Webinar Recordings

Please follow our YouTube channel, where you can watch all our recorded webinars.

Past Webinars by Semester

Webinar Series: Back to School Tune Up Sessions

Introduction to Graduate Student Well Being

Wednesday, August 14 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am PST on Zoom
Host: Aisha Iqbal-Ruiz, Visiting Researcher from Maastricht University

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As Ph.D. students, you’re not strangers to balancing conflicting responsibilities such as coursework and research. If you, at times, feel that your course load is unsustainable, that you enjoy your studies less than you’d want to, or that you feel less connected or engaged with your course content or research, you might be interested in working on your well being. We are offering a coaching trajectory, starting in late August, to help you gain agency over your well being and recovery.

We have designed a coaching trajectory with the following elements:

1. 1. 1. Assist you in reflecting on your current state of well being.
    2. Help you identify your coping strategies.
    3. Exploring necessary steps to achieve your desired state of well being and identifying contextual elements that support or hinder well being.
    4. Understanding strategies for resilience and the triggers for these strategies.
    5. Understanding the best ways to recover from work fatigue and strain at work.

This workshop involves several individual and group coaching sessions. You will develop your own vision of well being and set goals to achieve it. Our approach is broad; you will be free to work on any area of your life that you find relevant to being well in your PhD.

Join this 1-hour pre-workshop to get a feeling for the activities in the coaching journey. It will be hosted by Aisha Iqbal-Ruiz, a visiting researcher and PhD candidate in Educational Research from Maastricht University.

Using ChatGPT-4o in Research

Wednesday, August 14 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm PST on Zoom
Host: Robert Klitgaard, CGU Professor

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This hands-on, half-day workshop provides examples and inspiration for using ChatGPT-4o in your research. Topics include thinking through research questions, doing data analysis, anticipating biases in ourselves and our audiences, inclusive research, and presenting results including various kinds of publications and presentations. Participants should enroll in advance in ChatGPT Plus.

Using AI in Graduate School

Thursday, August 15 from 10:00 to 11:00 am PST on Zoom
Host: Shelby D. Lamar, Associate Director of CAFE

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools have gained massive traction in the last few years, yet there are still a lot of questions around using AI in higher education. Join us to learn more about types of AI, what tools might be useful in graduate school, and how to maintain academic integrity in your educational journey.

Learn to Use Zotero for Your Research & Writing

Thursday, August 15 from 1:00 to 2:00 pm PST on Zoom
Host: Jonathan Aragon, CAFE Fellow

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Reference management software is a scholar’s best friend! This workshop gives you tools to thrive during graduate school by showing how the free reference management software Zotero can save time and prevent citation frustrations. Organizing all your sources, reading notes, and entering citations manually can be overwhelming and cost precious time, especially when working on a long-term project like a thesis or dissertation. When working on a project, you may find that you forget what you have read, don’t remember where your notes are located, or can’t find the source of that amazing quote! The earlier you start using a reference management system, the easier it will be to take notes, write papers, make bibliographies, and organize your research. Come learn how to use Zotero and make grad life easier! Contact: jonathan.aragon@claremont.edu

Every Semester Needs a Plan

Thursday, August 15 from 3:00 to 4:00 pm PST on Zoom
Host: Shelby D. Lamar, Associate Director of CAFE

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Start of your academic year strong by making a plan to achieve a productive Fall semester. This workshop will cover five tools that can help you overcome typical challenges of a productive semester. Learn five steps to create your own plan and see what other students are planning too!\

2024 Fall

The Accessibility Advantage: Boost Student Success With ADA-Compliant Canvas Courses

Wednesday, October 16, 2024, 12:00-1:00 pm
Host: Violet Luxton, CAFE Fellow
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Turn accessibility into your classroom’s superpower—maximize student engagement through ADA compliance in Canvas. This webinar will guide educators on how to create ADA-compliant and inclusive online classrooms using Canvas. We will explore the tools and techniques to ensure digital accessibility, making your course materials more inclusive for students with disabilities.

TA Roles: What to Expect and What is Expected

Friday, January 19, 2024, 12:00-1:00 pm
Host: Dr. M. Gloria González-Morales, CAFE Director
Co-Host: Shelby D. Lamar, CAFE Associate Director
View the recording

The session aims to equip TAs with practical tools and insights to navigate their responsibilities with competence, fostering a positive and enriching learning experience for the learning community. Attendees will gain insights into the responsibilities and expectations associated with being a TA. We will discuss common challenges faced by TAs and provide tips for overcoming them; importance of clear and efficient interaction with both students and faculty; strategies for managing the grading process effectively; the talk emphasizes the significance of professionalism and ethics.

CAFE Certificates Overview

Monday, January 22, 2024, 12:00-1:00 pm
Host: Shelby D. Lamar, CAFE Associate Director
Co-Host: Jonathan Aragon, CAFE Fellow
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The Center for Academic & Faculty Excellence (CAFE) at CGU has two certificates you can earn while completing your main degree program. Join us to learn about the certificates, our courses, and answers to frequently asked questions. Come see how CAFE can help you on your journey as a scholar and professional.

