Making the Connection: How to Create More Meaning and Joy in Your Teaching

One positive outcome of the pandemic is the broadened awareness of the student experience in higher education. This includes a renewed focus on the key factors that positively impact learning, including a student’s sense of belonging, their personal connections to the course content and materials, and their relationship with other students and the instructor. In this interactive workshop, Professor Katie Dawson will explore active teaching strategies every educator can use to create more joy and meaning-making in the classroom. Come ready to create, to critically engage, and to connect with your work and with each other.

Speaker:

• Katie Dawson, Drama and Theatre, University of Texas at Austin

Experiential Learning and the Power of Reflection

We like to say that students are responsible for their own learning. Yet one of the most important ingredients in creating memorable learning experiences—and one that is most often missed—is allowing time for reflection. Setting the table for academic and personal growth means making time to guide students through a process of reflection and, above all, leveraging the insights they generate for themselves. Professor Demian Hommel will draw from models of experiential education to highlight opportunities to reflect on powerful moments We like to say that students are responsible for their own learning. Yet one of the most important ingredients in creating memorable learning experiences—and one that is most often missed—is allowing time for reflection. Setting the table for academic and personal growth means making time to guide students through a process of reflection and, above all, leveraging the insights they generate for themselves. Professor Demian Hommel will draw from models of experiential education to highlight opportunities to reflect on powerful moments that can and should be remembered.

Speaker:

• Demian Hommel, Geography, Oregon State University

3 Reasons We Shouldn’t Get ‘Back to Normal’ and 5 Things To Do Instead

Instead of hitting pause or rewinding back to before the pandemic, Professor Lindsay Tan invites us to explore the possibility of going ‘forward to normal.’ In this session, Tan will reveal how she has turned defining moments in pandemic teaching into enduring best practices. Learn why she set aside classroom gimmicks to harness the power of unscripted moments, and how you can use them to re-engage your students, elevate learning, and reduce burnout. You’ll also Instead of hitting pause or rewinding back to before the pandemic, Professor Lindsay Tan invites us to explore the possibility of going ‘forward to normal.’ In this session, Tan will reveal how she has turned defining moments in pandemic teaching into enduring best practices. Learn why she set aside classroom gimmicks to harness the power of unscripted moments, and how you can use them to re-engage your students, elevate learning, and reduce burnout. You’ll also get a look at Tan’s academic playbook and course blueprint with concrete examples you can implement right away.

Speaker:

• Lindsay Tan, Consumer and Design Sciences, Auburn University

The Next Chapter: Interactive Textbooks as Agents of Change

The calls to make learning more inclusive, engaging, and meaningful are growing. With so much for educators to balance, change doesn’t often happen overnight. But can it? In this special panel presentation, three of Top Hat’s most celebrated authors will share how their interactive textbooks are accelerating the shift to student-centered learning in classrooms across North America. Over the course of three high-impact presentations, you’ll learn the innovative approaches these The calls to make learning more inclusive, engaging, and meaningful are growing. With so much for educators to balance, change doesn’t often happen overnight. But can it? In this special panel presentation, three of Top Hat’s most celebrated authors will share how their interactive textbooks are accelerating the shift to student-centered learning in classrooms across North America. Over the course of three high-impact presentations, you’ll learn the innovative approaches these educators have embraced to capture the interests of diverse students, make content more relatable and take the concept of ‘learning by doing’ to exciting new places.

Speakers:

• Meaghan Altman, Psychological Sciences, University of California, Merced. Author of Introduction to Psychology
• Kristina Ruiz-Mesa, Communication Studies, Cal State LA. Co-author of Inclusive Public Speaking
• Irene Foster, Economics, George Washington University. Co-author of Principles of Economics

Teaching with Insight to Support Student Success

Midterms and finals can help identify who’s struggling, but they often come too late to get students back on track. To succeed, students need regular, meaningful and timely feedback. In this presentation, professor and seasoned online instructor Andrea Hendricks will share her tips for designing courses that deliver rich insights into student engagement and performance, including her use of knowledge gauges, auto-graded questions, and open discussions. See how she uses Top Hat to provide timely feedback, and learn practical strategies for ensuring student success in both Midterms and finals can help identify who’s struggling, but they often come too late to get students back on track. To succeed, students need regular, meaningful and timely feedback. In this presentation, professor and seasoned online instructor Andrea Hendricks will share her tips for designing courses that deliver rich insights into student engagement and performance, including her use of knowledge gauges, auto-graded questions, and open discussions. See how she uses Top Hat to provide timely feedback, and learn practical strategies for ensuring student success in both online and in-person courses.

