Gift Exchange
Gift Exchange
No matter your mode of instruction, the GIFT (Great Ideas for Teaching) Exchange has a GIFT for you. All faculty and staff interested in teaching are invited to join us for these hyflex events focused on high-impact instructional practices in person in Columbine 203 or online through Zoom.
Please register to attend these events by the following requested deadlines. Once registered, you will receive invitations to and reminders about the event from Mountain Lion Connect.
Spring 2025 GIFT Exchange Schedule
Managing Social Loafing in Student Project Teams: A Team Communication Research Perspective
FRC Teaching Fellow Kay Yoon, PhD, Professor with Tenure, Communication Department, College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences
Team-based learning is a commonly adopted pedagogical approach across disciplines. While team-based learning offers a wide range of positive outcomes for students, one of the challenges instructors often face is handling students' loafing behavior–withholding individual efforts in team collaboration, which can hinder both students and instructors from accomplishing intended learning outcomes. This GIFT session explores how instructors can prevent and mitigate student loafing behavior in student project teams by drawing on team communication and cognition research.
Tuesday, February 11, 10:00-10:45 am
Register to attend in person in Columbine 203 or online.
Student Discussion Groups Utilizing Digital Station Rotations
FRC Teaching Fellow Markus Moeder-Chandler, EdD, NCC, BCC, Assistant Teaching Professor, Counseling and Human Services Department, College of Education
This session will cover the use of digital and in-person station rotations for writing development and practical skill development.
Friday, February 21, 11:00-11:45 am
Register to attend in person in Columbine 203 or online.
Facilitating Ethical Writing Practices
FRC Teaching Fellow Catherine Grandorff, PhD, Teaching Professor, English Department, College of Letters, Arts, and Science
Tuesday, March 11, 12:15-1:00 pm
Register to attend in person in Columbine 203 or online.
Archived Sessions
Engaging Pedagogies: Moving Beyond the Traditional Lecture
Shannon Johnson, Ph.D., Department of Social Work, College of Public Service
In our fast-evolving educational landscape, traditional lecture-based teaching is increasingly supplemented by, or even replaced with, innovative pedagogical approaches that aim to deepen engagement and foster a sense of agency and intentionality in students’ educational journeys. This session, "Engaging Pedagogies: Moving Beyond the Traditional Lecture," will equip participants with new ideas for enhancing or transforming their instructional practices. While the presenter will share about a variety of relevant strategies (e.g., flipped classrooms; collaborative projects; case-based learning; problem-based learning; service-based learning; experiential learning), the session will discussion-based. Participants will be invited to share about their own use of the aforementioned strategies, along with other innovative approaches they use in the classroom.
Monday, September 16, 11:00-11:45am.
Universal Design for Learning 3.0 Part 1
Ryan Martinez, Educational Technologist, Faculty Resource Center
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework that can be utilized to enhance and support the teaching and learning space. This session will give an overview of what UDL is and how it can be applied to various learning experiences. There will be practical strategies to implement in your in-person or online classroom that require little effort as well some that are bigger picture. UDL is a tool to think about how all stakeholders interact with content. After having an overview of what UDL and its impact, there will be a focus on how it can be used to differentiate content for various learners. This session will be followed up by a participant’s choice deeper dive into specific UDL strategies in November.
Wednesday, October 2, 11:00-11:45am.
Universal Design for Learning 3.0 Part 2
Ryan Martinez, Educational Technologist, Faculty Resource Center
Chris Creighton, Ph.D., Instructional Designer, Faculty Resource Center
This session is based on a participant’s choice deeper dive of a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) strategy from the Part 1 session.
Wednesday, November 20, 11:00-11:45am.
AI in Academics Part 1 | Pedagogy of AI Use
Thursday, January 25, 3:15-4:00 pm
FRC Staff
The first of a two-part series about AI in academics, this hyflex session focuses on establishing and upholding ethical use of AI in a course. Participants will reconcile their teaching philosophy with the use of AI as a part of their instructional practice.