How to Support International Students in Courses

Thursday, January 25, 2024, 12:00-1:00 pm
Host: Dr. Sarah Aburaisi, CAFE Fellow
Co-Host: Eric Thomas, CAFE Fellow
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This webinar is designed for graduate school professors to provide them with practical tools and insights to effectively support international students. The session aims to highlight the unique challenges faced by these students and underscore the importance of cultural sensitivity in creating an inclusive academic environment. Attendees will explore various responsibilities and expectations related to teaching international students. We will delve into common challenges and offer strategies for overcoming them, emphasizing the importance of clear and efficient communication with students from diverse backgrounds. The webinar will also provide tips on tailoring teaching methods to meet the needs of a global classroom, managing grading processes fairly, and upholding professionalism and ethical standards in academia. This session is an invaluable opportunity for educators to refine their approach, ensuring a positive and enriching learning experience for the entire learning community.

2023 Fall

Equitable Practices to Support LGBTQ Students as Professors

Tuesday, September 19th, 12:00pm-1:00pm
Host: Bri Sérráno, Queer Resource Center
Co-host: Shelby D. Lamar, Associate Director
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Join the Queer Resource Center in discussing how to support and affirm LGBTQ students in the classroom environment and as an educator. Topics covered will include affirming and inclusive language, providing inclusive curriculum, and concepts of gender and sexuality. The QRC will also answer any questions you may have regarding supporting LGBTQ students.

Managing Imposter Syndrome in Graduate School

Monday, September 25th, 12:00pm-2:00pm
Host: Jonathan Aragon, CAFE Fellow
Co-host: Patrick Martin, The Mental Health Toolbox

Embark on a practical journey of self-discovery in our upcoming webinar, where you will delve into the art of reputation management, seize opportunities, and refine your pathway to success both during your time in graduate school and beyond.
During the initial hour, we will delve into the fundamental concepts surrounding imposter syndrome – a phenomenon that frequently infiltrates the experiences of graduate students. Unearth the various ways in which this phenomenon can take hold and gain insights into powerful strategies meticulously designed to dismantle its grasp.
The subsequent hour will witness a transition to an intimate and confidential in-person session, fostering an environment of candid exchange among participants. This dedicated segment offers a secure space where your challenges will find empathetic ears, and expert guidance will pave the way toward practical, effective solutions tailored to your unique circumstances.
Open to all students within the 7c realm, this transformative experience is offered entirely free of charge. Join us as we combine the advantages of virtual and in-person engagement, granting you an enriched learning adventure

Make Your Presentations Fun and Interactive

Wednesday, October 11th, 12:00pm-1:00pm
Host: Dr. Sarah Aburaisi, CAFE Fellow
Co-host: Dr. Tamar Salibian, Adjunct Faculty
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Defeat presentation fatigue by making your lectures fun and interactive! In this webinar we will give practical ideas and do a deep dive into how interactive lectures can help your presentation skills.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools in Higher Education

Wednesday, October 18th, 12:00pm-1:00pm
Host: Shelby D. Lamar, Associate Director
Co-host: Dr. Sarah Aburaisi, CAFE Fellow
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Artificial intelligence is taking the world by storm and higher education is no exception. ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence large language module tool designed by OpenAI. It can answer questions and commands written in natural language and respond with answers, novel content, code, and more. This webinar will cover the basics of how to use ChatGPT, then we will discuss how it can be integrated into courses and assignments.

Research Management Software Part 1: How to Use Zotero

Wednesday, November 8th, 12:00pm-1:30pm
Host: Shelby D. Lamar, Associate Director
Co-Host: Jonathan Aragon, CAFE Fellow
View the Video

Research Management Software Part 2: How to Organize Your Research with Zotero

Wednesday, November 15th, 12:00pm-1:30pm
Host: Shelby D. Lamar, Associate Director
Co-Host: Jonathan Aragon, CAFE Fellow
Video recording coming soon

2023 Spring

Webinar Best Practices

Wednesday, Feb 8, 12:00pm-1:00pm PST
Host: Jonathan Aragon, CAFE Fellow
Co-host: Jessi Knippel, CAFE Fellow
View the Video

Make your webinars and presentations more engaging and memorable. Learn practical tips you can easily apply regardless of the topic you are presenting.

Artificial Intelligence Tools like ChatGPT in Higher Education

Wednesday, Feb 15, 12:00pm-1:00pm PST
Host: Shelby D. Lamar, Associate Director
Co-host: Sarah Aburaisi, CAFE Fellow
View the Video

Artificial intelligence is taking the world by storm and higher education is no exception. ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence based natural language processing tool designed by OpenAI. It can answer questions and commands written in natural language and respond with answers, novel content, code, and more. This webinar will cover the basics of how to use ChatGPT, then we will discuss how it can be integrated into courses and assignments.

Negotiating Faculty Contracts

Thursday, Feb 23, 1:00pm-2:00pm PST
Hosts: Provost Michelle Bligh & CAFE Director M. Gloria González-Morales
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How do you navigate the negotiation once you get an offer? It is such an exciting position to be in, and a lot of questions may come up:
– How much negotiating power do you really have?
– How is salary negotiated and what other things are on the table?
– How do you negotiate across intersectional identities?
Join our Provost Michelle Bligh and CAFE Director Gloria Gonzalez in a conversation about negotiating your first faculty contract. They will share their expertise in organizational psychology and their experience in both sides of the table.

