CAE Back-to-School Workshops

Please join the Center for Academic Excellence during the last two weeks of August for Back-to-School Workshops to help faculty prepare for their Fall courses. These workshops bring together faculty and partners across campus to learn about innovative pedagogical tools and practices. This year we will offer workshops on Blackboard Ultra (our course management system), Ignatian pedagogy, A.I., learning technologies and more.

Register Here for all workshops: https://events.fairfield.edu/cae 

Monday, August 18^th
Topic: Academic Computing

Blackboard: Foundations
9:30am-10:30am
NHS 404
An introductory session designed to familiarize instructors with the core features of Blackboard Ultra for effective course setup and navigation.

Blackboard: Tools to Assess and Engage Students
10:45am - 12:00pm
NHS 404
In this workshop, we'll learn how to create tests (with or without Respondus Lockdown Browser), collect and grade student work, create individual and group assignments, and set up discussions to engage students. Then, we'll use the grade book to provide personalized feedback, track student progress, and send early alerts for at-risk students.

Blackboard: What’s New and What’s Next?
1:00pm - 2:15pm
NHS 404
In this workshop, we’ll explore the latest Blackboard Ultra features designed to simplify course management and enhance student engagement. We’ll highlight new tools for content creation, grading, and communication, and share what’s on the horizon in upcoming releases so you can plan ahead and take full advantage of Blackboard’s evolving platform.

iPad Toolkit: From Gestures to Grading on the Go
3:30pm-4:00pm
NHS 404
In this workshop, we’ll cover tips and tricks to get the most out of your iPad. Learn multitasking gestures, how to navigate between apps, use preloaded bookmarks, and download apps through Self Service. We’ll also explore using Blackboard on the iPad and wrap up with an open Q&A to address your specific teaching needs.

Tuesday, August 19^th
Topic: Academic Computing

Collaboration Tools to Engage and Organize
9:15am - 10:30am
NHS 404
In this workshop, we’ll explore tools that make it easier to connect with students and colleagues. Learn how to use Harmonize for richer discussions, Padlet for multimedia discussions, and Microsoft OneDrive and Loop for collaborative documents and shared workflows. Walk away with strategies to boost engagement and keep your work organized.

AI in Action: Teaching with Blackboard, Zoom, and More
10:45am - 12:00pm
NHS 404
In this workshop, we’ll dive into AI-powered tools to streamline your teaching and support student learning. Learn how Blackboard’s AI Design Assistant can help build courses faster, explore Zoom AI Companion for meeting summaries and collaboration, and discover creative applications for tools like NotebookLM by Google.

iPad Toolkit: From Gestures to Grading on the Go
3:30pm-4:00pm
NHS 404
In this workshop, we’ll cover tips and tricks to get the most out of your iPad. Learn multitasking gestures, how to navigate between apps, use preloaded bookmarks, and download apps through Self Service. We’ll also explore using Blackboard on the iPad and wrap up with an open Q&A to address your specific teaching needs.

Wednesday, August 20^th
Topic: Engagement, Belonging, and Community Building Day (Creating Classrooms of Community)

First Day, Full Semester — Designing for Belonging from the Start
9:30am- 10:45am
NHS 404
The first day of class sets the tone not just for learning, but for belonging. In this interactive session, we’ll explore how to design meaningful first-day experiences that go beyond icebreakers to foster connection, curiosity, and motivation. We’ll discuss how to communicate high expectations with warmth, invite students into your discipline’s big questions, and create a sense of psychological safety from the start. Grounded in the research on Gen Z learners and inclusive teaching, this workshop will also introduce tools for checking in with students throughout the semester—from Week 2 “muddiest point” activities to midterm action plans—ensuring that your course is responsive, reflective, and community-centered from day one to the final exam.

From Passive to Participatory — Strategies for Facilitating Engagement and Student-Led Discussions — with Lunch
11am - 12:15pm
NHS 404
Interested in engaging more students in your classroom discourse? Eager to move beyond calling on the same few voices in the room? This workshop explores inclusive engagement strategies that empower all students to participate meaningfully. Practice methods for shifting facilitation to students while maintaining structure and depth. Explore design ideas for promoting student ownership of classroom dialogue. Lunch available following the workshop.

Introduction to the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL): Researching Your Teaching to Improve Student Learning -- with Lunch
12:45pm - 2:30pm
NHS 404
Curious about how to turn your teaching into meaningful research? This interactive workshop introduces faculty to the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), a framework for systematically investigating your own teaching practices to enhance student learning. We’ll explore what SoTL is, how it is used to improve teaching and learning, and avenues for publishing the results of your SoTL research in peer-reviewed publications. Following an overview of SoTL, participants will learn from colleagues who have engaged in SoTL research and consider avenues for SoTL research in their own teaching. Lunch available before the workshop (12:15).

