About Learn@Lunch Series
For recordings of previous Learn@Lunch sessions go to CTEI Teaching Resources.
The sessions (typically 3-4 each semester) are designed to encourage faculty to share and explore new teaching methods and are intended to foster collegiality, community, and peer support around teaching.
Each semester, the topics vary and are selected based on feedback from faculty and with the guidance of the CTEI Faculty Advisory Committee.
Do you have an idea for a session? Email Learn@Lunch and share your idea with us.
Fall 2025 Session Schedule
BUILD COMMUNITY WITH CO-CONSTRUCTED COURSE GUIDELINES
Facilitated by Lisa Zawilinski
Sep. 10 | 12:45 p.m.–2 p.m.
Location: Creative Technologies Center (Lower-Level Library)
Lunch will be provided to registrants
Empower your students and foster a collaborative learning environment through co-constructed course guidelines! In this session, faculty will explore the benefits of engaging students in shaping classroom norms, from increasing investment and accountability to creating a more inclusive and adaptable space for learning. Participants will leave with practical steps to implement this approach effectively, ensuring that course expectations are clear, equitable, and student-centered.
PUTTING OUR IDEAS INTO PRACTICE: ADVANCED PEER REVIEW IN THE CLASSROOM
Facilitated by Ben Grossberg
Oct. 29 | 12:45 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Location: Creative Technologies Center (Lower-Level Library)
Lunch will be provided to registrants
This session, a follow-up to the 2025 Distinguished Teaching Humanist summer workshop, “Teaching at a Round Table: Advanced Peer Review as a Foundation and a Catalyst for Student Learning,” will be an open discussion in which attendees will be invited to share their experiences putting advanced peer-review techniques into practice. We will begin by reviewing the opportunities that advanced peer review offers. All attendees, whether or not they were part of the summer workshop, will be invited to contribute ideas, strategies, and questions.
Benjamin S. Grossberg is the author of four books of poetry, including *My Husband Would* (University of Tampa Press, 2020), winner of the 2021 Connecticut Book Award, and *Sweet Core Orchard* (University of Tampa Press, 2009), winner of a Lambda Literary Award. He also wrote the novel, *The Spring before Obergefell* (University of Nebraska Press, 2024), selected by Percival Everett for the 2023 AWP Award Series J Alan McPherson Prize. A new collection of poems, *When You Read a Novel the Dead Would Like*, is forthcoming from Cavankerry Press in fall 2026. Ben is Director of Creative Writing at the University of Hartford.
EMPOWERING STUDENT LEARNING THROUGH EXAM WRAPPERS AND REFLECTIVE PRACTICE
Facilitated by Gengyun Le
Nov. 12 | 12:45 p.m.–2 p.m.
Location: Creative Technologies Center (Lower-Level Library)
Lunch will be provided to registrants
Discover how Exam Wrappers can transform your teaching approach! This simple yet powerful structure encourages students to engage in critical self-reflection, helping them set meaningful goals and improve their academic performance. Join us to explore practical strategies that will empower your students to take ownership of their learning journey.
BUILDING KNOWLEDGE: HIGH UTILITY, SIMPLE STRATEGIES FOR ENHANCED LEARNING
Facilitated by Lisa Zawilinski
Dec. 10 | 12:45 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location: Creative Technologies Center (Lower-Level Library)
Lunch will be provided to registrants
Join us to explore activities designed to connect prior knowledge to new concepts and enhance transfer and generalization. Learn practical strategies such as using concept mapping to visually grapple with connections between key ideas. Engage in hands-on activities, including the use of generative AI, to design your learning environment to support a deeper understanding and retention of new material.
LET'S TALK TEACHING EVENTS
Sep. 29, Oct. 24, and Nov. 17 | 12:45 p.m.–2 p.m.
Location: Commons Private Dining Room
Lunch will be provided to registrants
Join us for informal meetups where we chat about teaching! This is an excellent opportunity to brainstorm new ideas, seek advice from colleagues, and share experiences. There is no planned agenda or presentation, just a relaxed environment for open discussion. Drop in or join for as long as you wish!