Upcoming Events
May 19 | 9:00am - May 21 | 1:30pm
Course (Re)Design Institute: May 19-21, 2026
The Course (Re)Design Institute (in person from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. May 19-20 and 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. May 21) supports faculty to design or redesign a course through foundational teaching and learning principles. Participants will engage with overarching concepts of course design in five core sessions and during individual work time. Two additional sessions on support resources for students and teaching with collections give space for faculty to gain a deeper understanding of Yale resources. Faculty will work closely within a cohort, sorted by disciplinary or pedagogical focus, to share challenges and practices with each other throughout the institute. Facilitators of those cohorts will reach out ahead of the institute to offer a consultation to each faculty member. To learn more, review our website at https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/CourseReDesignInstitute. Please register by April 17!
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May 19 | 3:00pm - 3:30pm
Canvas Lightning Talks
Join us for the Canvas Lightning Talks Poster Viewing Session, an opportunity to explore innovative ideas, research, and practices through a dynamic poster showcase. This session is designed for attendees who want to engage with presenters, ask questions, and learn more about projects highlighted during the Canvas Lightning Talks. Browse a range of poster presentations at your own pace, connect directly with presenters, and spark conversations around teaching, learning, and educational technology. During this session, presenters will share short, power‑packed posters highlighting effective strategies, innovative Canvas tools, and meaningful integrations designed to inspire others in their course design and instructional practice. Poster presentations will take place on May 19 from 3:00–3:30 p.m. in Sterling Memorial Library as part of the Course (Re)Design Institute. Posters will be displayed in person during the session and later made available digitally on the Poorvu Center’s website, extending access and impact beyond the event. Registration for the poster viewing session is open to all Yale faculty, graduate student / postdoctoral scholar and staff. Interested in presenting? Please see our application here: https://forms.office.com/r/dVELZN47R6
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May 21 | 2:00pm - 2:55pm
Canvas Ignite AI Info Session and Workshop
We are excited to invite you to test-drive Ignite AI, Instructure’s new suite of native AI tools integrated directly into Canvas. While standard Ignite AI features focus on specific tasks (like "click a button to summarize this thread"), the Ignite AI Agent is a more sophisticated, "premium" evolution of the platform. Think of it as a conversational co-pilot rather than just a set of static tools. To facilitate this, you will be granted access to a secure, private Canvas sandbox environment where you can experiment with these features firsthand. Current & Early Access Features: Efficiency Tools: Generate rubrics instantly, get help authoring assessment items, and review video captions for accuracy. Communication Enhancements: Summarize long discussion threads, translate Inbox messages, and translate discussion posts. Enhanced Discovery: Use "Smart Search" with advanced filters and gain deeper insights into student participation via Discussion Analytics. Advanced AI: Access the Ignite Agent (an upcoming premium add-on). Next Steps: Once registered, you will be redirected to set up your personal Ignite AI sandbox.
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Aug 12 | 9:00am - 4:00pm
Syllabus (Re)Design
The syllabus is a foundational document that is typically the first form of interaction that instructors have with their students. Research indicates that it plays a significant role in engaging students and motivating learning. Please join the Poorvu Center for an in-person, interactive workshop in which participants will have an opportunity to consider the overall course design process through the lens of their syllabus: backward design, learning outcomes, assessments, the role of generative AI in your course, and activities in and beyond class. Yale-specific syllabus templates will be shared, and participants will have the opportunity to work in small groups and individually on their own syllabus for a fall ‘26 course or a future course. Based on the principles of the Course (Re)Design Institute, questions the workshop will consider include: What do I want my students to know and be able to do by the end of this course? What types of assessment will best demonstrate what students have learned? What combination of in- and out-of-class activities will create a rigorous, engaging, inclusive and transformative learning experience? This full day workshop from 9-4 p.m. will be in person at the Poorvu Center, 301 York Street. We are committed to hosting inclusive and accessible events that allow all participants to fully engage. Please contact faculty.teaching@yale.edu if there are ways we can support accommodations, be aware of any dietary restrictions, or for questions about inclusion.