Speaker:

• Andrea Hendricks, Mathematics, Georgia State University Andrea Hendricks, Mathematics, Georgia State University

Realizing the Dream: Classroom Strategies for First-Generation College Student Success

Over 40 percent of students entering college are the first members of their families to do so. Yet first-generation students are less likely to be familiar with classroom strategies that can make them effective learners. In this session, Meaghan Altman will share pedagogical techniques that engage students while teaching them ways to be successful in a large lecture format. Learn how to integrate notetaking demonstrations into your lectures and the value of the ‘quiz you're supposed to fail’ to spur student success. You’ll also see why the ‘group test’ is an Over 40 percent of students entering college are the first members of their families to do so. Yet first-generation students are less likely to be familiar with classroom strategies that can make them effective learners. In this session, Meaghan Altman will share pedagogical techniques that engage students while teaching them ways to be successful in a large lecture format. Learn how to integrate notetaking demonstrations into your lectures and the value of the ‘quiz you're supposed to fail’ to spur student success. You’ll also see why the ‘group test’ is an easy way to capture the benefits of the flipped class—without actually flipping your class.

Speaker:

• Meaghan Altman, Psychological Sciences, University of California, Merced. Author of Introduction to Psychology

Putting It All Together With Intentional Course Design

Great courses are built upon powerful moments–moments of joyful learning, breakthrough insights, immersion and flow reflective of deep engagement. The question is, how can we increase the likelihood of such enduring course experiences happening for more students? In this session we’ll explore the power of intentionally designing a course that exhibits clarity of purpose, fosters a sense of Great courses are built upon powerful moments–moments of joyful learning, breakthrough insights, immersion and flow reflective of deep engagement. The question is, how can we increase the likelihood of such enduring course experiences happening for more students? In this session we’ll explore the power of intentionally designing a course that exhibits clarity of purpose, fosters a sense of belonging, and emphasizes student-centered assessment.

Speaker:

• Brad Cohen, Chief Academic Officer, Top Hat

Welcome Address & Morning Keynote

What’s required to support student-centered transformation? How can we strike the right balance between building on what works and creating the time and space to try new things? In this special keynote presentation, Dr. Bridget Burns will share her first-hand experience enabling sustainable innovation to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student body. Named one of the ‘16 Most Innovative People in Higher Education’ by Washington Monthly, Dr. Burns will draw on her experience working with the most innovative What’s required to support student-centered transformation? How can we strike the right balance between building on what works and creating the time and space to try new things? In this special keynote presentation, Dr. Bridget Burns will share her first-hand experience enabling sustainable innovation to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student body. Named one of the ‘16 Most Innovative People in Higher Education’ by Washington Monthly, Dr. Burns will draw on her experience working with the most innovative universities to demonstrate how even small changes can lead to massive transformations.

Speaker:

• Joe Rohrlich, Chief Executive Officer, Top Hat
• Dr. Bridget Burns, Chief Executive Officer, University Innovation Alliance

Setting the Stage for Memorable Classroom Moments

Moments have the power to transform lives—in positive and painful ways. This session will focus on helping you prepare to fully engage in the meaningful moments that are so important for making your courses magical and memorable. Learn strategies for creating a classroom environment that is conducive to exploration and exchange—and how to ensure students come prepared to participate. You’ll also learn instructional heuristics you can use to stay present and create the space to Moments have the power to transform lives—in positive and painful ways. This session will focus on helping you prepare to fully engage in the meaningful moments that are so important for making your courses magical and memorable. Learn strategies for creating a classroom environment that is conducive to exploration and exchange—and how to ensure students come prepared to participate. You’ll also learn instructional heuristics you can use to stay present and create the space to respond and build on spontaneous contributions.

Speaker:

• Kristina Ruiz-Mesa, Communication Studies, Cal State LA
• Melissa Broeckelman-Post, Communication, George Mason University

Welcome Address & Morning Keynote

What’s required to support student-centered transformation? How can we strike the right balance between building on what works and creating the time and space to try new things? In this special keynote presentation, Dr. Bridget Burns will share her first-hand experience enabling sustainable innovation to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student body. Named one of the ‘16 Most Innovative People in Higher Education’ by Washington Monthly, Dr. Burns will draw on her experience working with the most innovative universities to demonstrate how even small changes can lead to massive transformations.

