SciTrainU Workshops - Spring 2010

SciTrainU is a multi-facet grant project involving Georgia Tech's Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access (CATEA), the Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CETL), and the University of Georgia's Disability Resource Center (DRC).

Bring your lunch and join your colleagues to learn about new options for addressing the topics below.

To register, go to: http://www.cetl.gatech.edu/faculty/events/devsem.htm

Improving STEM Labs as Learning Environments
March 8, 2010 (Monday)
11:00 am-12:30 pm
Student Center Piedmont Room

How can you adapt your labs to students' needs while still maintaining the academic rigor that you and your departments require?

According to a 2006 report from Utah State University, there are three main strategies for designing labs that are accessible to all students: (1) adjust pedagogy, (2) modify equipment and environment, and (3) use technology. In this SciTrainU workshop, we will explore how we can adjust pedagogy to improve student learning in the lab environment. We'll consider various models of instructional design, including Universal Design for Learning, and work with you to determine how best to accomplish your instructional goals.

Improving Online Learning Environments
April 6, 2010 (Tuesday)
11:00 am-12:30 pm
Student Center Room 343

Not all students like the Internet--and neither do all instructors. Some struggle with it, and some are baffled by it. Some are just frustrated. Online sites that are quickly launched are often the worst--and for students with disabilities, these sites tend to be almost unusable.

This workshop will highlight several simple guidelines to keep in mind as you create a site and materials that is easy to navigate, comprehensible, and accessible for everyone. Using these guidelines will reduce the flood of repetitive questions that tend to plague instructors when online sites are not functioning well. Instead, you and your students will work together in an environment that supports learning.

Improving the Classroom Learning Environment
April 29, 2010 (Thursday)
11:00 am-12:30 pm
Student Center Crescent Room

As classes become larger and students become more diverse, many faculty are turning to the principles of "Universal Design" to reduce the barriers to learning that can easily be associated with higher education today. Join your colleagues for "Improving the Classroom Learning Environment" and find out how to:

(1) give your students more options for acquiring information and knowledge.
(2) provide multiple ways for your students to demonstrate what they know.
(3) use multiple means of engagement to tap into learners' interest, offer appropriate challenges, and increase motivation.

To register, go to: http://www.cetl.gatech.edu/faculty/events/devsem.htm