Past Workshops

Past Events

On Friday, August 14, we offered workshops and sessions for faculty on pedagogy, Canvas, and other learning technologies. Pedagogy & Tech Boot Camp is presented by CTE, Instructional Design & Technology, Digital Media Services, Library, and IT staff.

Each of these sessions are designed to provide strategies and ideas that you can implement in your courses for this fall.

BOOT CAMP SCHEDULE

View the schedule at a glance below.

Friday, August 14th, 9:00 am - 3:30 pm

Schedule & Session Descriptions

9:00-9:40 AI + Assignments (Eric Bucher, CTE Faculty Director)

This session explores practical strategies for adapting assignments in an AI-enabled learning environment to better support learning, critical thinking, and academic integrity.

AI + Assignments Teams Link

9:50-10:30 Relationship Rich Classroom (Jeremy Steeves, Persistence Project Faculty Associate)

Human relationships are the engine that drives our classrooms. But creating these relationships is challenging. We will explore tactics and strategies for building impactful lasting relationships between faculty and students, as well as student-to-student relationships. Faculty will reflect on initial steps that can be taken to turn their classroom into a welcoming, inclusive community which gives every student the opportunity to succeed. This workshop is a great starting point for anyone involved in, or interested in, taking part in the Persistence Project.

Relationship Rich Classroom Teams Link

10:40-11:10 Community-Engaged Faculty Academy Info. Session (Sheena Steckl, Community-Engaged Learning Faculty Director)

Interested in connecting your teaching with meaningful community partnerships? Join this information session to learn about Xavier's Community-Engaged Faculty Academy. Participants will explore the goals, structure, and benefits of the academy, hear how community-engaged learning can enhance student learning and civic development, and learn how to get involved in future academy opportunities.

Community-Engaged Faculty Teams Link

11:30 – 12:10 “Introduction to AI Literacy” Overview (Leslie Whitford, Digital Initiatives Librarian)

Xavier is launching a university-wide approach to AI literacy, beginning with a foundational student Canvas course and expanding into first-year writing and other academic experiences. In this session, faculty will learn what students are being taught about AI, including foundational understanding, critical evaluation, responsible use, and ethical discernment.

“Introduction to AI Literacy” Teams Link

12:20-1:00 Transparency in Learning and Teaching (Victoria Vogelgesang, CTE Co-Director)

Small changes in assignment and activity design can have a big impact on student success. In this session, participants will learn the principles of Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TILT) and how making the purpose, task, and criteria for success explicit can improve student engagement, belonging, and performance. Faculty will leave with practical strategies for applying TILT to courses, assignments, and classroom activities this semester.
Transparency in Learning and Teaching | Join meeting in Teams | Microsoft Teams

1:10 – 1:50 Accessibility and Ally Basics (Instructional Design and Technology)

For Ignatian educators, the accessibility of learning experiences and course content is at the forefront of their mind. In this workshop, participants will learn the connection between accessibility and Jesuit values and how they can use Canvas and Ally to improve course accessibility in an efficient way. They will also discover Ally’s new PDF remediation features.

Outcomes:

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

Explain connections between Jesuit values and course accessibility.
Describe the location and utility of each of the following accessibility tools: Canvas Rich Content Editor, Ally Instructor Feedback Panel, and Ally Course Accessibility Report.
Describe an effective workflow for remediating course content.
Identify Ally’s PDF remediation features.

Accessibility Update | Join meeting in Teams | Microsoft Teams

2:00 – 2:40 Designing Online Learning Experiences: Faculty Tools and Resources (Instructional Design and Technology)

Explore the tools and resources available to help faculty design effective online learning experiences. Participants will be introduced to two custom GPTs and two faculty resource websites that support online course design, teaching, and the selection of educational technology tools.

Outcomes:

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

Describe the purpose of two custom GPTs and how they support the development of online learning experiences.
Locate course design, online teaching, and educational technology resources available through faculty support websites.
Identify appropriate tools and resources to support their own online course development needs.

