The Discover Series: Spring 2024

In accordance with the 2023 University Strategic Plan, Faculty Commons is committed to supporting faculty as they Discover, Engage, and Reach their fullest potential in the classroom. Faculty Commons presentations will explore pedagogical concepts and strategic goals designed to help our students succeed. Topics will include highlighting “diverse, meaningful, and accessible learning opportunities for all students;” providing “experiences that connect learners with real-world knowledge, skills, and opportunities;” creating technologically advanced “active learning” opportunities; and “promoting and assessing critical thinking” in the classroom.  

Support of JSU's Strategic Plan, including strategic goals and objectives

Connection to Strategic Plan

This series supports the commitment of JSU's Strategic Plan including the following strategic goal(s) and objectives:

1. Engage (Commitment 2)

Create symbiotic partnerships that impact the university learning environment, providing additional opportunities for the exchange of ideas, experiential learning, and community engagement, while allowing university members to give back to the community. 

Goals:

Benefit of Belonging: Improve the accessibility of a safe, equitable, diverse campus supportive of all campus and community members. 
- Objective 2: Create environments to encourage campus and community members to connect and learn from each other.

Work with multiple departments across colleges to develop interdisciplinary opportunities that will enable faculty to learn about, from, and with different programs. 

2. Discover (Commitment 3):

In an age of rapid educational change and innovation, we will continue to advance our capacity for creating diverse, meaningful, and accessible learning opportunities that prepare all learners (faculty included). 

Goals:

Experiences: Provide learning experiences that connect learners with real-world knowledge, skills, and opportunities. 
- Objective 2: Expand the utilization of technology to support students, faculty, and staff.
- Provide professional development and training opportunities for faculty.

Environments: Create and provide new learning environments characterized by modern facilities, technological enhancements, active learning, and engaging instruction
- Objective 3: Provide learners access to active learning opportunities, engaging instruction, sustainable training, and professional development.
- Provide inclusive training and professional development opportunities to staff across disciplines

Program Goals

To explore strategies for effective teaching and student learning 
To create inclusive learning environments that foster academic safety and success  
To develop meaningful class assignments and effective methods for assessment and grading 
To explore various ways to create real-world learning experiences for students 
To develop teaching methods that support diverse learning styles

