Events
The Trefny Center offers a range of programming around topics in teaching and learning. Please see below for a list of our upcoming workshops and other gatherings!
September Spotlight Series: Effective Teaching and Generative AI
Workshop: Effective Teaching with ChatGPT and Generative AI
Friday, September 8th
2:00 – 4:00 PM
Student Center Ballrooms B & C
How will generative artificial intelligence (genAI) impact our approaches to teaching and learning? What new skills and knowledge will our students need given the emergence of ChatGPT in both the workplace and at home? How can we move away from a punitive culture to a culture of support and trust with students? This interactive, collaborative workshop brings together Mines students, faculty, and staff to explore these questions. Participants will leave the event with tangible strategies for applying the “TEACH” framework for effective teaching and learning in the contexts of emerging generative AI.
This event is Open to all members of the Mines community.
Student Panel: What Mines Students Think About Generative AI and Their Learning
Tuesday, September 19th (via Zoom)
12:00-1:30 PM
How are Mines students thinking about and using generative AI in the classroom? How do they see it impacting their learning? Join us for this virtual webinar to hear perspectives from a panel of Mines undergraduates and graduate students. You’ll have a chance to ask our student panelists questions during the live Q&A!
This event is Open to THE PUBLIC.
SandBOX(ED) Lunch: EXPERIMENTING with Generative AI Tools
Wednesday, September 27th, 2023
12:00-1:00 PM (Lunch Provided)
Green Center 224
Want to experiment with various generative AI tools and brainstorm together with other educators? This event offers an informal, sandbox-style environment for you to play around with genAI tools and envision ways to implement them into your design of learning experiences. Please bring your laptop or web-enabled device. Boxed lunches and drinks will be provided!
This event is intended for Mines faculty and staff who work with students.
October Spotlight Series: Accessibility & Effective Teaching
Accessibility on Campus from the Student Perspective
Tuesday, October 3rd, 2023
3:30 – 5:00 pm
Student Center Ballroom A
What accessibility challenges have students faced in their courses and on campus? What strategies can faculty incorporate to make their courses more accessible to all students? A panel of students who have a disability will share their experiences and ways that faculty can support their learning. You’ll have a chance to hear from all panelists (3:30 – 4:30 pm) as well as ask more specific questions during breakout groups (4:30 – 5:00 pm).
This student panel discussion is open to the entire Mines community.
Accessible Instruction for All Students: Universal Design for Learning
Wednesday, October 18th, 2023
12:00 – 1:00 pm (Lunch provided)
Green Center 224
Are you interested in how you can make your course more accessible? The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework can help you create learning experiences optimized for all students. This workshop will give an overview of the UDL framework and provide examples of how to offer students options for accessing materials, engaging with the course, and expressing what they’re learning.
This workshop is intended for Faculty and Staff who work with students.
Accessibility: Strategies for Neuro-Inclusivity
Wednesday, October 25th, 2023
2:00 – 3:00 pm (Lunch provided)
Student Center Ballrooms D&E
Come hear what strategies your colleagues are using to support neurodiversity at Mines. During this workshop, several Mines community members will share their experiences supporting students and describe strategies that they are using on campus.
This workshop is intended for Faculty and Staff who work with students.
Join Us For Journal Club this Fall!
The Trefny Center hosts a journal club where we can discuss research related to teaching and learning and the implications for the classroom. During each Journal Club, we will discuss a different article related to education. Journal Club is intended primarily for Mines faculty and staff.
OCTOBER:
Culture of Overwork
Wednesday, October 4th, 2023
12:00 – 1:00 pm (lunch provided)
Green Center 200F
What are your lived experiences with a culture of overwork? Join us for lunch and to discuss the article “Engineering Faculty Members’ Experience of Professional Shame.” We want to open discussions around the culture of overwork for faculty in engineering education contexts and to brainstorm strategies to promote well-being and develop resilience.
November:
White Supremecy Culture in STEM
Wednesday, November 1st, 2023
10:00 am – 11:00 am (coffee/snacks provided)
Green Center 200F
How does White Supremacy Culture show up in STEM contexts? Are you wanting to create authentic and inclusive environments at Mines? Join us to discuss the article Acknowledging and Supplanting White Supremacy Culture in Science Communication and STEM. We can consider the ways in which White Supremacy Culture shows up in STEM contexts and opportunities to supplant White Supremacy Culture in our spheres of influence.
Active Learning Communities & Working Groups
Alternative Grading & Equitable Asssessment
This Learning Community grew out of our programming series on Ungrading in February 2023, which brought together 33 teaching faculty, tenure-track faculty, postdocs, and staff from across campus. Join us as we read, discuss, look at examples, share our work, and consider the grading practices we use in our classes! We will be holding regular meetings throughout Fall 2023. Sign up below to receive communications about the next meeting.
Core Curriculum Working Meetings
Friday, September 1, 1:00-2:00 pm, Green Center 224
Friday, October 6, 1:00-2:00 pm, Green Center 200F
Friday, November 3, 3:00-4:00 pm, Green Center 200F
Friday, December 1, 3:00 -4:00 pm, Green Center 224
Do you teach in the Core Curriculum? Are you interested in what’s happening in the Core? Join us for informal working meetings throughout the semester to discuss shared challenges and opportunities to make connections across courses.
Would your program or department be interested in hosting a Trefny workshop, training, or other event?