The Center for Teaching and Learning hosts Spark Sessions to support faculty development. These short sessions focus on quick tips that faculty can integrate into their classes immediately. Each session includes around 15 minutes of a presenter sharing an idea and 15 minutes of participants discussing how that idea can be applied in the classroom. These sessions will be held as webinars and in person.
Spark Sessions Fall 2025
September
Ignite the Semester: 3 Quick Tips to Increase Student Engagement (Wednesday, September 5th 12:00-12:30)
Establishing a culture of engagement must start early. In this Spark session, we'll cover 3 quick ways you can get your students more engaged in class, and you'll have the opportunity to share some of your quick wins with the group. Spark sessions are quick check-ins. The presenter shares an idea for 15 minutes, and participants then discuss how to put those ideas into action in their classes. Register for Ignite the Semester
Ally Basics (Tuesday, September 9th 12:00-12:30)
Have you heard about Title II? Are you curious to know how your course is stacking up for accessibility? Then take a few minutes to join us for an Ally walkthrough. We'll show you how to test your Brightspace course and quick tips for making some changes. Register for Ally Basics
Using Brightspace Lumi (AI) to create quizzes (Thursday, September 18th, 12:00-12:30)
In this 30-minute, hands-on training, participants will learn how to create and customize quizzes in Brightspace using Lumi. We’ll walk through the basics of setting up different question types, embedding interactive elements, and managing quiz settings so they align with your course goals. Faculty will also see how Lumi streamlines quiz creation by allowing easy import and export of questions. By the end of the session, you’ll have a step-by-step process you can use to build engaging assessments that save time while supporting student success. Register for Lumi Quizzes
October
Technology Enhanced Feedback 1: Audio and Video Feedback (Thursday, October 2, 12:00-12:30)
Feedback is most powerful when it feels personal, actionable, and forward-looking. In this interactive session, we’ll explore creative ways to use Brightspace’s audio and video tools. We’ll also introduce “feedforward” strategies—shifting from looking back at mistakes to guiding next steps—that research shows can increase student motivation and persistence. Participants will leave with practical techniques they can apply immediately to make their feedback faster to give, easier for students to understand, and more likely to spark improvement. Register for Technology Enhanced Feedback 1
Playful Pedagogy: Using Gaming to Increase Engagement and Enhance Learning (Friday, October 10th , 12:00-12:30)
Learning doesn’t have to feel like work. Playful teaching strategies can increase motivation, deepen engagement, and strengthen critical thinking across all disciplines. In this session, we’ll explore simple, adaptable ways to bring game-inspired elements into your classroom—no gaming expertise required. From role-play debates to escape-room style reviews and point-based participation systems, participants will see how playful design can make serious content memorable and fun. You’ll leave with practical, ready-to-use ideas to spark curiosity and creativity in your students. Register for Playful Pedagogy
Wicked Problems for Wicked Students (Friday, October 31st 12:00-12:30)
This Halloween, step into the world of “wicked problems”—the messy, complex challenges that don’t have simple solutions. Inspired by the book Creating Wicked Students by Paul Hanstedt, this 20-minute session will explore how teaching with wicked problems helps students wrestle with uncertainty, think across disciplines, and develop the critical, adaptive skills they need in the real world. We'll look at some “hauntingly” relevant examples you can bring into your courses and discuss ways to frame assignments so students practice creativity, collaboration, and resilience. Participants will run away with one concrete strategy to unleash a little wickedness in their own classrooms—no costumes required, but if you're so inclined... Register for Wicked Problems
November
Technology Enhanced Feedback 2: Brightspace Rubrics and In-line Commenting (Tuesday, November 4th, 12:00-12:30)
Feedback is most powerful when it feels personal, actionable, and forward-looking. In this interactive session, we’ll explore creative ways to use Brightspace’s rubrics and in-line commenting. We’ll also introduce “feedforward” strategies—shifting from looking back at mistakes to guiding next steps—that research shows can increase student motivation and persistence. Participants will work on adding a rubric and in-line comments. Register for Rubrics and Inline Commenting.