Hilary Ballon Center for Teaching and Learning

HBCTL TeachTalkAD Series — Spring 2025

The HBCTL TeachTalkAD Series provides NYUAD faculty and instructors with a selection of teaching-related innovation sessions. Contributors are experts from within our NYU global community, across Abu Dhabi, and around the world. RSVP to receive the respective link for Zoom sessions. RSVP to the in-person sessions so we can ensure sustainable catering options.

• February 12, 2025 | 5:15-6:30pm GST - Teaching to Support Fundamental Academic Skills

  February 12, 2025 | 5:15-6:30pm GST - Teaching to Support Fundamental Academic Skills

  Campus Center (C2), Faculty Hub, Library, Room 341

  In this workshop, faculty will explore practical strategies to help students strengthen their academic skills such as studying, organizing, time management, and taking effective notes. These skills, often assumed to be learned “somewhere else”, are crucial for students’ success but are sometimes underdeveloped. By embedding these practices in daily teaching routines, faculty can help students improve learning strategies, retain course material, and manage their workload more effectively. This workshop includes hands-on activities that allow faculty to develop tools they can easily integrate into their courses. Faculty will leave with a clear plan to support students’ foundational skills and long-term academic success. Colleagues from the Student Wellness and Persistence Office will be on hand to detail the ways in which they support NYUAD Students as well.

  Speaker
  
  Jamie Whalen, Lecturer Chemistry

  Register

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  Registration is only open to NYUAD faculty and academic support staff.
• March 4, 2025 | 2:30-3:45pm GST - Activating Brightspace Tools for Blended Learning

  March 4, 2025 | 12:45-2pm GST - Activating Brightspace Tools for Blended Learning 

  Virtual: This event will take place online via Zoom. Please RSVP to receive the meeting link.

  Unlock the full potential of Brightspace to enhance your blended learning courses! Join us for an interactive workshop where you'll brush up on familiar tools and discover new features to engage your students more effectively.

  In this hands-on Zoom session, we'll cover:

  • Key Brightspace tools to streamline your course design
  • Strategies to integrate content, assignments, and discussions
  • Best practices for fostering collaboration and communication in blended environments
  • Tips for grading, feedback, and tracking student progress
    

  Whether you're new to Brightspace or looking to refresh your skills, this session will empower you to create dynamic and efficient learning experiences. Don't miss out—register today and take your teaching to the next level!

  Speaker
  Nancy Gleason, Executive Director, Hilary Ballon Center for Teaching and Learning, Professor of Practice of Political Science, NYUAD

  Register

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  Please note, the registration is only open to NYUAD Faculty and Academic Support Staff.
• March 20, 2025 | 11:30 - 12:30 GST - Giving Timely and Effective Feedback

  March 20, 2025 | 11:30am-12:30pm GST - Giving Timely and Effective Feedback 

  Virtual: This event will take place online via Zoom. Please RSVP to receive the meeting link.

  As faculty, we take pride in knowing our feedback on student work plays a role in developing their critical-thinking skills and continuous improvement. Effective feedback helps enrich students' experience and move their learning forward. It fosters student engagement, enhances learning outcomes, and supports reflective practices. Providing meaningful feedback is also a significant investment of time and effort, and there is occasionally a concern that students may focus primarily on the letter grade rather than fully engaging with the constructive comments designed to support their growth. Join this session to learn more about the differences between formative and summative feedback, the elements of effective feedback, and evidence-based best practices to deliver it. We will also discuss strategies to make writing feedback more time-efficient. 

  Open to NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Shanghai Faculty

  Speaker

  Evgeniya Efremova, Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, Clinical Assistant Professor of Teaching and Learning, NYU Shanghai

  Register

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  Registration is only open to NYUAD faculty and academic support staff.
• April 8, 2025 | 5:30-6:45pm - Addressing Grade Appeals: Setting Expectations

  April 8, 2025 | 5:30-6:45pm - Addressing Grade Appeals: Setting Expectations

  Faculty Hub, C2 3rd Floor, Room 341

  In this interactive, one-hour workshop, you’ll learn practical approaches to reduce grade grubbing and manage grade-related conversations effectively. NYUAD has released a new grade appeals policy and faculty will have an opportunity to discuss this together. We’ll focus on small, achievable changes like refining grading rubrics, setting clear expectations, and framing grade discussions to emphasize learning. Through interactive activities, you’ll explore transparent grading practices, effective feedback techniques, and ways to shift student focus from grades to growth. Dinner will be provided.

  Speakers: 

  • Alya Al Zaabi, Student Assistant at the Hilary Ballon Center for Teaching and Learning

  • Alberto Gandolfi, Associate Director of Faculty Teaching Development, NYUAD Center for Faculty Advancement; Professor of Practice in Mathematics

  • Nancy Gleason, Executive Director, Hilary Ballon Center for Teaching and Learning, Professor of Practice of Political Science
    

  Register

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  Please note, the registration is only open to NYUAD Faculty and Academic Support Staff.