Instructional Quality Faculty Fellows - Professional Development Sessions

For seamless registration, please login to Kirkwood MyHub and NeoEd. Faculty Professional Development opportunities hosted by the IQ Fellows are listed below. We offer a limited number of on campus/Zoom options.

Engage in learning sessions led by Kirkwood’s Instructional Quality Faculty Fellows (IQ Fellows), who are dedicated faculty members focused on advancing quality instruction through inclusive practices and collaborative faculty engagement. These sessions include in-person workshops, Zoom meetings, discussions, and collaborative activities. They provide opportunities for interaction, questions, and a shared exploration of various teaching and learning topics.

Teaching Workshops

Interactive workshops that explore evidence‑based teaching practices. Connect with colleagues, ask questions, and leave with ready‑to‑use ideas.

Fall 2026

Co-Req Faculty Inquiry Group (FIG)

Dates: 10/6, 11/3, & 12/1

Faculty will read and discuss literature and best practices relevant to the teaching of co-requisite writing courses.

Communities of Practice

A Community of Practice (CoP), also known as a Learning Community, is a group of colleagues who share a common interest and come together to learn, exchange ideas, and solve teaching and learning challenges. These groups meet regularly to exchange strategies, solve challenges, and build collective expertise.

Fall 2026

Connecting Kirkwood to the World: Virtual Exchange Community of Practice

Dates: 10/13, 11/19, & 12/3

Interested in giving your students meaningful global experiences without requiring them to leave campus?
Join Lori Brown's **Virtual Exchange Community of Practice** this semester to explore practical ways to connect your students with peers, classrooms, and perspectives from around the world. Whether you participated in the Community of Practice previously, already have experience with Virtual Exchange/COIL, or are simply curious about how it might work in your course, you are welcome!
Together, we will share ideas and experiences, explore successful virtual exchange models, identify potential partners and opportunities, and discuss practical strategies for designing intercultural learning experiences that support your existing course outcomes.
This Community of Practice is designed to be collaborative, practical, and flexible. You do not need to have an international partner or even a project idea to participate.

Cookies and Conversation

A facilitated conversation series led by Kirkwood’s Instructional Quality Fellows (IQ Fellows) who are faculty members committed to supporting instructional excellence. These sessions invite participants to engage in focused discussions on current teaching topics, and connect with colleagues in a relaxed, supportive environment.

Fall 2026

Cookies and Conversation: Creating AI Resistant Assignments

Date: Oct 1

Many of us have had to rethink how we teach and assess students due to AI. Join us for Cookies and Conversation where we discuss some ways we have created AI resistant assignments in our courses in writing and speaking courses, and please bring your own examples to share!

Cookies and Conversation: Learning Through Failure

Date: Nov 3

No one likes to fail, but as instructors, we know that failure is a normal part of the learning process. So, how can we create an environment where students can learn from failure? How can we normalize failure as a normal part of the learning process? Join us for a Cookies and Conversation focused on how we can create supportive environments in the classroom that promote learning as a process.

"Party at the Polls": Engaging Students in Voting and Elections - Cookies & Conversations

Date: Sept 25

This session will discuss the value of non-partisan student engagement in voting and elections. Current efforts at Kirkwood to promote voter education and voter registration will be shared. Additionally, how these efforts can connect to coursework and Kirkwood student learning outcomes.

Cookies and Conversations: From Subject Matter Expert to Educator

Date: Sept 16, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m., 108 Jones Hall and Zoom

We invite all faculty, especially CTE faculty who at any point transitioned from industry to teaching, to share their experiences:
•What training or support would have better prepared you for your first day of teaching?
•Were there any important skills or topics that were not covered during your onboarding or training?
•What lessons have you learned as an instructor that you wish had been explained earlier?
•What additional training or professional development would help you become a better teacher today?

Cookies and Conversation: K-ACE: Creating Connections Across Cultures with ELA and Other Kirkwood Students

Date: Sept 3

Looking for a simple and meaningful way to bring intercultural learning into your classroom? K-ACE connects English language learners with other Kirkwood students, creating opportunities for students to share their stories, perspectives, and experiences while building cross-cultural understanding, cultural sensitivity, and global citizenship.

Join IQ Faculty Fellows Carlos Ortega-Amparan and Lori Brown as they share their K-ACE experience from last fall, what they learned along the way, and practical ideas for creating a K-ACE experience in your own classroom. You'll also explore ways K-ACE can complement your existing course activities and learning outcomes.

Reading Circles/Book Clubs

A Reading Circle also known as book club brings colleagues together to explore ideas from a shared text and connect them to teaching and learning. It’s an informal, conversational space to exchange perspectives, deepen understanding, and build community across disciplines. The books are available through AISD and will be delivered to your Kirkwood mailbox before the first meeting.

Fall 2026

Book Club: The Opposite of Cheating: Teaching for Integrity in the Age of AI

Date: Starts October 1

This book group will explore the book "The Opposite of Cheating: Teaching for Integrity in the Age of AI" by Tricia Bertram Gallant and David A. Rettinger. The book invites educators to reconsider academic integrity by shifting the focus from preventing and detecting cheating to creating learning environments in which students are more likely to engage honestly and meaningfully with their work.
Participants will have opportunities to connect the book's ideas to their own teaching, share experiences and strategies with colleagues, and consider practical changes they can make in their courses.
*Register by Sept 24

Heather Strempke-Durgin - Fugitive Pedagogy

Lori Brown - Virtual Exchange Research