Creating a Student-Centered Classroom Part 1 - Dynamic Discussion
Wednesday, February 7, 10:00-10:45 am
Teaching Fellow Curtis Turner, Senior Instructor, Alternative Licensure Program Coordinator
Participants in this hyflex session will be provided with and can share strategies for creating a student-centered classroom where students are actively engaged in the learning process. If you are tired of listening to yourself talk every day, join this session and you will take away strategies that will help you flip the script and turn the learning over to your students.
AI in Academics Part 2 | Design for Assistive Use of AI
Thursday, February 8, 3:15-4:00 pm
FRC Staff
The second of a two-part series about AI in academics, this hyflex session focuses on workshopping learning activities and assignments incorporating pedagogy based on assistive use of AI. Participating in Part 1 of the series is recommended but not required.
Creating a Student-Centered Classroom Part 2 - Providing Timely and Effective Feedback
Wednesday, February 21, 10:00-10:45 am
Teaching Fellow Curtis Turner, Senior Instructor, Alternative Licensure Program Coordinator
Effective feedback is a high-traction practice when it comes to student learning outcomes. Participants in this hyflex session will learn about types of feedback that can increase student engagement and share ideas for how to implement directive and corrective feedback in various classrooms.
OER SUCCESS at UCCS
Thursday, March 7, 11:00-11:45 am
Angie Dodson, Faculty Development Coordinator
Susan Vandagriff, Scholarly Communications Librarian & Assistant Professor
With a continued effort to make learning material inclusive and accessible for students, open educational resources (OER) play a key role. This hyflex session focuses on how OER SUCCESS at UCCS continues to be a priority in supporting faculty as they choose to retain or reuse existing resources or endeavor to revise, remix, or even create their own. Join us to map out your own OER SUCCESS journey.
Creating an Inclusive Learning Experience
Wednesday, April 10, 11:00-11:45 am
Katherine Mack, PhD, English Department
Professor Amy Anderson, PhD, Art History Lecturer
Join Universal Design for Inclusive Teaching (UDIT) Program participants as they share how the inclusive teaching practices they implemented throughout the 2023-2024 academic year resulted in an inclusive learning experience for their students. Strategize to enhance your own inclusive instructional practice and learn more about what the UDIT Program has to offer.
ChatGPT and AI in the Academic Classroom
Thursday, September 21, 12:00-12:45 pm.
Johanna Creswell Báez, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Social Work, College of Public Service
This interactive, hyflex session explores the explosion of AI chatbots with a focus on ChatGPT in the academic classroom. ChatGPT is demonstrated and ideas for using this technology with academic integrity is explored.
Session Recording | Session Presentation
Use of Open Education Resources (OER) to Advance ADEI Objectives in the Classroom
Friday, October 6, 12:00-12:45 pm.
Shannon Johnson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Social Work, College of Public Service
Participants will examine the potential of Open Educational Resources (OER) to foster a more inclusive and equitable learning environment while learning strategies to integrate antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) objectives into their courses and curricula. Key considerations include the accessibility of course materials, representation of diverse voices in educational materials, and the potential benefits of integrating OER-development into course assignments, empowering students to contribute their own voices to a growing, accessible and interactive global knowledge base.
Register for GIFT Exchange Session 2 by Friday, September 29.
Designing Writing Assignments so Students Won’t Want to Cheat – Part I
Thursday, October 19, 2:00-2:45 pm
Ann Amicucci, Ph.D., Associate Professor, English
As Chat GPT makes it easier for students to farm out the thinking, drafting, and research that go into a writing assignment, faculty may want to amp up methods for detecting cheating. Rather than focusing our energy on policing student writing practices, we can better serve students by designing assignments that engage and excite students—and make it less likely students will want to cheat in the first place.
In Part I, attendees will reflect on what makes an assignment engaging and connected to students’ goals, learn why students may choose to use AI for a variety of tasks related to writing, and learn strategies for designing assignments that make students more likely to do their own work.
