How to Read a Comic
Presenter: Dr. Matthew Levay, Professor of English.
Long dismissed as a juvenile form of popular entertainment, comics is actually a deeply complex medium with a unique ability to address the most crucial issues of its cultural moment. This talk provides a brief overview of how comics work and the history of the medium--how it developed, and why it developed in the ways it did--before proceeding to an interactive discussion of how to read comics critically, both alongside and in opposition to other popular forms. For more information email the Center for Learning at centerforlearning@isu.edu.
Location: Rendezvous. Room: Center for Learning, #129. Event Types: Workshops & Training. Audience: Faculty. Cost: Free.
Friday, September 26, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
Alternative Grading Workshop
Presenter: Dr. Heather Ray, Associate Professor of Biology. Do you ever feel that your students are so focused on grades that they miss out on actual learning? In this two-part workshop, we will discuss why we are dissatisfied with standard grading practices, how they take away from student learning, and several alternative grading approaches. You will identify areas within your courses where alternative grading strategies could be helpful, discuss the potential benefits for both you and your students, and leave with resources to help you implement new strategies. For more information email the Center for Learning at centerforlearning@isu.edu.
Location: Rendezvous. Room: Center for Learning, #129. Event Types: Workshops & Training. Audience: Faculty. Cost: Free.
Monday, September 29, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
A Pedagogical Explorarion on the Use of Social Media in the Classroom
Presenter: Dr. Heather Gilmore, Assistant Lecturer of Communication, Media and Persuausion/Assistant Director of ISU Bengal Debate. Session Support: Dr. Lori Austill, Instructional Design, ITRC. Do you want to debunk the myths that social media is negative, a distraction, and not needed? What if you can engage with your students, increase their collaboration, communication, and learning abilities? Come learn how to integrate social media inside your courses. For more information email the Center for Learning at centerforlearning@isu.edu.
Location: Rendezvous. Room: Center for Learning, #129. Event Types: Workshops & Training. Audience: Faculty. Cost: Free.
Wednesday, October 1, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
How to Pick Up a Rock in Space
Presenter: Dr. Shannon Kobs Nawotniak, Professor and Department Chair of Geosciences. Upcoming human exploration of the Moon and Mars is supposed to be driven by big science questions, but the reality is that science has been in the back seat (or even the trunk!) for most extravehicular activities by astronauts. An astronaut once even lied about a broken seat belt in his lunar rover in order to collect a scientifically interesting sample! Come learn about the science questions at the center of upcoming exploration missions and how we're trying to bridge the science gap in space. For more information email the Center for Learning at centerforlearning@isu.edu.
Location: Rendezvous. Room: Center for Learning, #129. Event Types: Workshops & Training. Audience: Faculty. Cost: Free.
Thursday, October 2, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
Looking for the Future of Music in the Past
Presenter: Dr. Jonathan Armstrong, Associate Professor of Music. Dr. Jon Armstrong will give a lecture on a potential future of music influenced by the recent and ancient past. Musicians have been essential members of human groups since before recorded history, and the way that music wove into the fabric of these groups in our past will give us a clue to how we might re-engage with it. As Charles Darwin said: "As neither the enjoyment nor the capacity of producing musical notes are faculties of the least use to man in reference to his daily habits of life, they must be ranked among his most mysterious with which he is endowed." Music is meant to be a mysterious technology that can stir emotions, form strong community bonds, heal, and even inspire warriors to battle. The abundance of audio files, streaming, and even generative AI has dulled the power of this unique human magic, and I believe the future will restore the ferality and power of music within our communities. For more information email the Center fo…
Location: Rendezvous. Room: Center for Learning, #129. Event Types: Workshops & Training. Audience: Faculty. Cost: Free.
Wednesday, October 8, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
Bonds of Love and Affection in Medieval Law
Presenter: Dr. Meghan Woolley, Assistant Professor of History.
We tend to view law as impartial and impersonal, but emotions are often part of its practice. In this presentation, I argue that love and friendships were viewed as essential components to create peace in twelfth-century English law. Then, I explore how the English common law - the first national body of law in England - transitioned to framing love and affection as threats. This opposition between law and emotions is not a natural one, but one built by administrators to craft a vision of perfect centralized justice, a vision that could never be fulfilled in reality. For more information email the Center for Learning at centerforlearning@isu.edu.
Location: Rendezvous. Room: Center for Learning, #129. Event Types: Workshops & Training. Audience: Faculty. Cost: Free.
Tuesday, October 14, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
Assessment in Action: Using Student Research for Program-Level Assessment
Presented by: Dr. Karen Appleby, Professor Tayler Elizondo, Dr. Elaine Foster, and Professor Maren Hunter, Human Performance and Sport Studies. Program-level assessment (PLA) is a critical component of effective teaching that helps establish a program’s teaching effectiveness, facilitate students’ learning and practice of professional skills, and assists faculty in creating important program improvements. In this presentation, we will share a unique (and fun!) PLA model that includes examples of program-level student learning outcome assessment (both formative and summative), information on the diverse signature assignments that align with these outcomes, and strategies to help facilitate the assessment process. This PLA model culminates in student presentations at a department-level professional poster session. For more information email the Center for Learning at centerforlearning@isu.edu.
Location: Rendezvous. Room: Center for Learning, #129. Event Types: Workshops & Training. Audience: Faculty. Cost: Free.
Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
Avoiding Scams
Presenter: Dr. Erik Boyle, Assistant Professor of Accounting. This session will cover common scams that might be encountered in your personal and professional life. We will cover common red flags of fraud and methods to protect yourself from becoming a victim. For more information email the Center for Learning at centerforlearning@isu.edu.
Location: Rendezvous. Room: Center for Learning, #129. Event Types: Workshops & Training. Audience: Faculty. Cost: Free.
Thursday, November 6, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.