Commonwealth Connections: Instructor Days
Join faculty from across the commonwealth for 2 days of Zoom-based activities exploring methods to support students, emerging technologies, assessment, and student engagement techniques. Plan on joining us for the afternoon of August 12th and the morning of August 13th for these exciting sessions.
When
Tuesday, August 12th at 12:00PM – 4:00PM EST
Wednesday, August 13th at 9:00AM – 1:00PM EST

Full Schedule & Session Details
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
12:00 PM
Welcome address from Dr. Renata Engel and Cross-Campus Teaching Circle (CCTC) Kick-Off
Join on Zoom: Main Sessions Room
Dr. Renata Engel, Interim Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses, will provide the opening remarks to welcome faculty to the event. The session will then focus on the opportunities of the cross-campus teaching circles.
1:00 PM
Equitable Instruction: Voice and Choice with Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
Join on Zoom: Zoom Room A
Join Dr. Peggy Duffy and Professor Gina Gray for their experiences implementing Universal Design for Learning practices in their courses in Special Education and Kinesiology.
Presented By:
- Peg Duffie, Assistant Teaching Professor, Altoona
- Gina Gray, Kinesiology, Scranton
Facilitator: Griff Lewis, Scranton
Cross-Campus Teaching in a Shared Programs Consortium (HPA)
Join on Zoom: Zoom Room B
Join several faculty members who have many years of experience teaching shared courses on the DLC. Together the HPA consortium faculty teach a full schedule of required HPA courses to students from multiple campuses in a variety of instructional modes. The consortium includes faculty and students from six campuses and additional loose affiliations with two colleges.
The campuses work together as a unit, though most instructors teach introductory courses (or research-based independent studies courses) on their respective home campus. The shared program instructors will depict their challenges and successes in adapting their courses to reach all students, regardless of their campus location. Of particular note is the shared internship program across most of the campuses, under the auspices of an internship coordinator
Presented By:
- Anita Yuskauskas, Assoc. Teaching Prof & HPA Consortium Prof in Charge, Lehigh Valley
- Michelle Pittman, Lecturer HPA, Mont Alto
- Beth Greenberg, Lecturer HPA, Lehigh Valley
Facilitator: Liz Huck, Hazleton/OVPCC
Harnessing AI for Reflective Revision: Empowering Student Writers through Critical Analysis.
Join on Zoom: Zoom Room C
This session explores the pedagogical potential of artificial intelligence for writing and humanities courses. Participants will examine strategies in which students critically evaluate AI-generated responses to essay assignments. Speaker 1 will explore how AI can help students to rework their original drafts by generating sample assignments for close analysis. Speaker 2 will discuss how students can evaluate AI-generated essays in response to a teacher-supplied rubric, then collaboratively revise and edit integrate primary source quotations into the essays to supply historical evidence for the essay’s claims. These activities not only deepen students’ understanding of writing expectations and source integration but also encourage close analysis and purposeful revision. The session will highlight how AI can serve as a generative and reflective tool while enhancing student engagement, supporting diverse learners, and promoting meaningful learning outcomes.
Presented By:
- Lindsay Keiter, Assistant Professor of History and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Altoona
- Jeanne Marie Rose, Associate Professor of English, Berks
Facilitator: Glenn Kuntz, Berks/OVPCC
2:00 PM
Collaboration and Competition: Engaging Research to Build Future Leaders
Join on Zoom: Zoom Room A
Professional research opportunities made available through programs like ACURA and the Smeal Undergraduate Sustainability case competition allow students to gain experience and develop professional growth, ensuring their readiness in today’s real-world problem-based job market.
Presented By:
- Terri Stiles, Lecturer, Abington
- Kevin Feifer, Lecturer in Business, Scranton
Facilitator: Anna Myers, Abington
Zoom In: Two Strategies for Student Engagement Across Disciplines
Join on Zoom: Zoom Room B
How do we keep students genuinely engaged during Zoom sessions, especially when the course content, student population, and instructional goals vary widely? In this session, two instructors share how they’ve each tackled this challenge using distinct but effective strategies tailored to their disciplinary contexts.
Adjunct professor and lecturer, Rabbi Howard Bogot (Jewish Studies/Religious Studies, Abington) engages students in values clarification using the four Talmudic lenses of the acronym PaRDeiS. Through mini-lectures, PDF attachments, and Zoom chat discussions, students reference classic definitions, birth culture relevance, and personal experience. The foci are basic messaging, allegory, homiletics, and mystique; building critical thinking strategies.
Assistant Professor, Dr. Nonna Sorokina (Business/Finance, Scranton) takes a flipped-classroom approach to discussion-based learning. Her students research topics, sometimes with the help of ChatGPT, collaborate in small groups, post findings on Canvas, and lead peer discussions before formal instruction begins. This approach increases ownership, supports hybrid participation, and minimizes passive lecture time.
