Workshops
VITAL’s workshops bring together Villanova faculty for engaging, hands-on learning experiences that foster innovative teaching practices, meaningful assessment strategies and a collaborative academic community.
Recordings of past workshops are available on the VITAL channel on Mediasite.
First Impressions: Organizing Your Brightspace Course to Support Student Success
Thoughtful course organization is a powerful pedagogical tool: clear structure reduces cognitive load, supports self-regulation, and helps students feel oriented, confident, and ready to engage from day one. In this session, we will explore evidence-based strategies for designing a clear, engaging course with Brightspace tools and templates. We will create a "Welcome" module and consider strategies to set expectations and foster a sense of belonging. Ideal for all faculty--no prior Brightspace experience required.
Supporting Student Self-Assessment in Brightspace
Self-assessment activities give students the chance to practice, reflect, and monitor their own learning progress. Research on formative assessment shows that students who engage in self-evaluation develop stronger metacognitive skills, persist through challenges, and achieve deep, sustained learning. This Zoom workshop introduces several Brightspace tools that support these practices, such as Self-Assessments, Practices, and ungraded assignments. Participants will have hands-on time to build sample activities and consider how these approaches can be integrated into their own course design.
Multimodal Feedback: Brightspace Tools for Meaningful Response to Student Work
How do intentional feedback practices promote student growth and engagement? In this session, we will examine research-informed feedback practices and explore Brightspace tools that make it easier to respond to student work efficiently and effectively. We will apply these principles by creating an assignment and practicing the use of text, audio, and video feedback to promote student growth and engagement.
2026 Faculty Forum on Student Learning Assessment, February 13
This collegial forum will focus on faculty practices regarding student learning outcomes assessment at the course and/or academic program levels. Faculty members across disciplines will host table conversations focused on specific means of student learning assessment. They will demonstrate particular assessment tools that they have used and describe the rationale, implementation, and use for obtaining meaningful, actionable results. The forum's goal is to share practice-based assessment methods, engage in faculty-driven assessment leadership, and, ultimately, strengthen the culture of assessment at Villanova.
Materials:
Assessing Student Presentations, H. Rose and D. Arnold, Communication
Beyond Points: Designing Assessments with Learning in Mind, Kaitlyn Muller and Peter Muller, Mathematics & Statistics
Past Faculty Forum Agendas (2015-2019)
2019 Agenda | 2018 Agenda | 2017 Agenda | 2016 Agenda | 2015 Agenda
Materials:
Sample alumni surveys: Engineering
Sample formative student feedback: Education & Counseling, Chemistry
Sample rubrics: Geography & the Environment
Comprehensive exam development at the graduate program level: Public Administration
AI and Student Learning: Rethinking Purposeful Course Integration
Given the ubiquity of AI, how do we ensure it enhances rather than undermines student learning? Recent research shows that thoughtful AI integration can support skill development and deepen engagement—but only when paired with clear expectations and intentional accountability structures. This interactive, hands-on workshop introduces practical frameworks for course integration, whether you are just beginning to explore AI for teaching or already weaving it into your courses. Through guided experimentation, participants will test ideas, rethink course activities, and leave with adaptable approaches to refine in their own teaching.
The program will be held in Dougherty Hall, West Lounge, Thursday, February 26, 1-2:15 p.m.
AI and Teaching: Course Design for Learning and Academic Integrity
What influences students’ decisions about cheating in college courses? This workshop begins with research-based perspectives on why students cheat and how course context, expectations and assessment design can influence those choices. Participants will reflect on their own course(s), learning activities and assessments using guided prompts grounded in the literature. The workshop offers an opportunity to consider how adjustments to course design can create learning contexts that foster integrity and support meaningful student learning. Faculty are encouraged to bring a syllabus and course materials.
This in-person program will be in Dougherty Hall, West, Wednesday, March 25, 10-11:15 a.m.
AI to Enhance Teaching Effectiveness: A Workshop with Prompts
This interactive Zoom workshop invites faculty to explore how AI can enhance pedagogical creativity and support course development and teaching. Participants will use their course(s) and provided prompts to develop effective instructional strategies, identify ways to increase student engagement, and examine how assignments or learning activities align with research-based principles for preserving learning now that AI tools are commonplace. In doing so, participants will learn to create effective prompts to advance their teaching goals using high-quality sources.
This virtual program will be held on Zoom, Wednesday, April 22, 10-11:15 a.m.
RSVP