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UT Dallas Center for Teaching and Learning Newsletter
February 2025, Issue 23
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Making Connections in Teaching: Highlights from the CTL Mini-Conference
At the recent CTL Mini-Conference, faculty shared their innovative teaching strategies centered around the theme of making connections. Presentations explored ways to help students bridge coursework and purpose, foster relationships with instructors, build peer connections in group work, develop a sense of belonging, and engage beyond the classroom. Many of these strategies are considered high-impact practices that contribute to student success.
Below, we highlight two approaches from the conference that can be adapted across disciplines. They demonstrate how small yet intentional changes in course design can have a significant impact on student engagement and learning outcomes. By fostering connection — whether social or intellectual — faculty can create more inclusive and dynamic learning environments.
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10-Minute Talkies: Reducing Social Anxiety To Foster Peer Connections
When social anxiety prevents students from forming connections with one another, it can have detrimental effects on their academic success and mental health. Dr. Ben Porter, assistant dean of effective teaching at the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, presented an approach that he is using to counter that trend. Called The 10-Minute Talkies (10MTs), this assignment offers a simple yet effective way to break down these barriers and encourage interaction.
Here’s how it works. Students are randomly paired with a classmate they do not already know and must meet outside of class to have a 10-minute conversation on any topic they choose. They then submit a selfie as proof of their meeting. This process is repeated 10 times with different pairings throughout the semester, allowing students to engage with multiple classmates in a low-stakes, structured manner.
Porter received positive feedback on the assignment when he implemented it in spring 2024 and fall 2024 in BMEN 4301 – Introduction to Medical Device Development, and is looking for collaborators to further study the intervention this coming fall.
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Promoting Independent Inquiry with AI
Dr. Vinita Hajeri and Dr. Stephanie Taylor, both associate professors of instruction in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, were seeking to address a common challenge: students’ paralysis when tasked with independent inquiry and unlimited options. Both professors teach a research methods course that’s required for pre-service students who are part of the UTeach program. Like many instructors, Hajeri and Taylor found that students are most comfortable following step-by-step instructions. To address this, they introduced a scaffolded approach that integrates AI as a supportive tool for students who choose to use it.
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The process involved three stages that can be adapted for any discipline:
- Mystery Box Collaboration — Students worked in small groups with a set of unknown materials to spark curiosity and brainstorming.
- AI-Assisted Experiment Design — Students who chose to use AI could ask Copilot to generate an initial experimental design based on a given variable. They then refined the AI-generated plan, submitting both the original AI output and their modifications. This encouraged active engagement and critical thinking.
- Independent Experiment Development — Students designed their own experiment suitable for a high school setting, with minimal constraints beyond time and feasibility. AI use was allowed as a brainstorming tool, but students took full ownership of their final project.
Throughout the process, in-person mentoring and status meetings provided additional guidance before students conducted their experiments. This structured yet flexible approach cultivated creativity and helped students transition from passive learners to active problem-solvers.
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Global Leader in VE/COIL To Lead Workshop in March
CTL will host Dr. Keiko Ikeda, a global expert in virtual exchange/collaborative online international learning, for a 1 p.m. workshop on Thursday, March 6.
Ikeda, executive project lead for the Japan Hub for Innovative Global Education (JIGE), has played a key role in expanding COIL across Asia and beyond, leading initiatives that connect faculty and students worldwide through transformative virtual learning experiences. She has been instrumental in shaping policy, building partnerships and advancing research on international education, making her one of the most influential voices in the field today.
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In the CTL session, Ikeda will provide expert insights into the state of VE/COIL globally — where it’s thriving, how universities are innovating and why this pedagogy is reshaping international education. She’ll also share practical steps for getting started, finding the right partners and overcoming common challenges.
Whether you’re a faculty member eager to integrate VE/COIL into your courses or a TA interested in gaining experience in global learning, this is a unique opportunity to learn from one of the field’s foremost experts. Don’t miss your chance to engage with Ikeda and explore how to bring the world into your classroom. Register for the VE/COIL workshop
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Grab and Go Tips: Help Your Students Get Career Ready
Faculty play a major role in shaping students’ career readiness, whether they realize it or not. That was the message at a recent CTL Office Hours event presented by the University Career Center (UCC).
Presenters cited a 2024 survey by the National Association for Colleges and Employers (NACE) that found 92% of faculty have been asked for career advice, and 57% of students turn to professors as a primary job resource. Meanwhile, one-third of students have never set foot in their university career center.
Fortunately, instructors do not need to overhaul their syllabi to help their students. Simple steps can make a difference, like weaving career-relevant discussions into class, highlighting transferable skills in assignments or encouraging students to attend networking events.
Here are some Grab and Go Tips to consider:
Research shows that institutions that successfully embed career readiness into coursework see stronger student engagement, retention, and post-graduation success. By making small shifts, you can help students bridge the gap between their education and their careers.
Contact Bethany AuHoy at the University Career Center for more information on how to integrate career readiness into your curriculum.
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CTL Calendar
Thursday, March 6
Global Perspectives on VE/COIL: Explore the Future of Collaborative Online International Learning and How You Can Be Part of It, 1 to 2:15 p.m., CTL Conference Room (MC 2.404) — Discover how VE/COIL can internationalize your teaching in this session with Dr. Keiko Ikeda, a global leader in the field. Gain insights, practical strategies and expert guidance on integrating VE/COIL into your courses. Register for the VE/COIL workshop
Helping Students Learn How To Learn: What Can Faculty Do? 4 to 5 p.m., Microsoft Teams — Attend Virtual Office Hours to explore the LEARN model, developed by Dr. Karla Lassonde at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and discover strategies to help students improve their learning through metacognition, memory, and attention. Open to faculty, staff, graduate students, and postdocs. Please register for Virtual Office Hours
Thursday, March 13
Generative AI Across the UT System Mini-Conference Series, 1 to 2:15 p.m., Zoom — We invite faculty, staff, postdoctoral researchers and graduate students across the UT System to join our monthly webinar series, Generative AI Across the UT System. This series will explore how each campus is integrating generative artificial intelligence into teaching and learning. Please register for Generative AI
Monday, March 31
10 Ways To Use AI In Your Workflow, noon to 1 p.m., Microsoft Teams — Join this Week of AI webinar with Dr. Sarah Moore, Provost’s Teaching Fellow, and Amanda Pritchard, assistant director of technology experience and innovation, to explore “10 Ways to Use AI In Your Workflow.” Learn practical AI strategies to streamline tasks, enhance communication and optimize decision-making. Please register for AI webinar
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