Educational Consultations

Teaching is complex. You don't have to navigate it alone.

Every instructor—whether teaching their first course or their hundredth—encounters new challenges, opportunities, and questions. Our consultations provide a confidential, collaborative space to explore your teaching, reflect on your practice, and develop strategies that align with your goals, your students, and your discipline.

There is no single "right" way to teach. Rather than evaluating or judging your teaching, we serve as thought partners who help you make informed, intentional decisions grounded in research on how people learn.

What is a consultation?

A consultation is a one-on-one conversation with an educational developer focused on your teaching, course design, or professional growth. Consultations are:

Confidential. Our conversations are not shared with department chairs, deans, or supervisors.
Non-evaluative. We are not involved in faculty evaluation. Our role is to support your growth—not assess your performance.
Collaborative. We work alongside you to identify goals, explore options, and develop practical strategies.
Evidence-informed. Our recommendations draw from scholarship on teaching and learning while recognizing the unique context of your discipline, students, and teaching style.
Faculty-centered. You bring expertise in your discipline; we bring expertise in teaching and learning. Together, we create solutions that fit your context.

What can we help with?

Faculty meet with us for many reasons, including:

Course Design

Developing or revising a course
Writing measurable learning outcomes
Aligning assignments with course objectives
Organizing course content
Building engaging learning experiences

Teaching Strategies

Active learning
Student engagement
Inclusive teaching
Classroom discussions
Motivating students
Supporting first-year learners
Teaching large or small classes

Formative & Summative Assessments

Designing authentic assessments
Creating effective rubrics
Providing meaningful feedback
Improving grading practices
Evaluating student learning

Educational Technology (including AI)

Canvas course design
Integrating educational technologies
Thoughtful use of generative AI
AI-enhanced assignment design
Digital accessibility

Reflection & Professional Growth

Mid-semester course adjustments
Interpreting student feedback
Preparing for a new course
Navigating teaching challenges
Developing a teaching philosophy
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)

What should I expect?

Most consultations last between 30 and 60 minutes and can take place in person or virtually.

Before we meet, you may wish to share materials such as your syllabus, assignment, Canvas site, or specific questions. During the consultation, we'll discuss your goals, explore possibilities together, and identify practical next steps that you can implement immediately or over time.

There is no expectation that you arrive with a fully formed problem or solution. Many faculty simply want a sounding board for an idea—and that's exactly what consultations are designed to provide.

Who should schedule a consultation?

Everyone!

Whether you are:

Teaching your first semester,
Developing a new course,
Experimenting with a new instructional approach,
Integrating AI into your teaching,
Responding to student feedback,
Preparing for promotion or tenure, or
Looking for fresh ideas,

The CTE is here to support your continued growth as an educator.

Our Philosophy

We believe that excellent teaching is an ongoing process of reflection, experimentation, and continuous improvement. Every course, every group of students, and every semester presents new opportunities to learn.

Educational development is most effective when it is built on trust, curiosity, and partnership. Our goal is not to prescribe a particular way of teaching, but to help you develop an intentional teaching practice that reflects your values while supporting meaningful student learning.

We look forward to partnering with you.