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Aug 17 | 12:00pm - 12:45pm
Getting Started with Canvas (Canvas 101 Session 1): Your First Steps to Success
Join us for a dynamic and hands-on training session designed for instructors, instructional support staff, and academic leaders who are new to Canvas or looking to refresh their foundational skills. This workshop will equip participants with the confidence and strategies needed to navigate Canvas effectively, set up courses with clarity, and utilize essential tools that enhance teaching and learning. Participants will: Explore the Canvas interface and personalize their dashboard Learn how to structure a course using modules, pages, and assignments Review best practices for publishing and maintaining a course throughout the term Canvas is designed to support flexible, student-centered learning environments. This session will empower educators to build intuitive, accessible, and well-organized courses that foster meaningful interactions and academic success. A recording will be shared with all registrants. The Poorvu Center is committed to hosting inclusive and accessible events that enable all individuals, including those with disabilities, to engage fully. If you have questions about access or anticipate needing an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact us at askpoorvucenter@yale.edu. Advance notice may be necessary to accommodate some accessibility needs.
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Aug 18 | 12:00pm - 12:45pm
Assignment Tool Kit (Canvas 101 Session 2): Creating, Customize, Collect
Join us for a dynamic and training session designed for instructors, instructional support staff, and academic leaders who are new to Canvas or looking to refresh their skills in creating effective assignments. This workshop will empower participants with the confidence and strategies to: Navigate the Canvas interface and personalize their dashboard Design and structure assignments using modules, pages, and assignment settings Apply best practices for publishing, grading, and maintaining assignments throughout the term Canvas is built to support flexible, student-centered learning environments, and this session will help educators build intuitive, accessible, and well-organized courses that foster meaningful interactions and academic success. A recording will be shared with all registrants. The Poorvu Center is dedicated to hosting inclusive and accessible events. If you have questions about access or anticipate needing accommodations, please contact askpoorvucenter@yale.edu. Advance notice may be necessary to meet some accessibility needs.
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Aug 19 | 12:00pm - 12:45pm
Gradebook Essentials (Canvas 101 Session 3): Setup, Tips and Troubleshooting
Join us for a practical and interactive training session designed for instructors, instructional support staff, and academic leaders who want to gain confidence in using the Canvas Gradebook. Whether you're new to Canvas or looking to refine your grading workflow, this session will provide essential strategies for managing grades effectively and troubleshooting common issues. Participants will: Learn how to set up the Gradebook to align with course structure and grading policies Explore tips for streamlining grade entry, feedback, and student visibility Troubleshoot common Gradebook challenges and discover solutions that save time Canvas Gradebook is a powerful tool for supporting transparent and efficient grading practices. This session will help educators build a grading system that is clear, consistent, and supportive of student success. A recording will be shared with all registrants. The Poorvu Center is committed to hosting inclusive and accessible events. If you have questions about access or anticipate needing accommodations, please contact askpoorvucenter@yale.edu. Advance notice may be necessary to meet some accessibility needs.
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Aug 20 | 12:00pm - 12:45pm
Quizzes in Canvas (Canvas 101 Session 4): Classic vs New – What You Need to Know
Join us for a focused and practical session designed for instructors, instructional support staff, and academic leaders who want to make informed decisions about which quiz tool best fits their teaching needs. This session will help participants: Understand the key differences between Classic and New Quizzes Explore the strengths and limitations of each tool Learn how to create, manage, and troubleshoot quizzes effectively Get guidance on transitioning from Classic to New Quizzes Whether you're building your first quiz or planning a migration, this session will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to use Canvas quizzes strategically and successfully. A recording will be shared with all registrants. The Poorvu Center is committed to hosting inclusive and accessible events. If you have questions about access or anticipate needing accommodations, please contact askpoorvucenter@yale.edu. Advance notice may be necessary to meet some accessibility needs.
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Aug 21 | 9:00am - 3:00pm
Canvas 102: Next steps to building your course site.
Formally known as Blank Canvas, this one-day, hands-on workshop will discuss and showcase the effective use of Canvas for course organization, accessibility, and assessment. Canvas Course Templates will be available for import, and sessions will encompass working open lab/ drop-in hours for faculty to work directly in their course sites. Friday, August 21st 9am-3pm (in person, food provided). The Poorvu Center is committed to hosting inclusive and accessible events that enable all individuals, including those with disabilities, to engage fully. If you have questions about access or anticipate needing an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact us at askpoorvucenter@yale.edu. Advance notice may be necessary to accommodate some accessibility needs.
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