Speaker:

• Joe Rohrlich, Chief Executive Officer, Top Hat
• Dr. Bridget Burns, CEO of the University Innovation Alliance

Democratic Course Management

Choice and control are fundamental to human wellbeing, but are often absent for students in a traditional academic environment. So what happens when we allow them to choose how they are assessed, control the assignments they take on, and decide how their individual grades are determined? This is the central question Professor John Redden explores in his work on democratic course management—and his findings are surprising! In this session, Professor Redden will cover the methods he uses to give students greater agency over their learning experience in large and small classes. He’ll also discuss how allowing students to play to their strengths has improved engagement, classroom community, and the overall experience, while dramatically reducing DFW rates for his most at-risk learners.

Speaker:

• John Redden, Physiology & Neurobiology, University of Connecticut

Nested Assignments: Equipping, Engaging, and Empowering Distracted Learnerst

Multiple commitments. Unclear expectations. When it comes to assignments, many students feel overwhelmed and unsure how to even begin—especially those in their first year. 'Nested' assignments may just hold the answer to reducing anxiety so students can focus on the task at hand. In this session, Dr. Jeffrey Klausman will discuss how nested assignments empower students to write their own learning narrative by providing the knowledge and structure to help them set their own goals, monitor progress and assess their effectiveness. Learn how nested assignments work and leave with a roadmap for how to create your own.

Speaker:

• Jeffrey Klausman, English Composition & Literature, Whatcom Community College

Scaffolding and Surprising with Top Hat

We crave the familiar. But a little surprise can go a long way in priming students to tackle even the most challenging concepts. According to Professor Beverly Kris Jaeger-Helton, the key to student engagement involves striking the right balance along the ‘expectation’ continuum. In this session, Professor Jaeger-Helton will share how she combines familiarity that is not rote with surprise that does not confuse to capture and sustain student interest. Drawing on engineering and cognitive science, you’ll learn strategies to surprise and delight, and how she uses Top Hat to ensure her students come to class ready for anything.

Speaker:

• Beverly Kris Jaeger-Helton, Engineering, Northeastern University

I Assigned Students 1,000 Homework Problems and Lived to Tell the Tale

Students have too much technology to make the traditional class structure a viable option for learning. They outsource their homework to Google, and class attendance is minimal when students can access course materials from the comfort of home. Yet improving student retention and performance requires consistent engagement and opportunities to practice applying knowledge. In this presentation, Professor Stephanie Dillon will share how she has combined a flipped classroom model and Top Hat + Aktiv Chemistry to improve student retention and test scores by double digits. Learn how she did this without sacrificing any rigor—and why her students love it.

Speaker:

• Stephanie Dillon, Chemistry, Florida State University

Gollum, Goldilocks, and Graduates: Thriving in the 4th Industrial Revolution

We’re in the throes of the fourth industrial revolution—a time marked by unprecedented digitization and automation across economic sectors. A concerning outcome of this revolution is an increase in inequity fueled by greater gaps between low wage/low skill jobs and high wage/high skill jobs. Join Dr. Lourdes Norman-McKay, scientist, professor, author, and government policy advisor, for an exploration of how the academic ecosystem must (and can) evolve to meet the challenges of this societal shift. We’re in the throes of the fourth industrial revolution—a time marked by unprecedented digitization and automation across economic sectors. A concerning outcome of this revolution is an increase in inequity fueled by greater gaps between low wage/low skill jobs and high wage/high skill jobs. Join Dr. Lourdes Norman-McKay, scientist, professor, author, and government policy advisor, for an exploration of how the academic ecosystem must (and can) evolve to meet the challenges of this societal shift.

Speaker:

• Dr. Lourdes Norman-McKay, Ph.D.*, Professor of Biological Sciences, Florida State College at Jacksonville; U.S. National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine Jefferson Science Fellow appointed to the U.S. Department of State

*Dr. Norman-McKay is speaking as a private citizen and is not representing the U.S. Government in this presentation nor in her participation in this conference.

Putting it All Together with Intentional Course Design

Great courses are built upon powerful moments—moments of joyful learning, breakthrough insights, immersion, and flow reflective of deep engagement. The question is, how can we increase the likelihood of such enduring course experiences happening for more students? As we wrap up the day, we’ll explore the power of intentionally designing a course that exhibits clarity of purpose, fosters a sense of belonging, and emphasizes student-centered assessment.

