Latest Issue of CELT Notes
May 14, 2025

Note from the Asst. Director

Happy last week of classes!

As I prepared to lead my first of two final exam review sessions for Paideia 112, this newsletter  titled “A Better Way to Conduct Final Exam Review Sessions” by faculty development specialist Jordan H. Davis from Wilmington University, with ideas crowd-sourced from faculty around the country, popped into my inbox.

I encourage everyone to take a few minutes to read the whole newsletter, as some of the ideas are fresh and exciting.

But, for those that don’t have time to space, I thought I would share the key takeaway Jordan offers:

“Students should walk away from a final exam review session understanding the following:

1. The skills the instructor is looking for them to display on each exam question
2. Study strategies and metacognitive methods they can use to practice applying those skills to exam questions
3. A method for determining which pieces of content are relevant in answering specific exam questions
4. The context surrounding the exam that’ll inform their approach:

• how much time is allocated to each question.
• how many points each question is worth.
• the order of the questions.
• and which materials they’re allowed to take into the exam and why.”

Even if you only have a few minutes before you head into your final exam review session(s), I encourage you to check your exam review lesson plan against the four competencies listed above and make changes as needed.

If you only have time for one of the four, focus on the final bullet point and consider creating a google doc that includes each bullet point and upload it to KATIE so that all students know what to expect on the exam.

Warmly,
Christy

1:1 Consultations | vrtich01@luther.edu | Valders 240 | 563-387-1587 | Mobile: 804-201-1688

From the Library Director

A great opportunity!

Learn about records management to help your department achieve clarity and gain valuable space. An informational breakfast will be hosted by the library on May 22, 2025 from 9:45-10:45 in Hovde, with a presentation beginning at 10 sharp and followed by questions. Space is limited, so please register.

For more information or to schedule a mini-workshop for your department, contact College Archivist Librarian, Hayley Jackson, jackha01@luther.edu or 563-387-1725.

CELT Spring Programming

End of Semester KATIE Sessions

Come to one or all of the KATE Grading leading up to the grading deadline and enjoy good company, timely help, drinks, and snacks while you grade!

Thursday, May 22: KATIE Grading Pre-Party and Gradebook Help, 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., CELT Office, Valders 240

Tuesday, May 27 KATIE Grading Party, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., CELT Office, Valders 240

CELT Summer 2025 Programming

Summer-long Programming

Sign up for Summer Programming here.

Summer Book Group

For our Book Group this summer, we will read A Pedagogy of Kindness by Catherine J. Denial. The Summer Book Group will operate as a hybrid group, meeting twice in-person (once at the beginning of the summer and once at the end of the summer), with asynchronous discussion forums and other activities built into a dedicated KATIE site. Participants are encouraged to request a copy of the book through Inter-Library Loan or via ebook or audiobook. Participants who would like a physical copy of the book to keep may request a copy by emailing celt@luther.edu. Register by May 26, 2025.

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Writing Circle

All faculty and staff who are involved in research related to teaching and learning, and who are hoping to publish their work, are invited to participate in the SoTL Writing Circle this summer. Participants will meet every other week throughout the summer, beginning June 2 and ending on August 18.

The Writing Circle will follow the guidance prescribed by Wendy Laura Belcher in her book Writing Your Journal Article in 12 weeks: A Guide to Academic Publishing Success. Participants are encouraged to request a copy of the book through the Luther College Library (1 copy) or through Inter-Library Loan (many copies available). Participants who would like a physical copy of the book to keep may request a copy by emailing celt@luther.edu. Please register by May 26, 2025.

Multi-Day Programming

Sign up for Summer Programming here.

Course (Re)Design Institutes (CDIs)

Each summer, CELT offers CDIs that are intensive, multi-day workshops in which instructors design or redesign courses based on backwards course design, universal design for learning and TiLT, active learning strategies, and other key pedagogical strategies for course success. Each day of the CDI includes instruction, hands-on activities, discussion and time dedicated to working on your course. Participants can expect to be working from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. each day of the institute, with a one-hour break for lunch. Each participant who successfully completes a CDI and submits deliverables will receive a $250 stipend.

