Skip to main content
Villanova Institute for Teaching and Learning (VITAL)

Workshop Sessions

Recordings of our workshops offered in the past can be found on our VITAL channel at 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.

This virtual program will be offered twice: Wednesday, February 4, 2:00-3:00pm and Thursday, April 9, 1:00-2:00pm. 

RSVP 

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.

This virtual program will be offered twice: Thursday, February 19, 1:00-2:00pm and Wednesday, April 15, 10:30-11:30am. 

RSVP

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.

This virtual program will be offered twice: Thursday, March 12, 10:00-11:00am and Monday, April 27, 2:00-3:00pm. 

RSVP

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.  

2026 Agenda  |  Register by February 5 at the latest

Past Faculty Forum Agendas (2015-2019)

2019 Agenda | 2018 Agenda | 2017 Agenda | 2016 Agenda | 2015 Agenda

Materials:
Sample alumni surveys: Link to Engineering
Sample formative student feedback: Link to Education & Counseling, Link to Chemistry 
Sample rubrics: Link to Geography & the Environment
Comprehensive exam development at the graduate program level: Link to 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.

This in-person program will be in Dougherty Hall, West, Thursday, February 26, 1:00–2:15 p.m.

RSVP 

AI and Teaching: Adapting Courses to Support Learning

Given the ubiquity of AI, how do we ensure it enhances rather than undermines student learning? This interactive BYOD workshop presents recent research on AI’s impact on learning and introduces practical frameworks for course integration. Whether you are just beginning to explore AI for teaching or already weaving it into your courses, the session offers guiding principles and accountability strategies to support student learning. Through hands-on experimentation, participants will test ideas, rethink course activities, and leave with adaptable approaches to refine in their own teaching.

This in-person program will be in Dougherty Hall, West, Wednesday, March 25, 10:00–11:15 a.m.

RSVP

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, 10:00–11:15 a.m.

RSVP