Register for GIFT Exchange Session 3 by Friday, October 13.
Designing Writing Assignments so Students Won’t Want to Cheat – Part II
Thursday, October 26, 2:00-2:45 pm
Ann Amicucci, Ph.D., Associate Professor, English
In Part II, attendees will discuss ways to revise their current writing assignments to increase student engagement and encourage students’ investment in their work. For Part II, attendees are encouraged to bring directions for one of their current writing assignments but are welcome to join if they don’t have an example to bring.
Register for GIFT Exchange Session 4 by Friday, October 20.
AI in Academics
Tuesday, February 7, 12:15 pm-1:00 pm
Faculty Resource Center, Columbine 203 (HyFlex format option)
Nathan Bullock, Executive Director for Online Operations
Melinda Lien, Senior Instructional Designer
Angie Dodson, Faculty Development Coordinator
AI in Academics initiates a more formal conversation about the pros and cons of using artificial intelligence tools in higher education. Join us for an interactive session to witness first-hand how AI generates intellectual responses to varied prompts, and then, offer ideas and strategies to proactively embrace this state-of-the-art technology.
Ungrading | Shifting Focus from Making the Grade to Facilitating Inclusive Learning
Tuesday, February 21, 11:00-11:45 am
Faculty Resource Center, Columbine 203 (HyFlex format option)
Amy Anderson, PhD, Lecturer, Art History, Visual and Performing Arts
Angie Dodson, MEd, Faculty Development Coordinator, Faculty Resource Center
Brandon Poulliot, MS, Instructional Designer/Technologist, Faculty Resource Center
Kacey Ross, MA, Senior Instructor, English, Director of Writing Across the Curriculum, Assistant Director of First-Year Rhetoric and Writing
In this session, a discussion panel brings forth the ideas and principles of ungrading and some strategies for implementing it.
The Colorado Springs LGBTQ+ Oral History Project and High-Impact Practices
New date: Wednesday, March 1, 10:00 am-10:45 am
Faculty Resource Center, Columbine 203 (HyFlex format option)
Tre Wentling, PhD, Assistant Professor, Gender & Sexualities Studies Certificate Coordinator, Women's and Ethnic Studies Program
Have you heard about the Colorado Springs LGBTQ+ Oral History Project? Are you considering (re)designing high impact teaching and learning practices? Join FRC Teaching Fellow and WEST Assistant Professor, Tre Wentling, in this GIFT session as he offers lessons learned from leading students (in two different courses across two semesters) in their contributions to the Colorado Springs LGBTQ+ Oral History Project.
Introduction to the TAAP Program at UCCS
Tuesday, April 4, 10:00-10:45 am
Faculty Resource Center, Columbine 203 (Hyflex format option)
Larry Lee, Executive Director Auxiliary Services
Paul Deniston, Director of Retail Services
Jesse Gilbert, Bookstore Faculty Liaison
Join this session for an overview of the Textbook Affordability and Access (TAAP) Program at UCCS including the following:
- How it works
- What it costs
- Its benefits and potential impacts
- FAQs
Writing Good Letters of Recommendation for Students
Thursday, April 6, 1:00-1:45 pm
Faculty Resource Center, Columbine 203 (Hyflex format option)
Matthew Balk, PhD, Senior Director, Excel Multiliteracy Center, Assistant Professor, Attendant Rank, Department of English
Angie Dodson, MEd, Faculty Development Coordinator, Faculty Resource Center
This hyflex event is a workshop-style session that offers tips and tricks for writing good recommendations for students.
Recording | Presentation | Handouts: Example 1, Example 2
AI in Academics Part 2
Wednesday, April 12, 10:00-10:45 am
Faculty Resource Center, Columbine 203 (Hyflex format option)
Nathan Bullock, Executive Director for Online Operations
Melinda Lien, Senior Instructional Designer, Online Operations
Brandon Poulliot, Instructional Designer/Technologist, FRC
Angie Dodson, Faculty Development Coordinator, FRC
AI in Academics Part 2 takes participants on a journey from introducing and using AI in a given course to detecting improper use.