June 9-12: Redesigning Courses with High DFW Rates

July 14-17: Designing or (Re)Designing Any Course

Summer 2025 Writing Retreat

This summer, CELT will host a writing retreat for any faculty member who is working–or would like to start working–on a writing project. Writing projects can be academic, creative, lecture notes for a new course or new unit–whatever writing project you need to work on this summer that relates in some way to your teaching.

The purpose of the writing retreat is to build community and provide participants with uninterrupted, scheduled writing time and some strategies to help ground oneself in place before beginning to write. Each day of the retreat will begin at 9 a.m. with a group activity (prairie walk, trail walk, meditation, etc…) followed by reflection and refreshments. Then, at 10:30 a.m. we will set our goals/intentions for the day and write until 12 p.m. The second writing block will be from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. At the end of the session, we will reflect briefly on our progress before we break for the day.

The 2025 Summer Writing Retreat can accommodate up to 10 participants and will run July 14-17, from 9 a.m.-3:15 p.m.

AI Boot Camp

Throughout the summer, CELT will offer 2-day AI “Boot Camps” wherein participants will receive up-to-date pedagogical training on how to utilize and incorporate AI into their courses and work. Additionally, participants will develop compassionate AI use policies that make sense for their courses and align with their course SLOs. Required reading/viewing of supplementary materials will be available on a dedicated KATIE site.

AI Boot Camps will be offered as follows:
June 23-24 (1:00 p.m.- 3:30 p.m. each day)
June 25-26 (9 a.m-11:30 a.m. each day)
July 21 & 23 (9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. each day)
Aug 19-20 (1:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. each day)

June Workshops

Sign up for Summer Programming here.

Promoting well-vetted sources to summer student researchers, facilitated by Library Director Kay Bronshteyn.
Tuesday, June 3 (CELT Conference Room, Valders 242): 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m.
Thursday, June 5 (Zoom): 1:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

Tips and Tools for Teaching SEJ Courses, facilitated by Jon Jensen.
Tuesday, June 24  (CELT Conference Room, Valders 242): 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m.
Thursday, June 26 (Zoom): 1:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

High Impact Teaching: Incorporating Role-Playing Games into the Classroom, facilitated by Nancy Gates Madsen.
Wednesday, June 25 (CELT Conference Room, Valders 242): 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

July Workshops

Sign up for Summer Programming here.

Community Engaged Learning, facilitated by Britt Rhodes.
Tuesday, July 8 (CELT Conference Room, Valders 242): 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m.
Thursday, July 10 (Zoom): 1:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

Kindness Pedagogy and Compassionate Course Policies, facilitated by Christy Vrtis.
Tuesday, July 22 (CELT Conference Room, Valders 242): 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m.
Thursday, July 24 (Zoom): 1:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

Accessibility Services Updates, Scenarios, and Using Panorama within KATIE, facilitated by Ann Smith and Erin Zidlicky
Tuesday, July 29  (CELT Conference Room, Valders 242): 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m.
Thursday, July 31 (Zoom): 1:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

August Workshops

Sign up for Summer Programming here.

Getting to Know Students Before Day 1, facilitated by Christy Vrtis.
Wednesday, Aug. 6 (Hybrid: In-person, CELT Conference Room, Valders 242 and via Zoom): 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m.

KATIE Basics for New Faculty, facilitated by Erin Zidlicky.
Thursday, Aug. 7 (Zoom): 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Writing assignments across the disciplines: Assigning, supporting, and assessing, facilitated by Mike Garcia.
Tuesday, Aug. 12 (CELT Conference Room, Valders 242): 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m.
Thursday, Aug. 14 (Zoom): 1:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

KATIE Rubrics, facilitated by Erin Zidlicky.
Thursday, Aug. 21 (Hybrid): 1:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

iClicker Cloud training for polling in class, facilitated by Erin Zidlicky.
Wednesday, Aug. 27 (Hybrid): 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m.