How to Manage Imposter Syndrome in Graduate School

Wednesday, March 8, 12:00pm-1:00pm PST
Host: Jonathan Aragon, CAFE Fellow
Co-host: Lauren Davila, CAFE Fellow
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In this practical webinar, you will learn how to manage your reputation, your opportunities, your approach to success, and how to transform your mindset so that you stress less and get more done by putting an end to unproductive habits such as perfectionism, which can become a long-term career problem if left unchecked. In addition, we will discuss the basics of imposter syndrome, and how it hijacks the experience of many graduate students. We will also discuss why mentors often overlook this, and instead attempt to address the symptoms by teaching less helpful skills, such as time management and goal setting. If you take this time to invest in understanding yourself, and the latent drivers of false imposter behaviors, you can take control of your path to degree attainment and will likely leave with a renewed sense of empowerment and control over your destiny.

Designing Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Monday, April 3, 12:00pm-1:00pm PST
Host: Sarah Aburaisi, CAFE Fellow
Co-host: Holly Allen, CAFE Fellow
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When creating a cake we need a recipe or scaffolding of some sort to garner the end result we are looking for, a tasty cake. The same is true in the class room, Student Learning Outcomes are part of the scaffolding that helps the teacher and student have a clear idea of the course objectives and how they will be achieved. The clarity and subsequent effectiveness of Student Learning Outcomes offers an accessible and solid rubric and assessment for both parties when it comes to accomplishing the goals of learning and completing the course.

How to teach English as a Second Language and TOEFL

Tuesday, April 4, 12:00pm-1:00pm PST
Hosts: Sarah Aburaisi, CAFE Fellow and Holly Allen, CAFE Fellow
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You may have considered traveling abroad to teach. The chance to practice your pedagogy in a new environment, a new culture. You may have heard of a wealth of job openings related to teaching ESL, some of which might require the TOEFL certification. This webinar will explore what the TOEFL is, as well as why and where it is typically required. This webinar will also cover what it may be like to work for a foreign language company and some of the basic principles of teaching ESL and associated topics.

Building a Social Media Presence as a Professional in Higher Education

Thursday, April 13, 2023, 12:00pm-1:00pm PST
Host: Alegria Martinez, CGU Social Media Specialist
Co-hosts: Jonathan Aragon and Jessi Knippel, Center for Academic & Faculty Excellence Fellows
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Join us for a discussion on social media! We will cover best practices for increasing your engagement and reach on social media platforms, especially on LinkedIn. We will focus on tips for faculty and future faculty, but everyone is encouraged to join and learn!

2022 Fall

TA Roles: What to Expect and What is Expected

Wednesday, September 7, 12:00pm-1:00pm PST
Host: M. Gloria Gonzalez-Morales, Faculty Director
Co-host: Shelby Lamar, PFF Associate Director
View the Slides – View the Video

During this session, we will take some time to explain and share the tasks and responsibilities associated with TA roles. We will focus on how to manage your time as a TA, how to negotiate responsibilities with the professor, and we will discuss professionalism and ethics related to be a TA at CGU.

Crafting your Teaching Philosophy Statement (TPS)

Friday, September 30, 12:00pm-1:00pm PST
Host: Noah Ringler, PFF Fellow and Career & Professional Development (CPD)
View the Slides – View the Video

A teaching philosophy statement (TPS) concisely communicates your personal values and beliefs about education and is often a required document when you apply for teaching positions. In this webinar, we will discuss ways to craft your TPS to highlight your journey as an educator by showcasing showcase your background, values, and approach to teaching.

The Basics of Diversity Statements

Friday, October 7, 12:00pm-1:00pm PST
Host: Holly Allen, PFF Fellow and Career & Professional Development (CPD)
View the Slides – View the Video

What makes an educator inclusive? How does a college looking to hire a professor or lecturer know if an applicant is inclusive or not? An educator is not truly welcoming and inclusive if they do not value diversity. Most academic institutions require educators that are applying for positions to supply them with a Diversity Statement. A Diversity Statement should ideally attest to the inclusive nature of the applicant’s pedagogy. This webinar will explain what a Diversity Statement is, what should be included in your Diversity Statement, and how to produce one.

Research Management Software Part 1: How to Use Zotero

Wednesday, October 19, 12:00pm-1:00pm PST
Host: Jonathan Aragon, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: M. Gloria Gonzalez-Morales, Faculty Director
View the Slides – View the Video

This is part one of two webinars on Zotero. The next webinar (part 2) will cover how to organize your research sources and notes within Zotero.

Research Management Software Part 2: How to Organize Your Research and Notes with Zotero

Wednesday, October 26, 12:00pm-1:00pm PST
Host: Shelby Lamar, PFF Associate Director
Co-Host: Jonathan Aragon, PFF Fellow
View the Slides – View the Video

This is part two of two webinars on Zotero. The previous webinar covered the basics of Zotero setup and use. Please watch the first webinar recording before coming to this webinar.

Starting Your Course from the Ground Up

Friday, November 4, 12:00pm-1:00pm PST
Host: Noah Ringler, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Holly Allen, PFF Fellow
View the Slides – View the Video

You have been provided with a brief course description and nothing else: now what? This webinar intends to answer that question by providing attendees with a step-by-step guide on how to build a course from the ground up. In this webinar, we will discuss creating effective learning outcomes, selecting assessment strategies that assist in building your learning outcomes, utilizing multiple modalities to assess student learning, and how to find your voice within your lectures. You will come out of this webinar with a clearer understanding of how to organically build an equitable and inclusive course from the bottom up.