Speaker:

• Dr. Bradley Cohen, Chief Academic Officer, Top Hat

Welcome Address & Morning Keynote

What’s required to support student-centered transformation? How can we strike the right balance between building on what works and creating the time and space to try new things? In this special keynote presentation, Dr. Bridget Burns will share her first-hand experience enabling sustainable innovation to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student body. Named one of the ‘16 Most Innovative People in Higher Education’ by Washington Monthly, Dr. Burns will draw on her experience working with the most innovative universities to demonstrate how even small changes can lead to massive transformations.

Speakers:

• Joe Rohrlich, Chief Executive Officer, Top Hat
• Dr. Bridget Burns, Chief Executive Officer, University Innovation Alliance

From the Minors to the Big Leagues: Preparing Students for Long-Term Success

Without practice and feedback, students struggle to learn new skills and material, making it harder to hit a home run when assignments inevitably increase in difficulty. To improve outcomes, award-winning professor and baseball enthusiast Daniel Collins focuses on creating early wins in foundational content (‘the Minors’) and using methodical course design to pave the way for success on formal assessments (‘the Big Leagues’). Collins will share his four level approach and the role Aktiv Chemistry plays in allowing students to master core concepts while delivering the feedback they need to knock it out of the park when the stakes are high. Without practice and feedback, students struggle to learn new skills and material, making it harder to hit a home run when assignments inevitably increase in difficulty. To improve outcomes, award-winning professor and baseball enthusiast Daniel Collins focuses on creating early wins in foundational content (‘the Minors’) and using methodical course design to pave the way for success on formal assessments (‘the Big Leagues’). Collins will share his four level approach and the role Aktiv Chemistry plays in allowing students to master core concepts while delivering the feedback they need to knock it out of the park when the stakes are high.

Speaker:

• Dr. Daniel Collins, Chemistry, Texas A&M University

From Passive to Active: Reaching and Re-engaging Students with Top Hat

Professors are reporting that students are more stressed and checked out than ever. In this session, Instructor Antonia S. Ingram-Basby will share how she’s bucking the trend by using Top Hat to connect with and engage her class. Get a behind the scenes look at how she manages her course, creates buzz with interactive questions and discussions, and uses real-time insights to ensure her students feel known and supported. Professors are reporting that students are more stressed and checked out than ever. In this session, Instructor Antonia S. Ingram-Basby will share how she’s bucking the trend by using Top Hat to connect with and engage her class. Get a behind the scenes look at how she manages her course, creates buzz with interactive questions and discussions, and uses real-time insights to ensure her students feel known and supported.

Speaker:

• Antonia S. Ingram-Basby, Geography and Anthropology, Louisiana State University

The Art of the Possible: High-Impact Teaching with Top Hat (Optional)

Join us for a look inside the classrooms of some of North America’s most innovative instructors. Our 2023 Top Hat Educator Award winners will share how they’re tailoring content to create interactive, outcome-driven educational resources. See how they’re knocking down barriers by making learning more affordable. Discover the strategies they use to create engaged and inclusive learning communities. It’s all part of an afternoon of great training and best practice sharing for attendees who are able to arrive a little early!

Speakers:

• Caitlin Shea-Vantine, Top Hat
• Sravanti Kantheti, Lanier Technical College
• Ninetta Papadomichelaki & Lash Keith Vance, University of California, Riverside

Track 1: Top Hat Fundamentals

Join us for a series of interactive workshops, starting with a day in the life of students and professors using Top Hat. Roll up your sleeves and log-in as we explore improving engagement with polls and quizzes and creating your own interactive content. Learn how to integrate low stakes assessments into your lectures to get students applying knowledge and how to leverage Top Hat’s teaching insights to improve course delivery and student success.

Sessions:

• Session 1 - Getting Started with Top Hat
• Session 2 - Engaging Students in Class
• Session 3 - Extending Engagement Outside of Class

Track 2: Optimizing Your Use of Top Hat

This series of workshops is designed to increase your efficiency and student impact with Top Hat. Using Top Hat’s Guide to Intentional Course Design and Five Pillars of Dynamic Courseware as our foundation, we’ll delve into the process of designing (or redesigning) a course in Top Hat. Together, we’ll draw on evidence-based teaching practices, group discussions and hands-on application to create engaging, inclusive learning experiences that ensure all boats rise with the tide.

Sessions:

• Session 1 - Foundations of Intentional Course Design
• Session 2 - Improving Course Delivery with Teaching Insights
• Session 3 - Inclusive, Dynamic Learning with Interactive Content

Teaching with Top Hat Workshop (Optional)

Whether you're a seasoned pro, or just getting started, these hands-on workshops will help you combine evidence-based teaching practices and the power of Top Hat to deliver personalized, meaningful and engaging learning in your course. Roll up your sleeves, log in and learn how to make class time more interactive with discussions, polls and quizzes. Practice creating your own custom learning resources. Explore a variety of time-saving assessment options and learn how to better leverage our teaching insights to improve course delivery and student outcomes.

