-related questions should be directed to PFW’s Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT) at celt@pfw.edu, 260-481-6354, or CELT’s website for resources and to request one on one consultations. Technical support questions should be directed to PFW’s IT Services Help Desk helpdesk@pfw.edu or 260-481-6030.
Purdue Northwest: Direct teaching-related questions to the Center for Faculty Excellence at cfe@pnw.edu, 219-989-8328, or CFE’s website. Technical support questions should be directed to The Office of Instructional Technology by email oit@pnw.edu or OIT’s website or through their Virtual Help Desk.
Purdue West Lafayette: Visit the Innovative Learning website or email InnovativeLearningTeam@purdue.edu.