Professional Development

In this workshop, we will explore the potential of empathy in fostering learning and promoting inclusion. We will also highlight the necessity of teaching and practising this life skill in higher education. Delving into non-violent communication, we will introduce participants to practical tools for empathetic connection- both in everyday interactions and educational settings.
*registration is necessary

This workshop introduces lecturers to guidelines and principles for effective feedback. There will be an opportunity for participants to reflect on their own feedback practices and learn to increase the effectiveness of their feedback. 

This workshop will focus on cultural diversity in the context of STEM education. It will explore how students’ diverse backgrounds influence their expectations and learning approaches and how teachers need to recognise and accommodate these differences to develop and adjust effective teaching strategies. Ultimately, this process will foster the development of teachers’ own intercultural competences.
*registration is necessary

In this workshop, we will explore the use of escape games for students to deepen their understanding in STEM courses, as part of a current Comenius project. We will discuss the role of game mechanics, how to align learning objectives and game content, and how escape games offer exciting opportunities for opening discussions on diversity and inclusion. To make it practical, participants will have the opportunity to test some of the games and even visit the pop-up escape room that is created as part of this Comenius project.

This workshop will centre on gender diversity in STEM and its implications for learning and teaching. Participants will heighten their awareness of unconscious biases associated with gender, develop their ability to identify their own biases and those of others, and learn strategies to counter the bias and ensure equitable treatment for all genders.
*registration is necessary

Discover how to integrate in-class and online activities, both synchronous and asynchronous, to create rich learning experiences for your students. Learn to increase student engagement through implementing varied interactions of students with content, peers, and you, the instructor. We will dive into key principles of effective blended learning and guide you in taking the first steps to redesign your course for optimal impact.
This workshop is part of the FSE blended learning project.

In this workshop, you will develop an understanding of what constitutes STEM education research and the various methodologies typically utilised in STEM education research, identify ‘selling’ research ideas, and potential funding opportunities. 

In this workshop, you will evaluate and reflect on current designs for group work. Based on clear criteria, we will discuss specific improvements to increase the effectiveness of group work with a focus on collaborative skills.

In this workshop, you will explore if available AI technologies are adding value to your courses and make sense of how to work from current guidelines on the use of AI to preserve fairness, accountability, transparency, and ethical aspects. 

By dr. Antonio Giuliani

Student administration and learning data offer valuable insights that can drive improvements in teaching and learning. Explore the tools being developed and used to enhance student success, inform decision-making, and optimize educational outcomes.

By dr. Brian Setz

The Digital Lab innovates the university's teaching methods by designing, developing, and supporting a suite of tools that assist instructors with their computer lab teaching and facilitates the use of blended learning and e-learning throughout the curriculum. This expanding suite of tailor-made tools ranges from automated programming code assessment (Themis) to the creation and management of virtualized student environments for CPU and GPU computations (Virtual Labs). In this seminar, we discuss the tools and services that the Digital Lab offers, what these tools can do for you and your students, and what you can expect from us in the future.