What professional development is available for teaching?

College of IST Opportunities

The College of IST offers professional development opportunities for instructors to meet with colleagues. All sessions will be advertised to all faculty via email. For more information, contact ISTTeachingSupport@psu.edu

University Opportunities

The University offers individual professional development opportunities and interdisciplinary group events where instructors meet with colleagues.

Canvas Support

The Canvas Support page offers self-paced tutorials, guides with online documentation, a searchable knowledge base, and a 24/7 helpline. For a step-by-step introduction to building a course in Canvas, we recommend working through the Canvas Learning Path.

Innovation in Teaching at Penn State (ITAP)

ITAP talks highlight successful teaching innovations at Penn State, such as novel assessment tools for improving learning, innovations in remote and socially-distanced learning, training students to be peer learning facilitators, and more. Past topics are listed on the ITAP website. Events are announced on the ITAP Listserv. To be added, email L-ITAP-subscribe-request@lists.psu.edu with “Add me” in the subject line and a few characters in the e-mail.

Teaching and Learning with Technology (TLT)

TLT offers professional development workshops that promote and support faculty involvement in major initiatives such as the development of Open Educational Resources, teaching in active learning classrooms and experience labs, and redesigning residence courses to be delivered as blended models. Find a list of workshops and engagement opportunities on the TLT website

IT Learning and Development

For workshops and training on the University’s designated teaching technologies, such as the Canvas learning management system, Zoom video conferencing, Kaltura video cloud platform, and more, check the offerings each semester on the ITLD webpage.

Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence (SITE)

SITE supporting instructors in engaging students in learning, with expertise in course planning, motivating learning, assessing learning, large course instruction, mid-semester feedback, and more. Check the SITE website for workshop offerings, short courses, and consultation services.

STEM Teaching Group

The STEM Teaching Group offers frequent seminars for STEM instructors, addressing topics such as teaching subjects that require math, evidence-based teaching in STEM courses, metacognitive strategies for science courses, and more. Events are advertised on the email list “STEMteaching.” To be added to the list, email Julia Kregnow at jmk50@psu.edu.

World Campus Faculty Development for Online Courses

The World Campus Faculty Development unit provides a rich set of offerings for instructors who are assigned to teach online courses. Check their Online Faculty Development offerings for a self-paced or time-structured course that meets your needs.