Center for Teaching & Mentoring
Reflect, Engage, Grow: Transforming Teaching
Reflect, Engage, Grow: Transforming Teaching is a dynamic professional development series designed to help faculty enhance student learning through evidence-based teaching practices. Offered in convenient 45–50 minute HyFlex sessions, this program provides practical strategies that faculty can apply immediately while encouraging meaningful reflection on their teaching. Through topics such as self-reflection, collaborative learning, the science of learning, active student engagement, student motivation, and professional growth, participants will explore proven approaches for creating more effective and engaging learning environments.
Aligned with the Center for Teaching and Mentoring’s commitment to exemplary teaching and continuous improvement, the series empowers faculty to identify, implement, and reflect on evidence-based practices that support student success and foster a culture of ongoing teaching growth.
Fall 2026
| Date | Speaker | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, September 21 1:00 -1:50 pm LIB 348 and Zoom | Dr. Jennifer Vannatta-Hall Director of Center for Teaching and Mentoring | Reflecting on Your Teaching – Using Observational Tools for Self-Reflection In this session, the power of self-reflection to enhance one’s teaching practices will be discussed. The CTM peer observation of teaching observation tool and its elements will be provided as a resource for self-reflection and identification of strengths and areas for growth. |
| Tuesday, October 20 9:00 – 9:50 am LIB 348 and Zoom | Dr. Robyn Ridgley Assistant Director of Center for Teaching and Mentoring John Hagan Graduate Research Assistant for the Center for Teaching and Mentoring | Creating a Community through Collaborative Learning In this session, participants will discuss and identify strategies and approaches for creating a collaborative learning environment where students can learn from one another, share diverse perspectives, and build a sense of community. |
| Thursday, November 5 10:00 -10:50 am LIB 348 and Zoom | Dr. Seth Jones Professor, Womack Department of Teaching, Learning, and Innovation | The Science of Learning – Helping Students Learn This session will provide considerations for helping students learn. Specific strategies for helping students rethink what they “know”, develop mental models to retain what they are learning, identify questions to guide learning, and be reflective will be discussed. |
Spring 2027
| Date | Speaker | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, February 1 9:00 -9:50 am LIB 348 and Zoom | Dr. Katie Foss Director and Professor, Journalism and Strategic Media | Actively Engaging Students This session will provide evidence-based strategies for involving students directly in the learning process, encouraging them to actively engage with the material, apply what they learn, and reflect on their knowledge. |
| Tuesday, March 2 9:00 – 9:50 am LIB 348 and Zoom | Dr. Aimee Holt Associate Professor, Department of Psychology | Motivating Students to Learn In this session, participants will become familiar with factors and practices that support students’ decision to expend effort on learning. |
| Wednesday, March 24 2:30 -3:20 pm LIB 348 and Zoom | Dr. Sarah K. Bleiler-Baxter Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professor, College of Basic and Applied Sciences Joy Rhodes Graduate Researcher ACT-STEM @ MTSU | Growing Yourself, Growing Others: Building a Culture of Teaching Growth In this session, participants will learn approaches for reflecting on teaching and developing a professional growth plan for enhancing use of evidence-based practices. |
This program is facilitated by CTM Assistant Director Dr. Robyn Ridgley. Please contact ctm@mtsu.edu or Robyn.Ridgley@mtsu.edu with questions.
