Hello and welcome back! We hope you had a wonderful summer!
Learning Technologies won’t be hosting any sessions at this year’s In-Service but we will be on hand to support you this week! Stop by or give us a call to get assistance in setting up your courses and getting ready for the term.
If you’re looking for the full In-Service schedule for Fall 2022, you can find it below. We’ve also included the information sent out in the email to all faculty and staff. This year’s In-Service theme is: “Teaching, Learning, Thriving: Supporting Students After Trauma.”
Here in the information sent out by Dr. Nicole Matos, Interim AVP of Assessment and Student Success:
In-Service will be held on August 17, 18, and 19. Wednesday’s sessions will be held in person with a return of the customary MAC Lobby breakfast available to all college employees, and MAC Mainstage presentations and in-person faculty breakout sessions to follow. Thursday and Friday’s festivities will remain remote over Zoom.
Our keynote speaker, Dr. Mays Imad, comes to us as a Gardiner Fellow, an AAC&U Senior Fellow, and as a neurobiologist specializing in trauma, emotional regulation, and mental health in teaching and learning. The fear, stress, and burnout that all teachers, students, higher education employees–and, in fact, global citizens/human beings–have faced in this pandemic are of a magnitude difficult to articulate. But Imad’s keynote, “Bearing Witness as an Act of Love, Resistance, Hope, and Healing” does offer strategies for compassionate speaking and listening even in this space of disruption and loss.
As further support for one of the more challenging aspects of pandemic teaching, Jennifer Kelley, Dr. Sonia Watson, and a panel of faculty from our campus-wide 4 Connections initiative will be sponsoring an in-depth “Practicing Paradox” panel discussion. When—or how—should instructors offer struggling students additional understanding and flexibility, and when—or how—should instructors re-center students on planning, goal-setting, and accountability? (To further bring “paradox” down into the realm of the practical, MAC attendees can be on the lookout for a gift bag of concrete classroom goodies to enhance their 4 Connections practice).
Finally, while FT faculty attendance is expected, do be aware that all college employees are always welcome and that efforts have been made to assure visual, audio, and physical accessibility. And though PT faculty attendance at In-Service is optional, the Office of Adjunct Faculty Support has coordinated two sessions of the required New Hire Orientation for new adjunct faculty to align with teaching-oriented breakout sessions, should adjunct faculty like to opt-in.
You can find the full In-Service schedule here.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us as you prepare for the Fall Term!