Active Teaching Lab - Reading and AI Literacy
2026-04-01 09:00 - 10:00 (America/Chicago) | WI
Connecting Critical Reading and AI Literacy

Shevaun Watson and Cassandra Phillips

Generative AI is transforming college students’ literacy development, and understanding these challenges is important at this critical juncture. This session will discuss key findings from the presenters’ research on the relationships between reading and AI and share effective strategies for supporting both critical reading and AI literacy in your classrooms. Participants will gain insight into students’ experiences with expanding literacy demands and how these new challenges are impacting their ability to succeed in reading- and writing-intensive courses.

This session will be held in Engelmann Hall (Room B73), and online via Zoom. Registration is not required but helps us prepare.

Join us via this link!

Facilitators

Location

This session will be held in Engelmann Hall (Room B73), and online via Zoom, please register to receive an email with the link.

Registration Form

End of Year Success Planning | New TA Training Session
2026-04-03 08:00 - 09:00 | Engelmann B73, 2033 E. Hartford Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 53211, United States
Overview

This session helps you finish strong and prepare for spring success. You will learn more about end of course evaluations from the Office of Assessment and Institutional Research (OAIR) as well as updates on digital accessibility. You’ll reflect upon this semester and create: your spring semester action plan, foundations to your teaching portfolio and teaching statement, and a lesson plan built upon proven teaching strategies.

Location

Engelmann Hall, RM B732033 E Hartford Ave,Milwaukee, WI 53211

Fall 2026 Textbook Submission Deadline
2026-04-06 00:00 - 23:59 | WI
All course material adoptions should be submitted to the eCampus Bookstore so that students know what the course texts will be for their courses.

Gen Ed Charette | Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning
2026-04-06 09:00 - 10:30, 2026-04-06 15:00 - 16:30 | Engelmann B73, 2033 E. Hartford Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 53211, United States
Overview

Teaching a General Education course? Join us for a collaborative General Education assignment charette, where faculty will exchange peer feedback on course assignments focused on refining course assignments to enhance clarity, alignment, and student learning.

Please come prepared to engage in small‑group discussions (in‑person or online) and bring the assignment(s) you indicated are assessing the approved General Education student learning outcomes, as required for UWM’s Gen Ed assessment reporting.

This workshop not only supports strong alignment between General Education learning outcomes, assignments, and student transparency about their learning, but also helps ensure UWM is prepared to meet HLC accreditation expectations.

Registration Form

Gen Ed Charette | Communication & Literacy
2026-04-07 09:00 - 10:30, 2026-04-07 15:00 - 16:30 | Engelmann B73, 2033 E. Hartford Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 53211, United States

Gen Ed Charette | Social & Behavioral Science
2026-04-08 09:00 - 10:30, 2026-04-08 15:00 - 16:30 | Engelmann B73, 2033 E. Hartford Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 53211, United States

Gen Ed Charette | Humanities & Arts
2026-04-09 09:00 - 10:30, 2026-04-09 15:00 - 16:30 | Engelmann B73, 2033 E. Hartford Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 53211, United States

Gen Ed Charette | Natural Science & Wellness
2026-04-10 09:00 - 10:30, 2026-04-10 15:00 - 16:30 | Engelmann B73, 2033 E. Hartford Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 53211, United States

Returning TA Professional Development Community
2026-04-10 12:00 - 13:00 | Engelmann B73, 2033 E. Hartford Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 53211, United States
Overview

Join our monthly hybrid professional development community designed exclusively for teaching assistants! This space is all about collaboration, support, and growth. Each session provides:

Peer Problem-Solving: Bring your challenges and questions to a supportive group of colleagues who understand your role. Together, we’ll brainstorm practical solutions.

Community Support: Connect with other TAs, share experiences, and build a network that strengthens your teaching practice.

Skill Building: Learn a new teaching strategy or explore an educational technology tool each month to enhance your classroom impact.

Sessions are offered in person and online for maximum flexibility. Whether you’re looking for advice, new ideas, or just a sense of community, this is your space to learn and grow.

Location

Engelmann Hall, RM B732033 E Hartford Ave,Milwaukee, WI 53211

Registration Form

Gen Ed Charette | Civics & Perspectives
2026-04-13 09:00 - 10:30, 2026-04-13 15:00 - 16:30 | Engelmann B73, 2033 E. Hartford Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 53211, United States

Digital Accessibility in Microsoft Word
2026-04-24 09:00 - 12:30 | Engelmann B73, 2033 E. Hartford Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 53211, United States
Overview

Under a 2024 rule from the U.S. Department of Justice, public colleges and universities must ensure their digital content is accessible to people with disabilities by April 24, 2026. Prepare for the upcoming accessibility deadline by learning how to create accessible Microsoft Word documents. In this hands-on, in-person workshop, participants learn core accessibility principles and practice identifying and correcting common accessibility issues in Microsoft Word.

Facilitators

Event Location

Engelmann Hall (ENG) B732033 E. Hartford Ave.Milwaukee, 53211United States

Registration Form

Active Teaching Lab - Custom AI Without the Cloud
2026-05-06 09:00 - 10:00 | WI
Custom AI Without the Cloud: Privacy and Power for Every Instructor

Joseph Retzer

While off-the-shelf AI like ChatGPT are popular, many instructors worry about data privacy and generic “one-size-fits-all” limitations. In this session, Joseph Retzer will demonstrate how he created a secure, custom AI assistant that runs entirely offline to keep sensitive student and research data private, while still being able to summarize complex data and generate professional reports. Following Dr. Retzer’s session we’ll explore ways to build your own specialized AI tools, and move from being an AI consumer to an AI creator.