Beyond Teaching and Research Part I: Service & Committees

Wednesday, November 9, 12:00pm-1:00pm PST
Moderator: M. Gloria Gonzalez-Morales, Division of Behavioral & Organizational Sciences
Faculty Panelists:
Melissa Rogers, Division of Politics & Economics
Jessica Clague DeHart, School of Community and Global Health
Joshua Goode, School of Arts & Humanities
Deborah Faye Carter, School of Educational Studies
View the Video

Teaching and research/scholarship are our main responsibilities as faculty but there is much more to it. Beyond teaching and researching, faculty are expected to serve their institutions, disciplines, and professions. Join us for a panel discussion where CGU faculty will share their experiences and tips about serving on committees and curating a meaningful service portfolio at different levels.

2022 Summer

Basics of Diversity Statements

Thursday, June 30, 4:00pm-5:00pm PST
Host: Liz Cardenas, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Jessi Knippel, PFF Fellow
View the Slides – View the Video

A diversity statement is a valuable tool when you practice teaching, research, leadership, and most other endeavors. Writing a diversity statement is an opportunity to narrate your journey as a teacher, scholar, and leader and articulate your values, beliefs, goals, and methods as an educator committed to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, both in the classroom and in larger contexts. This session will highlight important considerations in writing your diversity statement no matter what stage you are in.

During this webinar, you will learn:

1. What to include in your Diversity Statements.
2. How to integrate Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) in your statement.
3. How to communicate your experiences and commitment to embracing diversity and supporting inclusion and equity in education.
4. How to get more help developing your own Diversity Statements

How to Use Peer Reviews in Class

Thursday, July 14, 12:00pm-1:00pm PST
Host: Shamini Dias, Director of Transdisciplinary Curriculum and Special Projects
Co-Host: Jonathan Aragon, PFF Fellow
View the Slides – View the Video

Peer review is the implementation of peer-based learning methods as part of formative assessment. In peer-review, students are guided to provide feedback to each other to understand strengths and areas to improve in their classwork and assignments. Research by Linda Nilsen (2009), Lundstrom & Baker (2009), Reddy et al. (2020), and other scholars in different disciplines show that a guided dialogic process among peers helps students deepen knowledge, understand how to sharpen their work, and supports students to develop learning metacognition and learning how to learn skills. Not only does the depth of learning and quality of final work improve, but students also gain self-efficacy and independent learning skills that benefit them beyond our courses. Critical to effective peer-review that yields these benefits is the structure we set up and the facilitation processes we use to guide students through the process.

In this webinar you will learn:

1. How peer review supports learning and learning how to learn.
2. Strategies to implement peer-review in online and on-ground classes.

How to Organize Your Research and Notes with Zotero

Wednesday, July 20, 12:00pm-1:00pm PST
Host: Shelby Lamar, PFF Associate Director
Co-Host: Jonathan Aragon, PFF Fellow
RSVP for Zoom link
View the Slides – View the Video

Reference management software is a scholar’s best friend! This workshop gives you tools to thrive during graduate school by showing how the free reference management software Zotero can save time and prevent citation frustrations. Organizing all your sources, reading notes, and entering citations manually can be overwhelming and cost precious time, especially when working on a long-term project like a thesis or dissertation. When working on a project, you may find that you forget what you have read, don’t remember where your notes are located, or can’t find the source of that amazing quote! The earlier you start using a reference management system, the easier it will be to take notes, draft papers, make bibliographies, and organize your research. Learn how to use Zotero and make grad life easier!

In this webinar you will learn:

1. The importance of organizing your research and notes
2. The basics of the Zotero application
3. Organization methods within Zotero

How to Design Equitable Rubrics

Monday, July 25, 4:00pm-5:00pm PST
Host: Liz Cardenas, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Jessi Knippel, PFF Fellow
RSVP for Zoom link
View the Slides – View the Video

Rubrics are used as a learning and assessment tool that articulates the expectations for assignments. There are many forms of rubrics that can improve transparency, reflexivity and support inclusive learning environments. Rubrics are a valuable tool for equitable grading that explicitly describes criteria and allows learners to distinguish one score from another. Rubrics can be a great tool to establish accountability for the learner and the teacher because they require one to share the target and describe what it means to hit the target, which ensures everyone can hit desired targets.

During this webinar, you will learn:

1. What rubrics are, and how they are useful.
2. Some basic types of rubrics
3. Design rubrics that are equitable.

Basics of Teaching Philosophy Statements

Wednesday, July 27, 4:30pm-5:30pm PST
Host: Jessi Knippel, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Liz Cardenas, PFF Fellow
RSVP for Zoom link
View the Slides – View the Video

Why and how we teach are important things to know, they are the elements that contour where we choose to teach and with whom we seek to teach. This is where a teaching philosphy comes into play, it is one of the places where we get to think and reflect on what and how we engage others.

During the course of this webinar we will address:

1. The basic elements that make up a TPS
2. Best Practices when writing a TPS
3. Where to include TPS and how to make it flexible for various employment and opportunities

How to Write Effective Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Tuesday, Aug 2, 12:00pm-1:00pm PST
Host: Jessi Knippel, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Liz Cardenas, PFF Fellow
RSVP for Zoom link
View the Slides – View the Video

During this webinar we will go over:

1. How to create clear and effective Student Learning Outcomes.
2. What are the elements that make up effective SLOs
3. Talk through any questions you have about SLOs

Building Your Course From the Ground Up

Saturday, February 5, 11:00am-12:00pm PST
Host: Noah Ringler, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Liz Cardenas, PFF Fellow
View the Video

You have been provided with a brief course description of the course you are teaching and nothing else: now what? This webinar intends to answer that question by providing attendees with a step-by-step guide on how to build a course from the ground up. In this webinar, we will discuss creating effective learning outcomes, building assignments that feed into these outcomes, utilizing multiple modalities to assess student learning, and how to find your voice within your lectures. You will come out of this webinar with a clearer understanding of how to organically build an equitable and inclusive course from the ground level.