Thursday, August 21^st
Topic: Ignatian Pedagogy: Still Vital Hundreds of Years Later

Ignatian Reflection in Action – Bringing Meaning and Purpose to Student Learning
9:30am - 10:45am
NHS 210
Start the day by reconnecting with the heart of Jesuit education: reflection, discernment, and cura personalis. This workshop explores how Ignatian values can guide your course design, classroom interactions, and assignment structures to deepen students’ engagement and sense of purpose. Ideal for faculty looking to ground or re-center their teaching practice in meaning, mission, and reflection.

The Modern Jesuit Classroom – Ignatian Pedagogy, AI, and Teaching for Justice
11am - 12:15pm
NHS 210
How does Ignatian pedagogy help us respond to the challenges and opportunities of today’s world? This forward-facing session will explore how faculty can teach with both purpose and adaptability in a time of rapid technological change and heightened attention to social justice and student identity. We’ll discuss how tools like AI and classroom conversations around equity and ethics can be guided by Jesuit values, and how faculty can help students critically and compassionately engage with the world they are preparing to shape.

Ignatian Innovation Lab – Trying Something New?
1pm - 2:15pm
NHS 210
Are you planning to experiment with something different this semester—new types of final projects, alternative grading, a fresh participation model, or student-led discussions? We'll share models of flexible course design, brainstorm strategies together, and build a supportive community for ongoing experimentation and feedback, all oriented toward Ignatian pedagogy. Whether your plans are fully formed or still taking shape, come to think boldly with others who are asking: What if I tried something new?

Friday, August 22^nd
Topic: The Author’s Day Out

Writing Retreat — with Lunch
10:00am - 3:00pm
NHS 210
Kick off the Fall semester with a day dedicated to your writing. Join the CAE and a community of colleagues for a day-long retreat to plan, begin, revise, or complete writing projects (e.g., manuscripts, books, reports, portfolios/dossiers). Consult with peers or CAE staff about any stage of your writing process or use the time for solo writing. Bring your writing materials and tools. Lunch included.

Syllabus Drop-In Hours
10:30am - 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
NHS 218
Drop in for a one-on-one consultation with the CAE about any aspect of your syllabus (learning outcomes, assessment strategies, active learning activities, inclusive course design, etc.).

Monday, August 25^th
Topic: Faculty, Students and AI - We're All in This Together: AI in Teaching & Learning at Fairfield Day (Day 1)

Rethinking Writing in the Age of AI - Authorship, Authenticity, and Adaptation
11am - 12:15pm
NHS 210
What happens when students use AI to write before they’ve even started thinking? This session invites faculty to explore the future of writing assignments in a world where essays can be generated instantly. Rather than policing, we’ll focus on preserving student voice, reflection, and authentic engagement. Join the CAE and faculty from Core Writing to rethink what writing looks like in your course, and how to design assignments that support thinking with AI rather than bypassing it.

Tuesday, August 26^th
Topic: Faculty, Students and AI - We're All in This Together: AI in Teaching & Learning at Fairfield (Day 2)

Making AI Real - Using Blackboard Conversations to Bring Your Topic to Life
9:30am-10:45am
NHS 210
Looking for a practical way to engage students with AI while keeping your course grounded in disciplinary thinking? This hands-on session introduces the AI Conversation tool in Blackboard Ultra—already available. Learn how to create immersive, guided dialogues where students can “interview” a historical figure, role-play as a patient or client, or explore key course concepts through dynamic exchanges. We'll share examples and help you design your own conversation to use this fall.

Rethinking Assignments with AI — Designing for Integrity, Engagement, and Growth
11:00am - 12:15pm
NHS 210
As generative AI continues to reshape higher education, faculty across disciplines are reflecting on how to design assignments that support student learning, uphold academic integrity, and make room for innovation. In this session, we’ll explore how we can rethink our assessments—not with fear, but with purpose. We’ll share practical ideas for creating assignments that foster student agency, deepen disciplinary thinking, and invite responsible AI use. Whether you’re cautious, curious, or already experimenting, join us to reflect, share, and shape the future of learning—together.

AI Innovation Playground — Collaborative Testing & Design Jam
1:00pm - 2:15pm
NHS 210
Looking for a space to play, test, and collaborate with AI? This open lab invites you to bring your curiosity, your questions, and your creativity. Whether you’re just starting or have ideas from earlier AI sessions to build on, come explore meaningful classroom applications of AI with support and peer feedback. Try out new tools, sketch ideas for student use, test-run a prompt or activity, or brainstorm assessments with colleagues from across disciplines. No pressure—just inspiration, experimentation, and support for your next AI move.

Introduction to Workday Student for Faculty
1:00pm - 2:15pm
NHS 404
Join the Workday Student team to learn more about the functionalities of Workday Student. This session will feature a guided Q&A segment and an overview of the Workday Student Teaching Dashboard, along with the tools available to help you prepare for Fall 2025.
Planned Topics:
Teaching Dashboard
Course Roster
Entering Final Grades
Q&A

Register Here for all workshops: https://events.fairfield.edu/cae