Dr. Heidi Dempsey Psychology Dr. Benjamin Gross Political Science Dr. Khadeidra Billingsley English Dr. Stacy Mikel Nursing Dr. Kathryn Catlin Chemistry and Geosciences	Date: Thursday, January 4, 2024 Location: 208 Self Hall Time: 2:00-3:00 Title: Welcome Back Week: “First Day Tips & Tricks for Working with Your Students” Description: Join us for a pre-semester roundtable session to discuss first-day tips and tricks for working with students. Dr. Heidi Dempsey will lead this session and will be joined by Dr. Benjamin Gross, Dr. Stacey Mikel, Dr. Khadeidra Billingsley, and Dr. Kathryn Catlin. We hope you will join us to share your challenges, ideas, and/or suggestions for first-day success.
Mica Mecham Faculty Commons Dr. Chris Inman Online@JSU	Date: Friday, January 5, 2024 Location: 208 Self Hall Time: 9:00-12:00 Title: Welcome Back Week: Drop-In Help Day with Online@JSU and Faculty Commons Description: Faculty are invited to drop by 208 Self Hall between the hours of 9:00 am and noon to work on classes, receive help with Canvas, and have questions answered about syllabi and course development. So, grab your computer and course materials and make plans to join us.
Dr. Khadeidra Billingsley English	Date: Tuesday, January 23, 2024 Location: 208 Self Hall Time: 12:00-1:00 Brown Bag Lunch Meeting (We will provide soft drinks and chips; you bring a sandwich!) Title: Writing is Scary for Them...and Me! Description: In this working lunch session, we will share our own and review common fears that both students and instructors have associated with writing. Through engaging activities and supportive discussions, participants will gain valuable insights, practical strategies, and a renewed confidence in their abilities to incorporate writing into their classrooms.
Julie Nix, LICSW, PIP	Date: Wednesday, January 31, 2024 Location: 208 Self Hall Time: 2:30-3:30 Title: Mental Health on Campus: A Guide for Faculty and Staff Description: Faculty and staff are invited to this workshop with Director of Counseling Services to examine the state of college students’ mental health. The aim of this workshop is to identify concerns of faculty on the frontlines concerning students presenting with mental health challenges, discuss strategies to help create a campus culture of care regarding student mental health, and learn how to recognize and respond when student(s) display signs that they may be experiencing a mental health concern.
Dr. Monica Trifas MCIS Jianping "Coco" Huang Management and Marketing	Date: Wednesday, February 7, 2024 Location: 208 Self Hall Time: 2:30-3:30 Title: A Short Introduction to the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence Description: This workshop will aim to outline some of the key issues in the study of the ethics of AI; identify some of the core claims that have been made, and propose some ways of taking these discussions further. With respect to near-term AI, it will be useful to distinguish between (a) ethical issues that arise because of limitations to current machine learning systems, what might be called “vulnerabilities in machine learning,” and (b) ethical issues that arise because current machine learning systems may be working too well and humans can be vulnerable in the presence of or when interacting with these intelligent systems, what might be called “human vulnerabilities.”
Dr. Sarah Burns Music	Date: Thursday, February 15, 2024 Location: 208 Self Hall Time: 2:30-3:30 Title: Reciprocal Teaching = Successful Class Discussions Description: Transform your class discussions by incorporating the “Reciprocal Teaching” strategy. This strategy will actively engage students in discussion of course readings by prompting them to consider the content from differing vantage points. Come learn how you can apply this in your classes!
Dr. Khadeidra Billingsley English	Date: Tuesday, February 20, 2024 Location: 208 Self Hall Time: 12:00-1:00 Brown Bag Lunch Meeting (We will provide soft drinks and chips; you bring a sandwich!) Title: Anything You Can Do, Tech Can Do Better (Or Not) Description: In this session, we will explore and experiment with digital tools and software tailored to enhance writing instruction. From interactive writing platforms to AI-assisted feedback, participants will gain hands-on experience and innovative strategies to elevate their teaching practices and inspire student writers in the modern classroom.
Dr. Taylor Ellis Social Work	Date: Monday, February 26, 2024 Location: 208 Self Hall Time: 2:30-3:30 Title: From Reading to Seeing: Bringing history to life through comic books and experiential learning Description: This presentation discusses the use of multiple forms of media (comic books/graphic novels, music, and a TED Talk) to give students the opportunity to examine modern and historical social movements. Following the assignment, students tour the Freedom Riders Museum in Anniston, and a Racial Healing Circle is conducted. Attendees will be a) presented with an outline of the assignment and student’s testimonials, b) informed of other graphic novels and media that may be beneficial in their classroom as teaching tools, and c) encouraged to identify creative and experiential learning methods into their classes.
Josh Robinson Dean of Students	Date: Thursday, February 29, 2024 Location: 208 Self Hall Time: 3:00-4:00 Title: Title IX - How Can Faculty Support Students Through the Title IX Grievance Process and Title IX as it Relates to Pregnant and Parenting Students Description: Have you ever had questions about your responsibility under the Title IX regulations? Did you know Title IX addresses support for pregnant and parenting students? This session will give an overview of current Title IX regulations and explore how faculty and staff can support students in navigating the grievance procedures. It will also explore institutional and faculty responsibilities for supporting pregnant and parenting students.
Dr. David Thornton Professor of Computer Science	Date: Thursday, March 7, 2024 Location: 208 Self Hall or Join virtually via TEAMS Time: 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Title: Fulbright Opportunities for Faculty Description: Thinking about applying for a Fulbright grant? This session will help you prepare your proposal and plan for the experience, from finding the right opportunity to writing your final report.
Dr. Khadeidra Billingsley English	Date: Tuesday, March 12, 2024 Location: 208 Self Hall Time: 12:00-1:00 Brown Bag Lunch Meeting (We will provide soft drinks and chips; you bring a sandwich!) Title: How Do I Grade This? Description: In this session, we will discuss proven methodologies and best practices for grading written assignments efficiently and quickly (as possible). Participants will learn to provide constructive feedback, streamline assessment processes, and cultivate a grading approach that encourages student growth while maintaining academic rigor.
Dr. Taylor Ellis Social Work Dr. Dominique Maywald Social Work	Date: Thursday, March 28, 2024 Location: 208 Self Hall Time: 2:30-3:30 Title: Anti-Oppressive Practices in the Classroom: A Framework to Enhance Student and Faculty’s Cultural Affirmation Description: This presentation is designed to empower faculty to recognize and challenge biases and foster inclusivity through cultural humility. By offering a comprehensive understanding of anti-oppressive framework, as well as practical strategies to implement it, the presentation equips participants with the knowledge and tools to create a more inclusive and equitable classroom.
Jennifer Ponder Visiting Instructor, English	Date: Thursday, April 4, 2024 Location: Teams Time: 2:30-4:00 Title: Writing with AI Student Presentations Description: JSU students of English 434, Writing with AI, will present their research on generative AI (gAI) and its impact on higher education to JSU faculty. Specific topics will include ideas for effectively implementing gAI into practical assignments, projections for gAIs use in specific fields of student, gAIs impact on career outlooks and much more! Please join us to learn more about gAI and its impact on our campus from our very own students.

Upon registration for a workshop session, you will receive a calendar invite at your JSU Outlook email. Calendar invites are manually sent by Brandy Roberts. Please allow up to two hours to receive the invitation during regular business hours. After accepting the invitation, the event will appear on your Outlook Calendar. If you cannot see it, please contact Brandy Roberts at broberts@jsu.edu.