OU’s 2024 Teaching Symposium spotlights ‘Cultivating Inclusion Through Connection’

With the theme of “Cultivating Inclusion Through Connection” Oakland University’s second annual Teaching Symposium aims to unite teaching and research faculty alongside campus educators. This full-day event includes a buffet lunch and requires registration. 

Participants will explore strategies for linking students with their community, classroom and campus during the event, which takes place from 8 a.m. -3 p.m. on Friday, April 19, in the Oakland Center Gold Rooms. A Zoom option is also available. Faculty, graduate students, and staff are all encouraged to attend.

“The theme of this year’s symposium comes at a time when campuses across the nation are grappling with the effects of DEI legislative changes on teaching and learning equality,” said Dr. Sarah Hosch, faculty director of the OU Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL). “Part of CETL’s mission is to lead and cultivate inclusive, innovative and high-impact teaching practices. With this framework in mind, our symposium brings together faculty, students and staff to learn how we can leverage our collective talents to enhance student learning.”

The event features networking opportunities, faculty presentations and two keynote speakers. OU faculty presentations include: 

• “How to Train Your Algorithm: Responsible AI in the Classroom” | Bridget Kies, Ph.D., Film Studies and Production, CAS 

• “Experiences That Promote College Readiness in Learners from Low-SES Areas”| Kyeorda Kemp, Ph.D., Foundational Medical Studies, OUWB 

• “Interviews as a Learning Activity to Cultivate Connections” | Helena Riha, Ph.D., Linguistics, CAS
  
  
• “Campus Farms: Teaching S.T.E.M. Though Food and Farming” | Fay Hansen, Ph.D., Biological Sciences, CAS

“Oakland University is home to creative and committed faculty who bring a breadth of experience in student-centered learning,” said Dr. Hosch. “We will highlight their work in an effort to celebrate and share the unique ways our OU teaching community can ‘Be Golden.’”

The keynote talk is titled “Recognizing the Community Cultural Wealth of Academically Successful Black Science Students.” Community Cultural Wealth is a framework focusing on students’ assets, including skills and dispositions from their families, communities of origin, cultures and personal experiences. 

“Our keynote speakers will bring us insight into how we can nurture our students’ cultural wealth to become better instructors, mentors and OU community members,” Dr. Hosch added.