Together, their approaches offer adaptable models for increasing Zoom engagement using active learning, AI tools, and discipline-informed strategies.
Presented By:
- Howard I Bogot, Lecturer, Abington
- Nonna Sorokina, Assistant Professor of Business/Finance, Scranton
Facilitator: Kim Wick, Behrend
Access Granted: The Future of Accessible Teaching and Learning
Join on Zoom: Zoom Room C
Join us for a supradisciplinary session where you’ll discover two practical ways to boost your digital accessibility superpowers. Jen Wagner offers manageable strategies for busy faculty to develop essential accessibility skills in a community without overwhelming your schedule. Lee Ann Dickerson unveils an opportunity to learn along with your students with a ready-to-use Canvas Commons module that equips students to submit accessible assignments and develop career-ready skills in accessible content creation. Be the key to unlock this emerging scholarly norm!
Presented By:
- Lee Ann Dickerson, Behrend
- Jen Wagner, Altoona/OVPCC
Facilitator:
3:00 PM
From Pennsylvania to the World: Leveraging EDGE for Transformative Learning
Join on Zoom: Zoom Room A
Join a growing network of Penn State faculty from 15 campuses collaborating with peers from international institutions across 39 countires through Penn State’s EDGE (Experiential Digital Global Engagement) initiative. EDGE brings global project-based international virtual exchange into your existing courses—empowering students to develop critical employable skills while working across cultures and time zones.
In this session you’ll discover:
- What EDGE is and how it works
- How to get involved and integrate it into your course
- What support and resources are available to help you succeed
Additionally, you’ll hear from Dr. Siyu Liu, who implemented an EDGE project in her Criminal Justice courses, connecting students with partners in Mongolia and Croatia. She’ll share insights from her experience, student outcomes, and practical tips for inclusive, globally connected learning environments.
Presented By:
- Siyu Liu, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, Harrisburg
- Tiffany McQuarrie, Penn State Global
Facilitator: Elizabeth Neail, Harrisburg
From Bored to Board-Certified: Active Learning Strategies in Nursing Education
Join on Zoom: Zoom Room B
This session explores two dynamic approaches to transforming passive learning into active engagement in nursing education. One faculty member implemented OB-themed escape rooms to boost student motivation and retention, while the other used simulation-based case studies grounded in the Clinical Judgment Model to bridge classroom content with real-world application. Join us to discover how these strategies improved student engagement, critical thinking, and clinical reasoning.
Presented By:
- Autumn S Hill, Nursing Instructor, Mont Alto
- Elizabeth Ann L Gatchel, Assistant Teaching Professor, Altoona
Facilitator: Nathan Hollister, Altoona
Teaching with AI: Updated Icons and Toolkit Highlights
Join on Zoom: Zoom Room C
As generative AI becomes more integrated into academic work, instructors need clear, consistent ways to communicate expectations for student use of AI in their courses. In this session, we will also discuss the updated AI Student Use Guide (and icons). We will also explore new and enhanced resources available on the AI Toolkit page of the Commonwealth Teaching Support website.
Presented By:
- Dani McCauley, Instructional Designer, Behrend
Facilitator: Lee Ann Dickerson, Behrend
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
9:00 AM
Adapting Assessments in the Age of AI: A Conversation with Faculty
Join on Zoom: Main Sessions Room
In this session, a panel of faculty members will share their insights into navigating the evolving landscape of assessing student learning in the age of generative AI. Drawing from their own classroom experiences and reflections from the Assessments in the Age of AI self-paced module, panelists will discuss the challenges, opportunities, and practical strategies they are exploring. The conversation will highlight how AI is reshaping academic integrity, assignment design, and expectations for student work.
Facilitator:Dani McCauley, Behrend
10:00 AM
Enhancing Learning through Diverse Assessment Strategies
Join on Zoom: Zoom Room A
Come join us to learn new approaches to supporting students with alternate assessments that foster comprehensive learning. There will be three unique approaches presented: Engaging in Paired/Group Assessments to promote teamwork, communication, and critical thinking skills, a Correction Opportunity that provides students with a window to demonstrate their understanding in a “second chance window” to improve their performance and grasp the concepts more effectively, and Utilizing AI where students have the opportunity to compare their work with AI generated content, to enhance their learning experience. Together, these presentations highlight the importance of diverse assessment strategies in supporting student learning and development.
Presented By:
- Ernest M. Tidball, Lecturer, Lehigh Valley
- Reuben Asempapa, Associate Professor of Mathematics Education, Harrisburg
- Nancy Schorschinsky, Assistant Teaching Professor, Schuylkill
Facilitator: Robin Gill, DuBois
Integrating AI into Assignments to Deepen Student Reflection
Join on Zoom: Zoom Room B
Discover how AI tools can enhance student engagement and reflection. This session highlights assignment designs that blend traditional research with AI-generated storytelling, podcasting, and imagery. Learn how structured comparisons between student and AI work foster deeper reflection and creativity across disciplines.
