Welcome to the Teaching, Learning, and Professional Development Center! Our primary mission is to support the university’s commitment to excellence in teaching and learning. Whether you’re an advisor looking for professional development workshops, a faculty member interested in talking about your teaching or considering how to implement service learning in your course, or a graduate student looking for resources and ways to improve your teaching, we can help!
Please note that there are a variety of session formats on this listing. In-person sessions have the room number listed and often include a Zoom link for those that need a virtual option (with a few exceptions). Virtual sessions will have the Zoom link provided in the location and description.
Please click on the session title to for the description and option to register.
- Nov9Mon
Mentorship Series: Maintaining Effective Communication - (November 9, 2026 2:00 pm - 3:20 pm)
Available Seats: 283 of 300
Date: November 9, 2026 2:00 pm - 3:20 pm
Location:Virtual Session
Room: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/216857263990260?p=ll1xDS8nscgpXPVRmr
Facilitator: Dr. Barbie Chambers
Effective communication is foundational to successful mentoring relationships. While many recognize good communication when they experience it, mentors must deliberately cultivate and practice these skills. In this interactive session, participants will identify key characteristics of effective communication and engage in practical exercises to strengthen their mentoring dialogue.________________________________________________________________________________ Microsoft Teams meeting Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/216857263990260?p=ll1xDS8nscgpXPVRmr Meeting ID: 216 857 263 990 260 Passcode: MA3XF3q4 Need help? | System reference For organizers: Meeting options ________________________________________________________________________________ - Nov10Tue
Reclaiming Attention and Finding More Joy: Evidence-Based Digital Detox Strategies for Faculty - (November 10, 2026 11:00 am - 11:50 am)
Available Seats: 78 of 100
Date: November 10, 2026 11:00 am - 11:50 am
Location:Teaching, Learning & Professional Development Center
University Library, North WingRoom: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/293978116946681?p=0TTH6aSgqDeC9aoEe5
Facilitator: Lisa Low (Professor of Practice, Public Relations and Director of the Division of AI Pedagogy and Policy)
This session explores evidence-based strategies for reclaiming focus, creativity, and well-being in an increasingly distracted world. Drawing on research in cognitive science, neuroscience, and productivity, participants will examine how attention fragmentation, constant digital stimulation, and excessive choice can undermine deep thinking and meaningful work.
Participants will explore the neuroscience of attention and reward, including research suggesting dopamine plays a key role in motivation and seeking behavior rather than satisfaction itself. The session also examines why multitasking is largely a myth, how frequent task switching degrades performance, and why monotasking and intentional constraints can enhance both productivity and creativity.
Teams link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/293978116946681?p=0TTH6aSgqDeC9aoEe5
Meeting ID: 293 978 116 946 681
Passcode: pP6h4x5k - Nov11Wed
Raider Success Hub Fundamentals for Faculty
Available Seats: 22 of 36
Date: November 11, 2026 2:00 pm - 2:50 pm
Location:Teaching, Learning & Professional Development Center
University Library, North WingRoom: TLPDC 153
Facilitator: Jeremy Norman (Program Director, Raider Success Hub)
Raider Success Hub (RSH) is Texas Tech’s centralized platform for supporting student success. In this training, faculty will learn basic navigation of the system, how to view student information, submit alerts, complete progress surveys, and more. Faculty play a critical role in student success, and this session will demonstrate how RSH makes it easier to offer timely support and connect students to the right resources at the right time.
This workshop session is designed to be delivered in a face-to-face format; however, we understand that you might need to attend remotely for a variety of reasons. Please use this link to join the conversation remotely:
Teams link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/22295546486024?p=hESpflZapwfVjlpzSS
Meeting ID: 222 955 464 860 24
Passcode: ZD2xQ7iF - Nov12Thu
Collaborative Feedback in Academic Relationships: Giving and Receiving Feedback from a Place of Connection - (November 12, 2026 12:30 pm - 1:50 pm)
Available Seats: 48 of 76
Date: November 12, 2026 12:30 pm - 1:50 pm
Location:Teaching, Learning & Professional Development Center
University Library, North WingRoom: TLPDC 151
Facilitator: Dr. Lisa Garner Santa What if giving feedback could be energizing, even enjoyable? In this session, we’ll explore how feedback, when grounded in connection and mutual respect, can become a two-way exchange that strengthens both mentoring relationships and institutional culture. Through the lens of Nonviolent Communication (NVC), we’ll examine how to move from “power over” or “power under” toward “power with,” where everyone’s needs matter. Participants will practice using observations, feelings, needs, and requests to engage in feedback conversations that are clear, kind, and co-created. When mentoring becomes a collaborative process, feedback becomes not only possible but meaningful and rewarding.
Microsoft Teams Need help?
Meeting ID: 272 654 430 723 5
Passcode: rZ6ha2XK
- Nov13Fri
Why We Need to Keep Learning Human in the Age of AI - (November 13, 2026 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm)
Available Seats: 70 of 100
Date: November 13, 2026 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Location:Virtual Session
Room: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/225529455697416?p=ErknzTa6VHanxoMZOY
Facilitators: Suzanne Tapp (Associate Vice Provost for Teaching & Learning) and Lisa Low (Director of the Division of AI Pedagogy & Policy; Professor of Practice, Public Relations)
Generative AI is changing how students approach coursework and challenging traditional approaches to teaching and assessment. This 90 minute workshop will explore practical strategies for designing AI resistant assignments, developing rubrics that encourage authentic student work, and rethinking how faculty measure achievement of learning outcomes when traditional assignments and assessments can be completed using AI. Participants will also consider how clear expectations, ongoing conversations and a culture of trust can encourage responsible AI use while supporting meaningful student learning.
Teams link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/225529455697416?p=ErknzTa6VHanxoMZOY
Meeting ID: 225 529 455 697 416
Passcode: HN7JF3VC - Nov19Thu
The Faculty Reset - Vision, Purpose, Action - (November 19, 2026 12:30 pm - 1:50 pm)
Available Seats: 10 of 36
Date: November 19, 2026 12:30 pm - 1:50 pm
Location:Teaching, Learning & Professional Development Center
University Library, North WingRoom: TLPDC 153
Facilitator: Dr. Angela Walla
In this session, you’ll reflect on your academic journey and re-envision your future with renewed clarity and purpose. Guided by the moderator, participants will engage in a series of reflective activities designed to help assess their career path, explore current goals, and consider new possibilities. This session aims to reignite enthusiasm and offer fresh perspective as you plan the next chapter of your academic career. You’ll leave with concrete action steps and the foundation of a personalized plan to guide your way forward.
The session will be broken down into four sections. Each session has a mini-lecture followed by an activity:- Reflection on past career
- Exploring the possibility: Identification of passion projects and new areas
- Identification of Barriers
- Action Plan
Lunch will be provided!