Critical Reflections in Coursework
Thursday, April 13, 12:15-1:00 pm
Faculty Resource Center, Columbine 203 (HyFlex format option)
Shannon K. Johnson, PhD, MSW, MPP, Assistant Professor of Social Work, College of Public Service
Join Shannon as she shares her method of incorporating meta-cognitive thinking and reflexivity practice in the educational process. Her method incorporates the three steps of the DEAL model by Ash and Clayton (2004): Step 1 - Describe, Step 2 - Examine, and Step 3 - Articulate Learning. It then adds metacognitive thinking as a fourth step. Use of reflexivity practice and intentional metacognitive thinking will be discussed as ways of encouraging deep processing, supporting consciousness raising processes, and increasing student intentionality as related to ownership of one’s own learning journey.
For more from Dr. Shannon Johnson, visit Civil Discourse in Anti-racist Work on the ACCESS@UCCS Sessions webpage.
Session 1: Instructional Videos Using Universal Design for Learning Guidelines, Part I: Minimizing Distractions
Thursday, September 22, 2:00-2:45 pm
Faculty Resource Center, Columbine 203
Ann Amicucci, Ph.D., English Department, College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences (LAS)
Join this GIFT Exchange to engage with Ann in a(n):
- overview of UDL guidelines for minimizing distractions in the learning environment and how to apply these guidelines to the creation of instructional videos,
- video presentation and discussion about potential visual and audio distractions and how the video could be improved to reduce these distractions, and
- discussion about revisions participants can make to their instructional videos using what they’ve learned.
Video Recording | Session Slides
Session 2: Annotating with Hypothes.is: A Social Annotation Tool
Tuesday, September 27, 11:00-11:45 am
Mike Kisley, Ph.D., Professor, Psychology Department, LAS
Nathan Price, Instructor, English Department, LAS
Celeste Delbar, Instructor, English Department, LAS
Angie Dodson, Faculty Development Coordinator, FRC
For this GIFT Exchange, interactively engage with Mike, Nathan, and Angie in how to use Hypothes.is for:
- engaging more students in course readings (including the course syllabus),
- annotating for rhetorical analysis, and
- varying how students interact with course content, the instructor, and each other.
Video Recording | Session Slides
Session 3: Instructional Videos Using Universal Design for Learning Guidelines, Part II: Supporting Learner Autonomy
Thursday, October 6, 2:00-2:45 pm
Faculty Resource Center, Columbine 203
Ann Amicucci, Ph.D., Associate Professor, English Department, LAS
Join this GIFT Exchange to engage with Ann in:
- an overview of UDL guidelines for creating opportunities for learner autonomy and how to apply these guidelines to instructional videos,
- a review of the set-up of an example course module and discussion about where learners are given autonomy in relation to video instruction and how the module could be revised to increase learner autonomy, and
- a discussion about revisions participants can make to their course modules using what they’ve learned.
Video Recording | Session Slides
Session 4: Proactive Approach to Reducing Digital Fatigue
Wednesday, October 12, 11:00-11:45 am
Faculty Resource Center, Columbine 203
Angie Dodson, M.Ed., Faculty Development Coordinator, FRC
Over the past two years, personal, academic, and professional use of digital technologies has increased lending to apathy, disengagement, and fatigue. Join Angie to discuss actions both faculty and students can take to help recognize, remedy, and prevent digital fatigue.
Video Recording | Session Slides | Strategies for Lessening Digital Fatigue Handout | Inclusive Group Work Handout
Session 5: Quick Tips for Inclusive Teaching: UDIT Showcase
Tuesday, October 25, 11:00-11:45 am
Amy Anderson, Ph.D., MFA, MALS, Lecturer, Visual and Performing Arts, LAS
Seeking to create an inclusive learning experience through equity of voice, Amy will share her strategies for facilitating “an online space built with the intention of synergistic co-creation of knowledge that meets each adult learner where they are and gives them a chance to participate equally.”
