Name: Learner-Centered Syllabi: Conversation with an Assistant Professor of Instruction
Start: 2025-05-21T14:45:00-0500
End: 2025-05-21T15:30:00-0500

Wednesday May 21, 2025 2:45pm - 3:30pm CDT

Northwestern Room A

One way to develop a more learner-centered atmosphere, where the students' needs are the focus of instruction, is by using a more learner-centered syllabus. Such syllabi should reflect the instructor's evolving understanding of and commitment to their students as they learn in a social and ever-changing world. This interactive presentation will promote the conference themes of Accessibility, Inclusive Teaching, and Universal Design for Learning by showcasing the characteristics of a learner-centered syllabus as well as the ways in which the instructor of a Black Feminist Though-informed, global health course has modified their course policies and assignments to address the needs of their students. The Northwestern Principles of Inclusive Teaching (2021) and Cullen and Harris™ (2009) framework for assessing learner-centeredness through course syllabi will be used to identify the ways in which the instructor's course has changed between Fall 2021 and Winter 2024. The features of this interactive presentation will include observing a dialogue between an educational developer and instructor as well as a mind mapping activity about constructing "knowledge-sharing"™ assignments. Discussion topics include: mental health days, grading grace periods, flextime, accountability days, allyship, and artificial intelligence.

Speakers