Designing Online Learning Experiences Teams Link

2:50 – 3:30 Open Canvas Consultations and Instructional Tech Help (IDT & Classroom Tech.)

Do you have specific questions about Canvas? Drop in for one-on-one support to answer your Canvas questions or brainstorm ideas for using Canvas & other instructional technologies in your course.

Open Canvas Consultations and Instructional Tech Help Teams Link

Pedagogy & Tech Bootcamp
Friday, January 9, 2026, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Schedule & Session Descriptions

9:00 – 9:40 Title: Relationship Rich Classroom
Presenter(s): Eric Bucher and Jeremy Steeves
Description: Human relationships are the engine that drives our classrooms. But creating these relationships is challenging. We will explore tactics and strategies for building impactful lasting relationships between faculty and students, as well as student-to-student relationships. Faculty will reflect on initial steps that can be taken to turn their classroom into a welcoming, inclusive community which gives every student the opportunity to succeed. This workshop is a great starting point for anyone involved in, or interested in, taking part in the Persistence Project.

9:50 – 10:30 Title: Discover how to use generative AI to boost your productivity and creativity
Presenter(s): Erik Ball and Jonathan Pallett
Description: This practical session will show you –

What is generative AI
How to write effective prompts for better results
Tips for providing context and structuring your requests
Real examples and techniques you can use right away

10:40 – 11:20 Title: AI Pedagogy - Creating Custom Syllabus Bots for Your Course
Presenter(s): Eric Bucher
Description: In this session, participants will explore how generative artificial intelligence can be leveraged to enhance teaching and learning through the creation of custom syllabus bots. Designed to support students outside of class time, syllabus bots can answer common course questions, clarify policies, and guide students to key resources using instructor-defined content and parameters. Faculty will leave with a clearer understanding of how AI tools can support transparency, student engagement, and instructional efficiency while maintaining academic integrity and instructor control.

11:30 – 12:10 Lunch Break

12:20 – 1:00 Title: Enhancing Online Instructor Presence
Presenter(s): Lee Owens
Description: Outcomes –

Describe online instructor presence and the benefits of enhancing it
Examine techniques and best practices for enhancing online instructor presence
Describe how techniques for enhancing online instructor presence can be applied

1:10 – 1:50 Title: Introduction to the Library’s New Search and Discovery Experience
Presenter(s): Christine Mueller and Sydney Sparks
Description: The University Library system changed to a new state-wide platform in June 2025. This impacted all online interactions with the library, including searching for and accessing resources, placing holds and checking out materials, and requesting items from OhioLINK and inter-library loan. Come see how the new search interface, a replacement for Search@XU called AllForOne, works, including using profiles and filters to refine searching and find materials. Learn how to view holds, renew items, and see course reserves. There will be plenty of time for questions.

2:00 – 2:40 Title: Adding Library Resources into Canvas
Presenter(s): Christine Mueller and Sydney Sparks
Description: Learn how to add library resources such as articles, videos, and research tutorials into your Canvas courses to help make course materials easily accessible for students. The librarians will demonstrate the steps to add different types of resources to Canvas pages and showcase the Library Resources page on the Canvas course navigation menu.

2:50 – 3:30 Title: What’s New in Canva Enterprise
Presenter(s): Paul Weber and Jessica Murphy
Description: Explore the latest features available in Xavier’s new Canva Enterprise account and how they differ from the free version of Canva. We’ll walk through Xavier’s brand kit, shared templates, collaboration tools, and the support and services offered by Digital Media Services to help you make the most of Canva - both in and outside the classroom.

3:30 – 4 Open Canvas Consultations, Classroom Tech Help (IDT, Classroom Tech)
Do you have specific questions about Canvas? Drop in for one-on-one support to answer your Canvas questions or brainstorm ideas for using Canvas & other instructional technologies in your course.