The Teaching & Learning Excellence Division (TLED), Distance Education, the Faculty Center for Learning Innovation (FCLI), and other collaborators across Austin Community College (ACC) are offering several professional development events this spring semester. Be sure to mark these dates on your calendar!

TLED offers and promotes essential tools and resources that enable ACC faculty and staff to grow professionally and enhance their learning environment.

  • Academic Alert
    • Academic Alert is a feature of Inspire, a comprehensive student support system, that allows ACC faculty to easily and quickly communicate with students who need extra support.
  • Blackboard Ultra Training
    • We’re upgrading from Blackboard Learn to Blackboard Ultra’s intuitive interface design, advanced features, and seamless integration, ensuring a more engaging and productive educational journey for faculty and students. Sign up for face-to-face, virtual, and hyflex training this semester.
  • Semester Prep
    • The semester prep web page lists the most relevant and helpful support information needed to assist ACC faculty in preparing for the upcoming semester.
  • TLED GAI Guide
    • This guide provides a starting point and guidelines for Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) within the context of teaching and learning.

Celebration of Great Teaching Retreat

  • This transformative professional development retreat invites full-time and adjunct faculty across all disciplines, including librarians and counselors, to share teaching successes, address challenges, and explore innovative strategies in a resort-like setting. The retreat fosters collaboration, deep connections, and personal renewal. There is no cost to participants other than transportation.
    • Accepting applications from Monday, February 10 to Monday, March 3.
    • The retreat is from Friday, April 11, through Sunday, April 13, and will be held off-campus (recent retreats have been held in Bandera, Texas).

Chips, Dips, and Internships – Share With Your Students!

  • Faculty are encouraged to inform students about Chips, Dips, and Internships, an info session designed to help students learn about ACC’s Internship program, including available internships, registration requirements, and preparation tips. The session will also cover career services and how they support students in their internship journey.
    • Wednesday, February 26, from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.; Highland Campus (HLC) Building 2000, Room 1550

Distance Education Spring Semester Offerings

    • Collaborate with DE Instructional Designers to finalize your spring courses with expert guidance on DE course design, providing valuable tips, strategies, and technological support.
      • Daily from Monday, January 13 through Friday, January 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
    • This training equips faculty with the skills to make online courses accessible and inclusive for all students. Participants will learn to identify and remove barriers, ensuring equitable learning environments. Join to gain practical tools for creating welcoming and compliant distance education experiences.
      • Fridays on September 13, September 20, September 27, October 4, October 11, October 18, from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.
      • Drop-In Sessions: Preparing Spring & Summer Courses for Accessibility
        • Wednesdays on January 8, January 15, May 14, and May 21, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
      • Enhancing Accessibility with Blackboard Ally & ADA Principles
        • Wednesdays on February 5, March 12, and April 2, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
    • The Distance & Alternative Education Office is offering an Inclusive Teaching Faculty Learning Community (FLC) designed to equip educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively facilitate distance education while promoting inclusivity. 
      • Fridays on January 31, February 7, February 14, February 21, February 28, March 7, from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m.
    • The 2025 DE Spring Institute: 8-Week Course Design and Teaching Strategies, sponsored by the Distance & Alternative Education Office, is designed to help faculty prepare for teaching 8-week course sections.
      • Monday, February 10 to Thursday, February 20; Asynchronous Online Activities
      • Friday, February 21, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
      • Friday, March 7, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
    • The 2024 DE Fall Institute: HyFlex Teaching and Learning, sponsored by the Distance & Alternative Education Office, is designed to help you prepare for teaching a HyFlex class.
      • Saturday, April 5; AM Session: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; PM Session: 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
    • This is a two-part training to help ACC distance education courses meet Quality Matters standards: A) Learning to apply the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR) by attending this training and B) Completion of the course (re)design, development, and QM Review Process with DE Instructional Designers.

Faculty Talent Onboarding Sessions:

Great Questions Faculty Training: Spring 2025

  • The goal of the seminar is to explore the curriculum of HUMA 1301: The Great Questions Seminar, a discussion-based student success course. Faculty will develop and deepen the practice and skills required to lead engaging discussion-based courses focused on transformative texts. Faculty participants will be paid $600 for their full participation in the faculty training seminars.
    • Applications are due Monday, February 3, at 5:00 p.m.

