Faculty Workshop Series: ‘Transforming Hot Moments into Learning Opportunities’

The Office of Academic Affairs invites faculty to participate in the three-part, two-hour workshop series “Transforming Hot Moments into Learning Opportunities.” These fast-paced workshops will be offered several times in the spring semester, with the first workshop on Jan. 25, 10 a.m. to noon. Faculty interested in attending must register. The series, organized by the Office of Faculty Affairs, is part of the University’s commitment to professional development opportunities related to diversity, belonging, inclusion and equity.

The two-hour workshops help faculty navigate moments that can potentially undermine learning. By using tangible examples that may arise in a college/school/department context, the workshops help empower faculty to be leaders in the classroom, giving them the tools to transform “hot moments” into opportunities for profound learning.

“Hot moments are when someone says or does or something that creates inequity or communicates less than full inclusion of all students in the learning space,” says Jeffrey Mangram, Provost’s Faculty Fellow and associate professor of teaching and leadership in the School of Education. “This workshop can help a faculty member respond to these moments so they can right the ship and help students learn.”

The workshop’s three sessions will help faculty recognize when these hot moments arise and frame the intimate conversations that happen in classrooms when discussing race, ethnicity and identity. “We want people to continually engage in these learning opportunities around diversity and inclusion,” says Marie Garland, assistant provost for faculty affairs. “In this workshop, faculty can practice interactions and responding to interactions that decrease equity and inclusion in a learning environment.”

The second session of this workshop will be held Jan. 29, 1 to 3 p.m. and the third on Feb. 16, 10 a.m. to noon. Registration is required.

The workshops are inter-related, but not sequential. They are designed so faculty can attend starting with any of the three sessions and proceed with the remaining workshops.

Another session of “Transforming Hot Moments 1” will be held Feb. 24, 2 to 4 p.m.

Future sessions of “Transforming Hot Moments 2” will be held March 1, 2 to 4 p.m. and March 26, 1 to 3 p.m.

Sessions of “Transforming Hot Moments 3” will be held March 11, noon to 2 p.m. and April 16, 1 to 3 p.m.

For more information or questions about scheduling, email Jeff Mangram or Melissa Luke.