This session will be held in Engelmann Hall (Room B73), and online via Zoom. Registration is not required but helps us prepare.

Join us via this link!

Facilitators

Location

This session will be held in Engelmann Hall (Room B73), and online via Zoom, please register to receive an email with the link.

Registration Form

Name(Required)

First

Last

University Email(Required)

Please provide instructions if you require accommodations for this eventUniversity Appointment?

Tenured / Tenured-track Faculty

Non-tenured Faculty

Staff

Teaching Assistant

Student

Other
If you selected Other, please explain.University Department or Business Unit?How did you hear about this event? Please select all that apply.

CASL Newsletter

CASL Website

CASL Workshop

Active Teaching Lab Newsletter

Campus Event

Word of Mouth

Other
If you selected Other, please explain.

Open House Retirement Party for Connie Schroeder
2026-05-06 12:00 - 14:00 | Engelmann B73, 2033 E. Hartford Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 53211, United States
Overview

After more than two decades of dedicated service to UW–Milwaukee and a remarkable forty-year career in higher education, CASL’s very own, Connie Schroeder will be retiring in May.

We invite all faculty, staff, and students that have known or worked with Connie to join CASL for a celebratory Open House Retirement Party on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 in Engelmann Hall B73 from 12:00–2:00 p.m.

Regardless of whether you are able to join us in person to celebrate Connie, we invite you to take a moment to share words of appreciation on her impact on UWM’s teaching and learning.

Since joining UWM in 2002, Connie has been a foundational force in shaping the university’s culture of teaching excellence, equity, and student success. As the Senior Consultant for Instructional and Organizational Development, her influence has reached every corner of campus, where she has mentored generations of instructors and partnered with various departments to embed high-impact, evidence-based practices into the UWM curriculum.

Connie’s impact extended well beyond the boundaries of our campus as a recognized consultant, speaker, and scholar. Her 2011 book, Coming in from the Margins, helped redefine the strategic role of teaching centers in higher education transformation, while her leadership within the POD Network earned her the prestigious Robert Menges Award on two separate occasions. At UWM, she was instrumental in leading signature professional development programs, including the creation of the Course Design Institute, Educators’ Institute, multiple certificate programs, and heralding the Active Learning Classroom Initiative on campus, leaving behind valuable institutional infrastructure that will benefit the university for years to come.

What truly distinguishes Connie is the combination of professional depth and personal warmth she brought to her work every day. Whether spearheading campus-wide initiatives or providing thoughtful one-on-one consultations, she has always remained a steadfast advocate for faculty and student engagement. Her colleagues at CASL and throughout the university will remember her tireless work ethic and the mentorship she has extended to everyone she encountered. As Connie moves into this next chapter, we celebrate a legacy of service that fundamentally improved the learning experiences of countless students and wish her the very best in her retirement.

Event Location

Engelmann Hall (ENG) B732033 E. Hartford Ave.Milwaukee, 53211United States

Registration Form

Name(Required)

First

Last

University Email(Required)

Scantron is Sunsetting: What Comes Next?
2026-05-12 12:00 - 13:00 | Engelmann B73, 2033 E. Hartford Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 53211, United States
Overview

As university-wide Scantron support winds down, many instructors are facing a crossroads in their assessment strategy. This 60-minute “Lunch and Learn” provides a space to discuss and prepare for the transition. From 12:00–12:30, we will address departmental licensing options for alternative scanning software, how to maximize Canvas Quizzes for high-stakes testing, and digital “paper-to-cloud” tools that replicate the Scantron experience. We will also provide resources and options to modify exams in the age of generative AI—including “AI-resistant” question design, digital proctoring, and alternative question design. The remaining 30 minutes will be for questions and discussions among current Scantron users.

Event Location

Virtually on ZoomRegister to get the link to the event!

Registration Form

Name(Required)

First

Last

University Email(Required)

Please provide instructions if you require accommodations for this eventUniversity Appointment?

Tenured / Tenured-track Faculty

Non-tenured Faculty

Staff

Teaching Assistant

Student

Other
If you selected Other, please explain.University Department or Business Unit?How did you hear about this event? Please select all that apply.

CASL Newsletter

CASL Website

CASL Workshop

Campus Event

Word of Mouth

Other
If you selected Other, please explain.

Gen Ed Charette | Make-up Session
2026-05-14 09:00 - 10:30 | Engelmann B73, 2033 E. Hartford Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 53211, United States
Overview

Teaching an approved General Education course in the Fall? Join us for an additional date and time, make-up session to participate in a collaborative General Education assignment charette, where faculty will exchange peer feedback on course assignments focused on refining course assignments to enhance clarity, alignment, and student learning.

If you participated in the April workshops, we thank you for your engagement, and you are not required to attend this make-up session. This is for those who were unable to attend the prior sessions due to scheduling conflicts.

Please come prepared to engage in small‑group discussions (in‑person or online) and bring the assignment(s) you indicated are assessing the approved General Education student learning outcomes, as required for UWM’s Gen Ed assessment reporting.

This workshop not only supports strong alignment between General Education learning outcomes, assignments, and student transparency about their learning, but also helps ensure UWM is prepared to meet HLC accreditation expectations.

Registration Form

Name(Required)

First

Last

University Email(Required)

Please provide instructions if you require accommodations for this eventWill you be attending in-person or virtually?(Required)

In-person

Virtually
University Appointment?

Tenured / Tenured-track Faculty

Non-tenured Faculty

Staff

Teaching Assistant

Student

Other
If you selected Other, please explain.University Department or Business Unit?How did you hear about this event? Please select all that apply.

CASL Newsletter

CASL Website

CASL Workshop

Campus Event

Word of Mouth

Other
If you selected Other, please explain.