Learn-and-Go Faculty Forum hosted by CFID – Save the Date

  • The Committee for Faculty Innovation and Development (CFID), in conjunction with the Faculty Center for Learning Innovation (FCLI), the TLED Office of Faculty Development, and the Office of Belonging and Purpose, offers an opportunity for ACC Faculty (Instructors, Counselors, Librarians) to attend the 2025 Learn-and-Go Faculty Forum.
    • Tuesday, February 27, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; SAC, Room TBA
    • Topic: Career Magic: Empowering Faculty to Build Career-Ready Students, led by Ashleigh Congdon-Fuller (TG)

Service-Learning Asynchronous Faculty Training

  • This self-paced online training introduces the fundamentals of service-learning theory, course design, and implementation. Through six Blackboard modules (completed in approximately six hours), participants will develop a Service-Learning course plan ready for immediate implementation.
    • Available anytime; asynchronous online

The Necessity of Truth Library Displays: A TAG and Library Services Collaboration

  • This semester-long initiative highlights The Necessity of Truth, a book published by the ACC Art Galleries (TAG) last fall, with rotating displays across ACC libraries. The displays feature free copies of the book for ACC students and library items for checkout.
    • Displays rotate weekly: 
      • Tuesday, January 21 to Friday, January 24; RRC
      • Monday, January 27 to Friday, January 31; RGC
        • Social Justice & Racial Healing in Art & Text (Tuesday, January 28) with TAG Director Peter Bonfitto and artist David McClinton
      • Monday, February 3 to Friday, February 7; SAC
      • Monday, February 10 to Friday, February 14; EGN
        • Week-long Student Artwork Contest
      • Monday, February 17 to Friday, February 21; CYP
      • Monday, February 24 to Friday, February 28; SGC
      • Monday, March 3 to Friday, March 7; RVS
      • Monday, March 10 to Friday, March 14; HYS
      • Monday, March 24 to Friday, March 28; EVC
      • Monday, March 31 to Friday, April 4; NRG
      • Monday, April 7 to Friday, April 11; HLC

 Virtual Faculty Development Boot Camp (New Faculty ONLY)

  • This self-paced online Quick-Start Boot Camp provides essential information to prepare new faculty for a successful start at ACC. Faculty with at least one assigned course for Spring 2025 will be enrolled in a Blackboard course by January 24 to complete the 4-hour training at their convenience. 
    • Course closes on Sunday, May 18; asynchronous online

Spring Development Day 2025

  • Spring Development Day (SDD) offers ACC faculty and staff a full day of inspiring sessions to enhance practices, foster creativity, and develop new skills. This year’s theme, “Spring Forward: Creating a Mosaic of Opportunities,” encourages the exploration of tools to enrich ACC’s learning and working environments.
    • Friday, January 17, from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Workshops: Synchronous online via Zoom; Keynote: HyFlex (in-person at Highland Campus Presentation Hall, Building 2000, Room 1550 & online)

Spring Development Day — Employee Mixer Event

  • Join us for an employee mixer the day before Spring Development Day, filled with free food and art activities, hosted by Chelsea Biggerstaff, Interim Manager of the Office of Faculty Development. This event is sponsored by TLED’s Faculty Development Office and the Office of Purpose and Belonging in collaboration with ACC’s Joyful Ambassadors.
    • Thursday, January 16, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.; Highland Campus (HLC), Building 4000

Asana Trainings

  • Asana users at ACC are invited to join us online for Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Asana training sessions.
    • Beginner sessions:
      • Tuesday, January 14, from 1:00 to 2:15 p.m.
      • Tuesday, February 4, from 9:00 to 10:15 a.m.
      • Monday, March 24 from 2:00 to 3:15 p.m.
      • Friday, April 4, from 10:00 to 11:15 a.m.
      • Monday, May 5, from 1:00 to 2:15 p.m.
    • Intermediate sessions:
      • Wednesday, January 22, from 1:00 to 2:15 p.m.
      • Monday, February 17, from 9:00 to 10:15 a.m.
      • Tuesday, March 25, from 2:00 to 3:15 p.m.
      • Monday, April 14, from 10:00 to 11:15 a.m.
      • Tuesday, May 13, from 1:00 to 2:15 p.m.
    • Advanced sessions:
      • Monday, January 27, from 12:00 to 1:15 p.m.
      • Friday, February 28, from 9:00 to 10:15 a.m.
      • Thursday, March 27, from 2:00 to 3:15 p.m.
      • Friday, April 25, from 10:00 to 11:15 a.m.
      • Monday, May 19, from 1:00 to 2:15 p.m.

ACC Awards Celebration – Save the Date

  • Save the date for the ACC Awards Celebration Dinner, where outstanding faculty and staff will be honored.
    • Thursday, April 3; Location TBA

Emotional Intelligence and Adult Learning Workshop with Chef Ortiz

  • Join the Office of Faculty Development for a 2.5-hour workshop led by ACC’s own Chef Ortiz, focused on emotional intelligence and its application in personal and professional settings. The session will introduce key adult learning theories and methods while exploring the fundamentals of emotional intelligence. Participants will dive into self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and social skills, discovering strategies to enhance self-awareness and foster growth.
    • Thursday, January 31, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.; Highland Campus (HLC), Building 2000, Room 2226.