Diversity Statement 101: The Fundamentals of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

Friday, February 11, 12:00-1:00pm PST
Host: Liz Cardenas, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Holly Allen, PFF Fellow
View the Video

This session will highlight important considerations in writing your Diversity Statement. We will examine Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) from a systems lens and identify concrete strategies to teach, model, and practice inclusion for diverse learners. We will discuss ways to communicate your experiences and commitment to embracing diversity and supporting inclusion and equity in education.

Space for All: How to Make Your Classes More Accessible

Saturday, February 12, 12:00-1:00pm PST
Host: Holly Allen, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Liz Cardenas, PFF Fellow
View the Video

Before a professor even walks into a classroom, much about the accessibility of the space has already been decided. An institution’s stance on accessibility is clear with its choice of classroom layouts, furniture choices, lighting, and more. Despite the fact that the academic institution plays a major part in determining the level of accessibility for students, instructors also make many choices about accessibility in their courses. These choices can include asking students to use fragrance-free products, having an inclusive attendance policy, and avoiding differentiating between the use of marker colors on a whiteboard. These are all examples of ways an instructor might make an in-person class more accessible and equitable for disabled and chronically ill students. However, there are also actionable steps an instructor may follow to make their online or hybrid classes accessible including the use of dyslexia-friendly fonts, clear differences in color shades/ hues, and more. This webinar will cover strategies and tips to help disabled and chronically-ill students access, succeed, and feel welcomed in your courses.

Avoiding Classism in the Classroom: Creating Courses Without Great Cost

Friday, March 4, 12:00-1:00pm PST
Host: Holly Allen, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Jessi Knippel, PFF Fellow
View the Video

With high tuition costs, expensive textbooks, and supplies, and an expectation that students will have a certain level of access to technology, it is undeniable that higher education is an expensive affair. While the structure of higher education in the United States causes division in students by socioeconomic class, instructors should not add to the financial burdens students face. This webinar will cover a variety of ways in which an instructor might avoid adding required expenses to their courses. Topics covered will include free and affordable textbooks and materials, attention to expectations surrounding technology and background, and alternative options for extra credit opportunities and events.

An Introduction to Open Pedagogy: The What and the How

Saturday, March 5, 11:00am-12:00pm PST
Host: Noah Ringler, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Holly Allen, PFF Fellow
View the Video

Open pedagogy is a pedagogical technique that asks students to apply and create resources for others rather than simply being consumers of that information. By doing so, students gain a deeper understanding of the material and allow students to engage in experiential and active learning. Furthermore, the material created in the class can be continually revised and built upon by future sections. This webinar will provide details on what open pedagogy is and how to implement it in your classroom.

Coping with the Load Part 2: Reference Management Software

Thursday, March 10, 12:00-1:00pm PST
Host: Shelby Lamar, PFF Assistant Director
View the Video

First of Their Families: How to Assist First-Generation College Students in Your Courses

Friday, March 11, 12:00-1:00pm PST
Host: Holly Allen, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Noah Ringler, PFF Fellow
View the Video

Academic conferences, federal loans, double majors, and Phi Beta Kappa. These terms and more may be familiar to some but to a student with a guardian(s) who did not attend college, these terms may be completely foreign. A student whose mother received a PhD will have a much easier time navigating academia than a student whose guardians did not finish high school. The latter of the two may not even know how to word the questions or concerns that they have nor who to pose them to. This webinar will help you understand how you might help first-generation students in your courses. From the sharing of resources to a general willingness to advise, you can provide your first-generation students with the tools they need to succeed.

Place-Based Pedagogies: Integrating Place in Learning

Friday, April 1, 12:30-1:30 pm PST (Rescheduled due to holiday)
Host: Liz Cardenas, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Holly Allen, PFF Fellow
View the Video

Place-based pedagogies connect students to places and create awareness of their importance in students’ lives and the lives of others. Place-based approaches can lead to students becoming more invested in projects that relate to real places and lead to student-centered experiences by doing, discovering, reflecting, and applying. During this session, we will explore how place-based pedagogies can support student learning and growth mindset.

The Best Teaching Advice I Received: What It Was and How to Implement It

Saturday, April 9, 11:00am-12:00pm PST
Host: Noah Ringler, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Holly Allen, PFF Fellow
View the Video

When I first began teaching, I reached out to all my professors and asked them what they believed made them so effective. One professor’s response has stood with me all this time. Put simply, he said you need to find your voice in the classroom, which can take some time, and you need to make sure the learning experience engages you. If it isn’t, can you expect it to engage others? This webinar discusses one professor’s advice and provides pragmatic details on how to implement it in your classroom.

Learning to Lead: Linkages Between Adult Learning and Leadership Development

Saturday, April 30, 12:00-1:00pm PST
Host: Liz Cardenas, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Noah Ringler, PFF Fellow
View the Video

The pandemic has brought new challenges requiring leaders across many disciplines to learn new strategies, competencies, and skills to lead their organizations successfully. This webinar will summarize key adult learning theories and their application to leadership development. We will explore the connections between leadership development and adult learning theories then conclude with a discussion on the implications these linkages may have for leadership development, education, and training.