Video Recording | Session Slides
Session 6: Students as Editors and Creators of OER
Friday, October 28, 2:00-2:45 or 3:15-4:00 pm
Baye Herald, MA, Senior Instructor, Technical Communications and Information Design (TCID), LAS
Angie Dodson, M.Ed., Faculty Development Coordinator, FRC
As a part of the OER SUCCESS at UCCS event, Baye and Angie will share ways for students to be creators and editors of open educational resources.
Video Recording | Session Slides
Session 7: Sneak Peek at Small Teaching: Everyday Lessons from the Science of Learning
Wednesday, November 9, 2:00-2:45 pm
Lynnane George, Ph.D., Senior Instructor, Mechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Angie Dodson, M.Ed., Faculty Development Coordinator, FRC
As a part of ACCESS @ UCCS Week Lynnane and Angie will introduce the three forms of “small teaching” as a pre-cursor to the Spring 2023 Teaching Circle featuring James M. Lang’s Small teaching: Everyday Lessons from the Science of Learning.
Session 1: Using Read & Write in the Classroom
Tuesday, January 25, 1:45 – 2:30, Leyna Bencomo, Assistive Technologist Specialist
Make your classes easier to access without doing extra work! Introduce Read & Write to students on day one and minimize the number of accommodations you need to make for students.
Session 1 - Recording | Read & Write Download Instructions
Session 2: Creating Accessible Digital Course Documents
Thursday, January 27, 1:45 – 2:30, Sharon Stevens, FRC Faculty Development Coordinator
When creating course documents using Microsoft Word or Canvas Pages, a few simple digital accessibility principles are relevant for almost all document types. In this session, you will use a few principles to improve the readability and accessibility of your course materials and documents. Have a course syllabus, Word document, or Canvas Page open, and you will have the opportunity to apply these principles.
Session 2 - Recording | PowerPoint | Digital ACCESS Checklist
Session 3: Using Practical Neuroscience as Scaffolded Engagement for Online Course Content
Thursday, February 3, 1:45 – 2:30, Dr. Sarah Long, Assistant Director Gateway Program Seminar, Undergraduate Education
Do you have a brain or are you a brain? This session introduces practical neuroscience strategies to scaffolded engagement using brain-bender activities that scaffold weekly course content.
Session 3 - Recording available on request
Session 4: Mentoring the Student Research Experience
Monday, February 7, 12:15 – 1:00, James R. Van Scotter II, Assistant Professor, College of Business
Much peer-reviewed scholarly research suggests student participation in research projects can be an important part of strategies for increasing student, engagement, retention, graduation, and career outcomes. While the benefits for students are pretty clear, many faculty have not worked on scholarly research projects with students and might be unsure about how to make the research experience beneficial for both the students and the faculty mentors. In this workshop, we will discuss some best practices for making research mentorship successful for students and faculty: techniques for identifying prospective research assistants, student training for research, ideal types of projects for new RA’s, intermediate and senior RA’s, administrative requirements, resources, and how to handle advising and mentorship.
Session 4 - PowerPoint
Session 5: Create a Jigsaw to Engage Students in Canvas Assignments and Discussions
Wednesday, February 16, 12:15 – 1:00, Angie Dodson, FRC Instructional Designer
This session offers strategies for effectively utilizing the jigsaw method for interactively engaging students in discussions or assignments. The jigsaw method creates an opportunity for students to become experts on particular topics, issues, and processes and then share their expertise with others. It is an alternative approach to learning that encourages students to contribute from their own knowledge, skills, and experiences that combine with others to construct a rich, more comprehensive learning experience.
