The Worthington Center for Teaching Excellence hosted a series of workshops on Tuesday, Jan. 13, in the Legacy Library on Marietta College’s campus. The “Tools You Can Use (Inside and Outside the Classroom)” workshop series focused on practical strategies to support teaching, advising, and student engagement ahead of the spring semester.
The series began at 9 a.m. with “Why Won’t Students Read?” presented by Visiting Assistant Professor Michelle Elia and Education Department Chair Professor Amanda Rider. The session explored the historical context of literacy instruction in Ohio and across the nation, its impact on higher education, and practical strategies to strengthen student engagement with text.
At 9:55 a.m., the second session, “Keep It Legal,” was held. Presented by Psychology Department Chair Professor Ali Doerflinger, Registrar Tina Hickman, and Director of Accessibility Services Lindsay Morgan, the session introduced attendees to Institutional Review Boards (IRBs), Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and accessibility services.
“Why Won’t Students Speak?” followed at 11:15 a.m. and was presented by Communication Instructor Ann Nicely. The session examined characteristics of today’s college students, offering strategies to encourage meaningful engagement in class discussions.
Following a break for lunch, “Navigate Your Way to Insight & Impact” was presented at 12:55 p.m. The session focused on building custom dashboards and reports to consolidate key student information. Attendees learned how Navigate can help summarize progress, identify concerns, and efficiently support student success.
The final session, “Navigate Your Way to Advising Success,” took place at 2 p.m. Attendees learned how to use Navigate’s advising tools to best serve student needs. From alerts and appointment summaries to student profiles and key features, participants gained insight into how to identify concerns early and support students effectively.
“It’s always exciting to see colleagues share their expertise and learn from each other. There’s always a lot of energy in the room when faculty and staff gather for workshops, and we hope that energy will propel us into a successful spring semester,” said Beverly Hogue, McCoy Professor of English. “We’re all devoted to teaching, but we’re also devoted to lifelong learning, which is why we attend workshops like these, to try out new skills and methods for engaging students.”
Through programming supported by the Worthington Advisory Group (WAG), the Worthington Center for Teaching Excellence offers ongoing professional development opportunities designed to help new and established faculty members strengthen teaching skills, encourage collaboration, and support campus-wide, student-centered learning practices that align with Marietta College’s commitment to academic excellence.
To learn more about the Worthington Center for Teaching Excellence and its professional development offerings, contact Instructional Technologist Linda Roesch or visit marietta.edu/worthington-center.