Speakers:

• Top Hat Instructional Design Team

Opening Cocktail Reception

Connect with your peers over drinks, food, and live music as we kick off the official start of the Top Hat Engage San Diego conference.

Welcome Address & Morning Keynote: Teaching in the Age of AI

Faced with a new disruptive technology, we often fail to examine the deep ethical and pedagogical questions early enough in order to use these innovations to shape the future for the better. In this keynote presentation, Jesse Stommel, author of An Urgency of Teachers, will challenge us to engage with AI from a place of curiosity and critical thinking, rather than suspicion of students. Most importantly, Stommel will explore how we can embrace this moment to make learning more engaging, relevant and human for all.

Speakers:

• Joe Rohrlich, Chief Executive Officer, Top Hat
• Jesse Stommel, Author and Teaching Faculty, University of Denver

From Surviving to Thriving: Creating Communities of Care

Change is a constant and often difficult companion—exciting on the one hand, and potentially overwhelming on the other. The question is, how can we support students to push through the obstacles that change presents? For acclaimed educator and creativity consultant Katie Dawson, promoting resilience, understanding and an ethic of care is not simply a balm in uncertain times—it’s the foundation for academic success. In this workshop, we’ll investigate instructional techniques to empower students to not only adapt to change, but thrive in an evolving world. Come ready to engage, reflect and, yes, paint, as we immerse in the transformative power of care in our classrooms!

Speaker:

• Katie Dawson, Drama and Theatre, University of Texas at Austin

What's New with Top Hat

Join us to see how our latest features are improving the student experience through advanced study tools and peer-to-peer collaboration. Get a first-hand look at how we’re closing achievement gaps in STEM with new solutions designed to improve Math proficiency. Mobile enhancements, greater interactivity and flexible, affordable content options for students are all part of helping you deliver personalized, equitable and engaging learning in your course.

Speakers:

• Clare Castro, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Top Hat
• Alison Rodal, Group Product Manager, Top Hat

Birds of a Feather Luncheon

Get to know your peers and share your teaching journey with instructors in your discipline.

I Assigned Students 1,000 Homework Problems and Lived to Tell the Tale

Students have too much technology to make the traditional class structure a viable option for learning. They outsource their homework to Google, and class attendance is minimal when students can access course materials from the comfort of home. Yet improving student retention and performance requires consistent engagement and opportunities to practice applying knowledge. In this presentation, Professor Stephanie Dillon will share how she has combined a flipped classroom model and Top Hat + Aktiv Chemistry to improve student retention and test scores by double digits. Learn how she did this without sacrificing any rigor—and why her students love it.

Speaker:

• Dr. Stephanie Dillon, Chemistry, Florida State University

Using Evidence-Based Teaching to Cultivate Community

When students need help with coursework, we imagine them turning to Google or ChatGPT. Yet research suggests most students still prefer to seek support from peers and instructors, underscoring the vital role community plays in academic success (Tyson Partners, 2023). What’s more, students who say their instructors use evidence-based teaching practices report increased positive outcomes, including feelings of belonging and confidence in their ability to succeed. In this session, we’ll explore how you can combine the power of Top Hat with proven teaching strategies that embrace shared experience, collaboration and interaction to cultivate a greater sense of community in your classroom.

Speakers:

• Dr. Bradley Cohen, Chief Academic Officer, Top Hat
• Dr. Demian Hommel, Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University

Blended, Hybrid & Hyflex: Finding the Right Balance

New course offerings have surged to meet demand for more flexible learning options. Yet online, blended and hyflex courses often suffer from high attrition rates due to students feeling disconnected, isolated, and confused about what’s expected. In this presentation, Dr. Moghaddam and Dr. Phirangee will share how to address these challenges by enhancing the impact of course content, student interactions and instructor presence. With an emphasis on teaching and learning with technology, they will discuss how instructors can use specific Top Hat features to make the learning experience more meaningful and accessible, build community, and create learning ‘flow’ for students.