2021 Summer

Diversity Statement 101: The Fundamentals of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

Friday, June 4, 12:00-1:00 pm
Host: Liz Cardenas, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Noah Ringler, PFF Fellow
View the Video

Lessons Learned: Enhancing the Student Experience in Online Courses

Wednesday, June 9, 12:00-1:00 pm
Host: Noah Ringler, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Jonathan Aragon, PFF Fellow
View the Video

The rapid transition to teaching online has been challenging for both students and faculty alike. Even as we look toward recovery from the pandemic and return to on-ground teaching, online teaching is likely to continue with a greater presence in education. This webinar details the most common student complaints about online courses and provides strategies on how to remedy these issues to create a more inclusive and engaging experience for students in online courses.

Developing Effective Student Learning Outcomes

Thursday, June 17, 12:00-1:00 pm
Host: Noah Ringler, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Liz Cardenas, PFF Fellow
View the Video

Developing effective student learning outcomes is a linchpin to successful course design and assessment. This webinar will provide participants with a step–by–step guide on how to develop student learning outcomes that are quantifiable, equitable, and driven by backward design. By doing so, both educators and students will be able to more accurately gauge the extent to which the course fulfilled their expectations and goals.

Well-Being In Teaching and Learning: Fighting Zoom/Virtual Fatigue

Tuesday, June 29, 1:00-2:00 pm
Host: Jonathan Aragon, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Jessi Knippel, PFF Fellow
View the Video

In this webinar, you will gain a better understanding of Zoom fatigue (AKA virtual fatigue), and how to mitigate it in your classes. The webinar format will consist of a mix of research findings, and a discussion of experience-based practice tips from PFF, and others who wish to share. By the end of this webinar, you will have gained a more mindful understanding of Zoom/Virtual fatigue, and some hacks to add to your teacher toolbox. Feel free to come ready with questions or tips related to these struggles, it will only make the experience richer, but participation is not required or expected.

Inclusive Learning Management Systems: Designing a Student-Centered Front Page

Tuesday, July 6, 1:00-2:00 pm
Host: Jonathan Aragon, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Jessi Knippel, PFF Fellow
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Learning Management Systems (LMS) in both online and on-ground teaching. LMS help students navigate and engage with their course. But they can be confusing and time consuming for many. An intentional inclusively designed Front Page in your LMS can make all the difference to effective engagement, focus, and learning. This webinar goes beyond technical “how-to” and focuses on student-centered concepts of front-page design to facilitate easy and intuitive course navigation.

TRANSforming the Classroom: Teaching Strategies that Support Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender Nonconforming Students

Saturday, July 10, 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Host: Shelby Lamar, PFF Assistant Director
Co-Host: Kay Lamar, Pasadena City College Professor
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Have you checked that your classroom environment, syllabi, activities, and teaching practices are inclusive to transgender, nonbinary, agender, and gender-nonconforming students? This workshop will discuss best practices in creating a safe, inclusive, and open classroom environment for students of all gender identities. Co-facilitators, Catherine Lamar and Shelby Lamar, will discuss strategies that educators can use when designing course materials, syllabi, first-day-of-class activities, and student resources that support and affirm LGBTQ+ students. Attendees will leave this session with tangible practices to implement in classrooms, including a checklist to design your course with gender-inclusive practices.

2021 Spring

Faculty Websites: Getting Started with Content

Tuesday, February 2, 1:00-2:00 pm
Host: Jonathan Aragon, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Shamini Dias, PFF Director
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In this session you will learn the why and what of faculty websites and view some example sites. If you are just looking to learn more, ready to set up your first site, or looking to expand your existing site, there will be useful takeaway resources for you in this webinar.

Providing Quality Feedback

Tuesday, February 9, 1:00-2:00 pm
Host: Jonathan Aragon, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Liz Cardenas, PFF Fellow
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In this session, you will learn some strategies for providing feedback to your students that will be useful for developing their assignments, interests, and professional identities. Additionally, we will explore different modes for providing feedback that will help with student engagement, instructor efficiency, and foster class relationships.

Diversity Statement 101: The Fundamentals of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

Wednesday, February 17, 12:00-1:00 pm
Host: Liz Cardenas, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Jonathan Aragon, PFF Fellow
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Learning Management Systems – Meaningful and Effective Discussion Forums

Tuesday, February 23, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Host: Jonathan Aragon, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Liz Cardenas, PFF Fellow
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In this session, you will learn how to improve student engagement in online discussions by connecting those discussions to a meaningful purpose, and by utilizing features available in the Canvas environment. By the end of this webinar, you will have several strategies to deploy in your classes.

Transformational Teaching and Learning:
An Overview of Kristen Olson’s Wounded by School: Recapturing the Joy in Learning and Standing Up to Old School Culture

Thursday, February 25, 1:00-2:00 pm
Host: Catherine Conner, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Noah Ringler, PFF Fellow
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Engagement in learning is critical for student success. Unfortunately, school can alienate many individuals, resulting in life-long “school wounds” that extend far beyond the classroom. By examining and understanding the wounds of schooling, how schools wound, and what we can do about it, we can avoid wounding students and work to transform their learning. In this webinar, we will use Kristen Olson’s Wounded by School to help us reconsider our teaching strategies.

Assessing Student Learning: Alternatives to Letter Grading

Tuesday, March 2, 12:00-1:00 pm
Host: Noah Ringler, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Jonathan Aragon, PFF Fellow
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Our grades should accurately reflect the skills we are trying to build in the classroom. While traditional grading techniques can be effective, there are alternative ways to provide students with grades that may feel less punitive. In this webinar, I will go over several alternative grading strategies such as ungrading and gamification.

