Spring 2025 Professional Development Week (PDW)

Neurodiversity, or the naturally occurring variation in human cognition, is becoming a popular topic in higher education and adjacent fields as more of our students identify as “neurodivergent” and neurodiversity gains recognition as an important component of DEI initiatives. But what is neurodiversity, and what is the history and political importance of this concept?

A participatory workshop designed for faculty to apply their knowledge to three areas of teaching that may benefit from a "neurodiversity perspective": (1) The syllabus statement about disabilities, accommodations, and access; (2) Accessible and transparent guidelines for "class participation" in its many forms; and (3) Introductory remarks to frame collaborative and or group class activities.

At the request of faculty, the eLearning team will be available to provide tips and tricks to help you prepare to teach a pooled Colorado Online class. We will walk you through finding your required course materials, investigating what teaching resources are available, building your course shell, and answering questions - this is a hands on opportunity to get assistance and build your actual course! - NOTE: I talked to Katie about this a few months ago. We planned two, two-hour sessions on Wednesday - one during the day in person, and one in the evening on Zoom.

This session has been thoughtfully designed with the intention of catering to individuals who are either new to the realm of teaching or have merely dipped their toes into this profession for a period ranging from one to three semesters. The primary focus of this session is to impart knowledge and skills necessary for crafting an inclusive syllabus that fosters an environment of diversity, equity, and belongingness, establishing an attendance policy that strikes a balance between support and expectation, refining techniques for organizing lectures in a coherent manner that maximizes student engagement and retention, as well as delving into the intricacies of grading in a manner that is not only fair but also adds substantial value to the academic growth and development of students. By actively participating in this session, attendees can expect to gain valuable insights and practical strategies that will undoubtedly enhance their teaching repertoire and contribute to their overall effectiveness as educators in the classroom setting.