Speakers:

• Dr. Safieh Moghaddam, Assistant Professor, Linguistics, University of Toronto
• Dr. Krystle Phirangee, Senior Educational Developer, University of Toronto

Enhancing Safety and Learning through the Power of Story

Walking onto a college campus or into a large lecture hall can be intimidating for anyone, but this is especially true for historically underserved and low-income students. How can we let them—and everyone—know they are safe and that they belong? Enter the power of story. By connecting with stories of others like them, historically marginalized students will see their own position as valid and be ready to receive the curricular and pedagogical innovations we offer. In this presentation, Dr. Klausman will look at the power of story and how to leverage Top Hat to create a safe environment for all.

Speaker:

• Dr. Jeffrey Klausman, English Composition and Literature, Whatcom Community College

From Passive to Active: Reaching and Re-engaging Students with Top Hat

Professors are reporting that students are more stressed and checked out than ever. In this session, instructor Antonia S. Ingram-Basby will share how she’s bucking the trend by using Top Hat to connect with and engage her class. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how she manages her course, creates buzz with interactive questions and discussions, and uses real-time insights to ensure her students feel known and supported.

Speaker:

• Antonia S. Ingram-Basby, Geography and Anthropology, Louisiana State University

From Mandatory to Memorable: A Course Redesign Journey

Getting students to connect with course material is challenging at the best of times. It can be harder still when a class is mandatory. But creating opportunities for students to relate their own goals and aspirations to the content—and gamifying and incentivizing participation—can make all the difference. In this session, Dr. McEachern will share her journey to make the learning process more accessible, equitable and appealing for all students. Learn how she uses her interactive Top Hat text to drive accountability, fuel student-to-student interaction, and give other instructors the flexibility to teach in a way they feel is most impactful.

Speaker:

• Dr. Amber McEachern, Kinesiology Program Coordinator, East Carolina University

Transforming Assessment to Motivate and Engage Students

If there was ever a moment to improve the equity and impact of our teaching, that moment is now. In this special workshop, acclaimed educator and author José Antonio Bowen will examine the skills and content that will matter most in the age of AI. He’ll delve into the role and value of human thinking, and how we will discern ‘quality’ in our respective fields. With an eye toward the tangible, attendees will learn techniques to transform assignments and assessments to motivate and engage students by placing greater emphasis on the process and experience of learning.

Speaker:

• José Antonio Bowen, Award-Winning Educator and Author

Where Learning Belongs

While there is plenty to give us pause, these uncertain times also offer an invitation to reflect on the human experience. Learning, after all, has always been both a social and deeply personal experience. The desire for belonging, significance and to understand our world, ourselves and each other is fundamental to a meaningful education. As we wrap up the day, we’ll explore why, in the face of change, the instructor’s role is more important than ever.

Speaker:

• Dr. Bradley Cohen, Chief Academic Officer, Top Hat

Closing Cocktail Reception

Join your peers and the Top Hat team as we enjoy time for refreshments, connecting and reflecting on the day.

Structure Matters

As professors Viji Sathy and Kelly Hogan suggest, more structure works better for most students, since it won't harm those who don't actually need it! Here are some ways we can use structure to create a more inclusive learning environment.

• Don't make your course design a mystery: Regularly communicate the learning objectives, how you've structured your lessons, and how you will assess students.
• Ask yourself, “Who may be left out as a result of the discussion?” Give them a few minutes to capture their thoughts in writing before responding or use a discussion tool that allows students to respond anonymously.
• Group work and collaborative learning: Avoid students being left out by assigning groups and creating roles within the group so everyone has a purpose.
• Intersperse learning activities: Incorporating different activities like writing, discussions, quizzes, and problem solving activities ensures students are able to play to their strengths as they apply learning.
• Make learning accessible: Accessibility should be a guiding principle in course design. A great place to start is with Universal Design for Learning.

Making Assessments Equitable

The Center for Educational Innovation at the University of Minnesota offers a few simple things we can do to make learning more equitable.

• Use different types of assessments
• Provide reasonable accommodations and deadline expectations
• Use clear language to communicate what you expect of students
• Provide different options for students to demonstrate their learning
• Get input from a peer to ensure clarity of instruction and identify potential biases

Transparency

Clarity is important in ensuring students are confident about the purpose behind each assessment and how to prepare efficiently.

• What must students be able to do on the assessment? This helps students prepare efficiently and in alignment with the learning objectives you've set.
• How does the assessment support their learning? Connect the assessment to progress within the course and how it will benefit their academic journey and success outside of school.
• How should they complete the assessment? Make a point of discussing the format, timing, and any logistical considerations.

Opening Cocktail Reception

Connect with your peers over drinks, food, and live music as we kick off the official start of the Top Hat Engage New Orleans conference.