Join the Club! – Film Screening & Discussion

  • The Office of Experiential Learning invites you to a screening of Join or Die, a documentary directed by Rebecca Davis & Pete Davis, exploring the importance of civic engagement. The film follows social scientist Robert Putnam’s research on America’s decline in community connections and its impact on democracy. After the screening, join a discussion and learn how to get involved at ACC through student organizations, volunteer opportunities, and voting.
    • Monday, February 4, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Riverside Campus (RVS), Building 8000, Room 8100
    • Monday, February 17, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Northridge Campus (NRG), Building 4, Room 4136

Red Bench: Conversations that Matter

  • The Red Bench is a dialogue program designed to improve interfaith understanding and civil discourse in our society. Each session focuses on a challenging topic, inviting discussion from faith and non-faith traditions through moderated table conversations led by trained students in Dr. Kathy Frost’s psychology classes, the Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Center, and Interfaith Action of Central Texas.
    • Tuesday, March 25, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.; Rio Grande Campus (RGC), Building 3000, Room 3340
    • This semester’s topic of conversation is: “Courage”

Remote Recess Spring Sessions

  • Remote Recess sessions allow faculty to gather online and learn something new in a low-stakes, casual, and FUN way.
    • Blackboard Course Copy Procedure & Best Practices
      • Getting ready for the upcoming semester and not sure how to copy your current course content into a new Blackboard course shell? Confident in your skills but interested in additional tips and tools? This session will demonstrate the steps for a successful course copy and share tips to ensure content is accessible to students.
        • Tuesday, January 28, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
    • Padlet for Feedback, Engagement, and Brainstorming
      • Padlet is a free online tool that engages students through questions, feedback, and brainstorming. Learn how to use it for quick formative assessments, building community, and generating new ideas.
        • Wednesday, February 5, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
    • Panopto: Introduction to Recording and Editing
      • Discover Panopto’s video creation and editing functionality, including automatic captions and mobile access. This session offers quick-start tips to help you master this powerful tool.
        • Tuesday, February 11, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
    • Poll Everywhere for Engagement
      • Transform synchronous sessions with Poll Everywhere! Use surveys to collect instant feedback, build word clouds, ask anonymous questions, or turn classes into quiz shows. Bring a second device for the best experience.
        • Wednesday, February 19, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
    • Packback Power-Ups: Save Time, Spark Curiosity, Prepare for Mid-Term Assessments with Instruction AI
      • Explore how to leverage Packback’s AI tools to automate feedback, create engaging questions, and enhance mid-term preparation. Save time while fostering deeper critical thinking.
        • Tuesday, February 25 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
    • Faculty Focus: Enhancing Student Engagement with Padlet featuring Angela Neidermeyer
      • Join Angela Neidermeyer, ACC Communications Studies Adjunct Faculty, as she demonstrates how she uses Padlet in her classroom to enhance engagement and collaboration.
        • Wednesday, March 5, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
    • Panopto for Blackboard: Seamless Video Integration
      • Learn to embed videos into assignments, discussions, and course materials with Panopto in Blackboard. Enable student video submissions to create interactive course content.
        • Tuesday, March 12, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
    • Unlocking Adobe at ACC
      • Discover Adobe’s creative tools, set up accounts, and explore resources for design, video editing, and more. Perfect for enhancing faculty and student projects.
        • Tuesday, March 25, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
    • Sunshine & Strategy: Planning for an AI-fueled Summer with Packback
      • Prepare for an engaging summer by exploring Packback’s AI tools. Create curiosity-driven discussions, streamline question creation, and provide real-time feedback.
        • Wednesday, April 2, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
    • Essential Adobe Express: Create Stunning Visuals with Ease
      • Learn how to use Adobe Express to create banners, infographics, and handouts with features like AI art generation and real-time collaboration.
        • Wednesday, April 16, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
    • Zoom Foundations for ACC
      • This workshop is for all skill levels. Learn the basics of hosting meetings, then dive into advanced features to manage small and large meetings effectively.
        • Tuesday, April 22, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Student Applied Learning Showcase

  • Join us for the Student Applied Learning Showcase. This celebratory event for Experiential Learning students will give students the opportunity to share and exhibit their projects and experiences while engaging and networking with the ACC community.
    • Wednesday, May 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; Highland Campus (HLC), Building 2000, Room 1550

Wellness Walking Path Ribbon Cutting Celebration & Resource Fair

  • Facilities, HR Employee Wellness, and Sustainability have been working to update the walking paths across the District. These maps showcase the campus, wellness, and sustainability points to explore. Join us at an upcoming ribbon-cutting event and explore the new Wellness Walking Paths that were recently updated at NRG, CYP, and SAC. For each campus, there will be a one-hour event featuring wellness, wayfinding, and sustainability-related resources, games, music, scavenger hunts, and a ribbon cutting/photo opportunity before participants walk a lap around the new trail on the recently updated Wellness Walking Path maps. Everyone is welcome to join and learn more about these programs at ACC.

  • Upcoming Wellness Walking Path Ribbon Cutting Celebrations:
    • Cypress Creek Campus: Wednesday, January 29, 2025; 11:30 a.m. to 12: 30 p.m. in the Building 1000 Courtyard
    • South Austin Campus: Wednesday, February 5, 2025; 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Building 1000 Courtyard

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View all of these events and more on our dedicated TLED Events Calendar. Be sure to follow TLED on social media for daily opportunities: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.