Organizing Research: Tools and Strategies

Wednesday, March 3, 12:00-1:30 pm
Host: Shelby Lamar, PFF Asst. Director
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Come learn how to organize your research and make grad life easier. This workshop gives you tools to thrive during graduate school by showing how reference management software can save time and prevent citation frustrations.

Transformational Teaching and Learning: Using Productive Struggle in the Classroom

Thursday, March 11, 1:00-2:00 pm
Host: Catherine Conner, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Shamini Dias, PFF Director
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Resilience. Perseverance. Grit. These are qualities often associated with academic rigor and success. However, the paths to helping students develop these qualities are not always clear. In this webinar, we will discuss how using productive struggle in the classroom can help students develop and strengthen these traits, and how the role of teacher as “warm demander” can infuse empathy into an academically rigorous class environment.

How to be an Antiracist Educator

Thursday, March 25, 12:00-1:00 pm
Host: Liz Cardenas, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Noah Ringler, PFF Fellow
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As the words antiracist and equity can become dangerously trendy, educators should pause and examine what they truly mean. Ibram X. Kendi, a leading antiracist scholar and New York Times bestselling author, states: “the only way to undo racism is to consistently identify it and describe it—and then dismantle it.” This session will review Dr. Kendi’s book “How To Be An Antiracist” and share key takeaways about how it applies to educators.

Developing Effective Student Learning Outcomes

Tuesday, March 30, 12:00-1:00 pm
Host: Noah Ringler, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Catherine Conner, PFF Fellow
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Developing effective student learning outcomes is a linchpin to successful course design and assessment. This webinar will provide participants with a step–by–step guide on how to develop student learning outcomes that are quantifiable and driven by backward design. By doing so, both educators and students will be able to more accurately gauge the extent to which the course fulfilled their expectations and goals.

Writing Your Teaching Philosophy Statement

Tuesday, April 6, 1:00-2:00 pm
Host: Catherine Conner, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Jonathan Aragon, PFF Fellow
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In this webinar, we will discuss ways to craft your teaching philosophy statement to showcase your background, values, and approach to teaching along with your journey to becoming an educator.

Growth Mindset for Grad School

Friday, April 9, 12:00pm-1:30pm
Host: Shamini Dias, PFF Director
Co-Host: Shelby Lamar, PFF Asst. Director
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This webinar is part of CGU’s First Year Experience program, but all are welcome.

In this webinar, we examine Carol Dweck’s work on Growth Mindset and its importance for learning success. We will explore strategies to foster a growth mindset as a capacity to help you flourish in your graduate studies.

Assessing Student Learning: Student Self-Assessment

Tuesday, April 13, 12:00-1:00 pm
Host: Noah Ringler, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Catherine Conner, PFF Fellow
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“Give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day; teach a man how to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime”. Assessment techniques that focus on student self-assessment rather than teacher assessment can help build life-long self-sufficient learners. This webinar will discuss several ways we can promote student self-assessment in our classrooms and build meta-cognition in our students.

Receiving Feedback in Grad School

Friday, April 23, 12:00pm-1:30pm
Host: Shelby Lamar, PFF Asst. Director
Co-Host: Shamini Dias, PFF Director
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This webinar is part of CGU’s First Year Experience program, but all are welcome.

Receiving feedback is an important part of learning and graduate school. But how do we respond to feedback? What can we do with it? In this webinar, we explore the role and impact of feedback in learning, and how you can build strategies to use feedback as a tool for sharpening your abilities and being successful in your graduate studies.

Equity-Centered and System Thinking Leadership in the Classroom

Wednesday, April 28, 12:00-1:00 pm
Host: Liz Cardenas, PFF Fellow
Co-Host: Noah Ringler, PFF Fellow
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This session focuses on equity-centered teaching leadership that strives to build inclusive learning environments where all students can thrive. We will build a shared understanding of the intersection of race, power, and privilege in our society and school systems. We will also explore ways to develop a system thinking mindset that ensures students have the tools to navigate, question, and undo systemic barriers.

2020 Fall

Academic Integrity in the Online Classroom

Tuesday, September 22, 4:00-5:00 pm
Facilitator: Catherine Conner, PFF Fellow
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In this webinar, we will discuss taking a proactive approach to academic integrity and explore some of the strategies you can use to develop a classroom culture that fosters honesty, integrity, and accountability while disincentivizing cheating.

How to Support LGBTQ+ Students in the Classroom

Tuesday, September 29, 12:00-1:00 pm
Facilitator: Shelby Lamar, PFF Assistant Director
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This webinar will explain the challenges LGBTQ+ college students most often face and give you specific strategies to improve your facilitation techniques, course design, and policies to help ensure you are engaging and supporting LGBTQ+ students in your courses.

Using Productive Struggle to Build Learner Persistence

Thursday, October 1, 4:00-5:00 pm
Facilitator: Shamini Dias, PFF Director
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Often, struggling in the classroom can present barriers to learning and can leave students feeling defeated. But can productive struggle be a factor in active learning, self-efficacy, and resiliency? In this webinar, we will explore this concept and think more about ways to balance support with scaffolding to help students sharpen their higher-order skills and content knowledge.