Presented By:
- Laura Guertin, Distinguished Professor of Earth Sciences, Brandywine
- Mary Ann Smith, Lecturer – STEM – Chemistry and Biology, Schuylkill
Facilitator: Jen Wagner, Altoona/OVPCC
11:00 AM
Course Insights: Learning Analytics for Instructors
Join on Zoom: Zoom Room A
Penn State has put learning analytics at instructor’s fingertips with Course Insights. Course Insights is a Canvas LTI that provides a holistic view of the student learning experience, empowering instructors to explore the relationships between course engagements and learner activity to outcomes in their courses, helping them shape their pedagogical strategies, course administration, and out-of-class student support needs. Ultimately, these views enable instructors to adapt their course, monitor the impact of those changes over time, and support a reflective teaching process. In this presentation we will provide a demonstration of the tool and discuss best practices.
Presented By:
- D. Benjamin Hellar, Ph.D. – Technical Lead for the Data Empowered Learning team
- Hannah Williams – Project Manager for the Data Empowered Learning team
Facilitator: Ashley Medina, Great Valley
Active Learning Through Kahoot and Top Hat
Join on Zoom: Zoom Room B
This session explores two tools to engage students in the classroom. Based on student feedback, lectures can be modified to address student misunderstandings.
Presented By:
- Michele Grinar, Assistant Teaching Professor, Abington
- Jonathan Woodall, Assistant Teaching Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences, Harrisburg
Facilitator: Julie Meyer, Schuylkill
Beyond the Screen: AR and VR Strategies for Immersive Learning
Join on Zoom: Zoom Room C
How can we bring performance, collaboration, and deep engagement into DLC and hybrid classrooms? In this session, two instructors share how they integrated the immersive technologies of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to overcome the limitations of traditional online learning environments.
Jeff Stoyanoff (English) tasked students with reimagining medieval plays through AR experiences, allowing them to recreate dramatic scenes while critically examining themes within the texts. This approach gave students a powerful way to embody literature and reinterpret it from contemporary perspectives, something typically only possible in face-to-face settings.
William Cantor (IT/Project and Supply Chain Management) used VR headsets and simulation software to enhance team collaboration and student engagement in a hybrid business course. Students moved from traditional Zoom-based simulations into a fully immersive VR setting, allowing them to meet, interact, and problem-solve together in a shared virtual space. The result was a stronger team dynamic and a measurable shift in student presence and participation.
This session offers practical insights, challenges, and strategies for integrating immersive tech into online and hybrid learning environments across disciplines.
Presented By:
- William Cantor, Assistant Teaching Professor of Project and Supply Chain Management and Information Technology, York
- Jeff Stoyanoff, Assistant Professor of English and Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies, Altoona
Facilitator: Kim Wick, Behrend
12:00 PM
Making Learning Visible: Using Visualizations and Collaborative Activities to Illuminate Complex Concepts
Join on Zoom: Zoom Room A
This session highlights innovative teaching strategies that empower students to engage deeply with complex concepts in economics and science. Presenters will share approaches that combine data visualization with active learning to help students see and interpret relationships while participating in hands-on and collaborative exercises. Through thoughtfully designed activities that promote teamwork, communication, and reflection, students move from passive observers to active constructors of knowledge. Attendees will leave with practical examples and inspiration for making abstract content more tangible, interactive, and fun!
Presented By:
- Rocky Jui-Chi Huang, Associate Professor of Economics, Berks
- Purnima Neogi. Assistant Teaching Professor, Harrisburg
Facilitator: Glenn Kuntz. Berks/OVPCC
Tools to develop low or no cost student resources
Join on Zoom: Zoom Room B
Presenters will discuss 2 different tools used to develop low or no cost resources for student. One presenter will discuss her experiences as a first-time user of an OAER (open access text) in BISC 3. Our second presenter will discuss using a Microsoft OneNote notebook to create templates to give students access to the notes for the class without any cost to them.
Presented By:
- Keely Roen, Associate Teaching Professor of Wildlife Technology, DuBois
- Kimberly Schultz, Instructor in Mathematics, Brandywine
Facilitator: Matthew Bodek, Brandywine
Connecting the Community with the Classroom
Join on Zoom: Zoom Room C
Discover how two faculty members brought community voices into their courses to enhance student learning. Through intergenerational interviews and partnerships with local service organizations, students engaged in reflective, real-world experiences that connected academic content with personal and societal relevance.
Presented By:
- Jennifer Parker, Associate Professor of Sociology, Lehigh Valley
- Howard I Bogot, Lecturer, Abington
Facilitator: Liz Huck, Hazleton/OVPCC
Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact Jen Wagner at jlw83@psu.edu at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the program to allow sufficient time to effectively meet your access needs.