Spring 2026 Teaching and Learning Days
Schedule
All sessions in Spagnuollo hall unless otherwise noted
Monday, May 11th
8:30 AM Welcome!
President Eden & Provost Paden
9:00 AM Provost Meeting with Faculty 10:00 AM Facuty Senate Meeting 11:00 AM Lara Ingram
Roundtable Discussion
Noon - 2:00 PM Break - grab lunch, finalize grades, take a walk! 2:00 PM They Won’t Put Your Syllabus on Their Resume: Teaching Skills That Actually Transfer
Lindsay Vago
Spark Presentation
2:15 PM Liz Lapon & Leslie Buddington
Spark Presentation
2:30 PM FYI Session
Jess Landis
FYI Faculty ONLY
Tuesday, May 12th
9:00 AM How AI Drives Critical Thinking
David Genest & Ken Clarke
10:00 AM Don't Make Me Turn this Assignment Around...
Mary Kelly
Spark Presentation
10:15 AM AI for Critical Thinking in Political Science
Frank Cohen
Spark Presentation
10:30 AM Stephani Hamilton
11:00 AM Framing the Future in an AI World
Zan Walker-Goncalves
1:00 PM Framing the Options & Actions for FPU in an AI World
Zan Walker-Goncalves & Stephani Hamilton
Wednesday, May 13
| 9:00 AM |
Group Meetings School of Business Faculty – Business Conference room – Todd Herrmann Composition Faculty – Petro 117 - Zan Walker-Goncalves |
| 10:00 AM |
Leslie Buddington & Derek Scalia Roundtable Discussion |
| 11:00 AM |
Introducing Debate into the Classroom Learning Experience Liz Lapon Presentation |
Session Descriptions
Participants will discuss the pedagogical joys and evils of analog tests in this digital age. Practical aspects will be considered such as question format, quizzing, multiple attempts/corrections, review days, etc., as well as socioemotional needs of young learners.
Roundtable Discussion
Presenters: Derek Scalia & Leslie Buddington
Most students leave our courses with knowledge, but struggle to articulate what they can do. This session shows how small, intentional shifts in teaching can help students build and recognize real, employable skills without adding extra work for faculty.
Presenter: Lindsay Vago
Come here about our latest research focus, where we intentionally mentor and support students after graduation to help them succeed in their chosen profession.
Presenters: Liz Lapon & Leslie Buddington
We present an overview of AI, our competitors, a way forward, and examples of its current uses at FPU.
Presenters: David Genest & Ken Clarke
This session features an assignment conducted with scaffolded AI support. Find out how it went, including some unexpected takeaways.
Presenter: Mary Kelly
How I made AI my ally rather than my adversary in the classroom
Presenter: Frank Cohen
This presentation will present a summary of the Generative AI survey results from faculty and students.
Presenter: Stephani Hamilton
Participants name and define differing core concerns in relation to teaching at FPU in an AI World.
Presenter/Facilitator: Zan Walker Goncalves
Participants frame the options, actions, and next steps for teaching critical, creative, and ethical thinking at FPU in an AI World.
Facilitators: Zan Walker-Gonvalves & Stephani Hamilton
Colleagues will take away 3 debate strategies that they can integrate into their coursework: policy debate, tap-in debate, and SPAR (Spontaneous Argumentation) debate. The session will present the structure and format for each style of debate and model how to implement it with students in the classroom.
Presenter: Liz Lapon