Facilitating Well-being in Your Classes: Aligning Academic and Health Outcomes

Tuesday, October 6, 1:00-2:00 pm
Facilitator: Jonathan Aragon, PFF Fellow
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The research shows that when well-being improves so does academic performance. This webinar will provide you with guidance on facilitating well-being through your implicit teaching and provide you with some takeaway tools you can start using today.

Coping with the Load: Reference Management Software

Tuesday, October 13, 12:00-1:00 pm
Facilitator: Shelby Lamar, PFF Assistant Director
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Value-Based Teaching: How to Align Your Values to Your Practice

Tuesday, October 13, 10:00-11:00 am
Facilitator: Noah Ringler, PFF Fellow
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It is common to teach both how and what we were taught. By doing this, we can unknowingly perpetuate unjust policies and learning environments that are not aligned with our values. This webinar will discuss the process of identifying your values and the reflexive processes needed to turn those values into actionable policies and assignments to help all your students succeed in a diverse and inclusive learning environment.

Inclusive, Future–Focused Scholarship: Using 3 Tech Tools to Publish Inclusive Scholarly Works

Tuesday, October 20, 1:00-2:00 pm
Facilitator: Jonathan Aragon, PFF Fellow
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In this webinar, I will demonstrate how to harness the potential of modern technology to produce inclusive and engaging scholarly works. By the end of this webinar, I will provide templates you can use to get started today.

Developing an Effective Teaching Portfolio

Tuesday, November 3, 12:00-1:00 pm
Facilitator: Liz Cardenas, PFF Fellow
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A teaching portfolio is a collection of information about your teaching practice. When carefully developed, portfolios can significantly advance your professional growth and demonstrate evidence of exemplary teaching. This webinar will discuss how you can use teaching portfolios effectively to assess your teaching quality and enhance reflexivity.

What Do the Best Teachers Do?

Tuesday, November 10, 10:00-11:00 am
Facilitator: Noah Ringler, PFF Fellow
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Ken Bain conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with the most successful college professors in the country and this webinar will summarize his results and help you implement his discoveries in your courses. The webinar will cover issues like course design, student and self-assessment, and identifying student outcomes. The eBook is free to all CGU students on the Claremont Colleges Library website at https://ccl.on.worldcat.org/oclc/761325075.

Understanding Teaching & Learning as a Complex Process: The Cynefin Framework

Thursday, November 19, 12:00-1:00 pm
Facilitator: Liz Cardenas, PFF Fellow
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Teaching and learning are some of the most complex human interactions and understanding complexity can help us be more agile and adaptive. The Cynefin framework from David Snowden is a powerful thinking tool used to make sense of complexity, discover and adapt, and embrace uncertainty and innovation. This webinar will explore how the Cynefin framework can be applied in the education landscape during times of crisis and change.

2020 Summer

Mastering Online Class Facilitation

Tuesday, July 7, 1:00 to 2:00 pm
Facilitator: Jonathan Aragon, PFF Fellow
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In this webinar, you will learn how to facilitate responsive, inclusive classes that make it hard to not succeed. The facilitation methods you learn in this webinar will dramatically reduce teacher administrative tasks and improve your students’ experience overall. The focus will be on facilitating asynchronous, synchronous, and blended models of instruction. You will not want to miss this!

Understanding Issues of Engagement

Thursday, July 9, 1:00-2:00 pm
Facilitator: Sarah Eckert, PFF Fellow
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In this webinar, we examine issues surrounding student engagement. We will explore possible reasons for student disengagement as well as how we might address such situations to promote learning and engagement.

Academic Integrity in Online Classes

Tuesday, July 14, 4:00-5:00 pm
Facilitator: Catherine Conner, PFF Fellow
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In this webinar, we will discuss taking a proactive approach to academic integrity and explore the strategies and tools you can use to develop a classroom culture that fosters honesty, integrity, and accountability.

Promoting Active Learning Online

Thursday, July 16, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Facilitator: Noah Ringler, PFF Fellow
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As many classes have moved online, both students and professors have struggled to maintain class engagement. This should come as no surprise as teaching courses online is relatively new for many and requires a different set of skills. Accordingly, this webinar reviews specific strategies to facilitate student engagement online including a flipped classroom, group discussions, and problem-based learning.

Managing Writing in Online Classes

Tuesday, July 21, 7:00 – 8:00 pm
Facilitator: Catherine Conner, PFF Fellow
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In this webinar, we will discuss some of the challenges of teaching writing online and how you can help students engage with writing in meaningful ways, synchronously or asynchronously. We will also explore assessment and feedback options.

Reflexivity in Crisis and Beyond: Strategies for Your Class

Thursday, July 23, 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Facilitator: Cristal Almonte, PFF Fellow
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In this webinar, educators will examine why practicing reflexivity during a time of crisis is important and how they may use reflexivity to inform their teaching to improve their communication with students and their assessments.

Assignments and Assessments Online

Tuesday, July 28, 4:00 – 5:00 pm
Facilitator: Shamini Dias, PFF Director
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Inclusive assignments and assessments support students in learning and mastery. How do we do this effectively in online spaces? In this webinar, we explore how to design online assignments and assessments that are formative and support students’ learning autonomy and self-efficacy.

Building Community in Online Courses

Thursday, July 30, 4:00 – 5:00 pm
Facilitator: Shelby Lamar, PFF Asst. Director
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Building a sense of community in our courses increases student achievement, learning, and retention. Yet, it often seems difficult to build and sustain a classroom community in an online environment. This webinar will explore research-backed principles and practices that can help you build community in synchronous and asynchronous online courses.