Session 5 - Recording
Session 6: Quick Tips for Inclusive Teaching from the Universal Design for Inclusive Teaching Grant Recipients
Tuesday, February 22, 1:45 – 2:30, Facilitated by Angie Dodson, FRC Instructional Designer and Sharon Stevens, FRC Faculty Development Coordinator
This session introduces the Universal Design for Inclusive Teaching (UDIT) badge program. Faculty participating in the Summer 2021 badge program will discuss the UDIT strategies they implemented into their teaching and the impact on students.
Session 6 - Recording | PowerPoint
Session 7: Using a Course Theme to Engage Students
Wednesday, March 2, 12:15 – 1:00, Mandi Elder, Associate Professor, College of Nursing & Health Sciences
Utilizing a theme to structure your course, regardless of the content, can enhance student engagement by offering them interesting hooks rather than the typical modules, units, homework, and exams. Invite them to be detectives, superheroes, mountain climbers, or athletes. Gain inspiration from your favorite hobby, board game, or genre related activities. This GIFT session will help you see how to use common everyday activities and turn them into a theme for your course and craw your students into the course while you get to have some fun making it happen.
Session 7 - Recording
Supporting Non-Native English Speakers in the Classroom
Tuesday, September 14, 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM, Grant Clayton, College of Education
We all have non-native English speakers in our classes. In this GIFT Exchange, I will share some high-leverage practices for helping these students succeed. The second half will include time for discussion and guided practice based on participant interest.
Recording | Audio Only | PowerPoint
Creating Knowledge Checks in Canvas Using New Quizzes
Wednesday, September 29, 3:15 PM – 4:00 PM, Brandon Poulliot, Faculty Resource Center
Knowledge Checks, a student success strategy, are questions designed to help students learn a topic and allow students to assess their own progress in a course. In this GIFT Exchange, you will learn how to implement knowledge checks into your Canvas course using New Quizzes. Canvas New Quizzes features include a series of feature enhancements and new item types for a more interactive assessment experience for your students.
Recording | Audio Only | Presentation
Design an Engaging Online Course in Canvas
Tuesday, October 5, 1:45 PM – 2:40 PM, Sharon Stevens, Faculty Resource Center
Student engagement in an online course is essential for student success. This GIFT Exchange provides student-focused strategies as you create an engaging online course using the Universal Design for Learning Principles.
Recording | Audio Only | Presentation
Making Headlines and Memes
Wednesday, October 13, 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM, Tre Wentling, Women’s and Ethnic Studies
Do headlines spark your interest? Have you shared a meme with others or imitated it yourself? Making Headlines and Memes is a creative assignment that promotes active reading, writing practice, and oral communication as well as the promise for engaging in-class discussions.
Recording | Audio Only | Resource Handout
Can We Do This in Online Teaching?
Wednesday, October 20, 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM, YongJei Lee, School of Public Affairs
Sometimes, it is hard to know what you can or can’t do in online teaching. Under COVID-19, it is getting more important for students to experience the same level of learning environment watching online lectures asynchronously. UCCS has been offering a state-of-the-art cloud computing platform to faculty, staff, and students and many of us do not realize this exists. The presenter will share some of his experiences using the UCCS Remote Desktop platform, including how it started, how the system has been improved, and what we can or can’t do using this platform. A simple manual to access the UCCS Remote Desktop platform will be provided as well.
Recording | Audio Only | Resource Handout
OER SUCCESS Stories: Gathering, Customizing, and Creating
Tuesday, October 26, 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM, Facilitated by Angie Dodson, Faculty Resource Center. Panelists: Lynnane George, CU Open Educational Resources Champion, College of Engineering and Applied Science; Amy Anderson, Visual and Performing Arts Department; Katherine Cliff, Mathematics Department; Dan Olson, School of Public Affairs; and Rebecca Theobald, Geography and Environmental Studies Department
Have you ever wondered about how Open Educational Resources (OER) are being successfully utilized around campus? Join us for a showcase of OER that have been successfully gathered, customized, and even individually created for varying courses on campus. You will have a chance to witness the strategies used, the challenges encountered, and the successes experienced in these individual OER journeys so you, too, can experience OER success!