Teaching at ECU Series

Teaching at ECU Workshop Series

We’ve partnered with experienced Pirate Faculty, the Learning Technologies team, and others to present this series on best practices for teaching at ECU. We encourage you to join us for one or all of these sessions! Most sessions will be recorded and posted for later viewing.

Individuals requesting accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should contact ECU’s ADA coordinator at least 48 hours prior to the event at 252-737-1018 or ada-coordinator@ecu.edu.

Link to archived Teaching Workshops

Date/Time	Session Title	Description	Links
September 8, 2025 3:00 - 4:00	Writing for Growth: Fostering Resilient Writers	A growth mindset is a powerful teaching tool that shifts instructors’ focus from mastery to progress. This workshop explores how WAC principles and a growth mindset can help students become more confident, adaptable writers. Participants will examine the differences between writing-to-learn and writing-in-the-disciplines and discover practical strategies for designing assignments that promote persistence, reflection, and skill development. Attendees will leave with tools to foster a classroom culture that values progress, embraces challenges, and supports student growth across disciplines. Facilitated by Kerri Flinchbaugh	Register for Writing for Growth: Fostering Resilient Writers Join Writing for Growth: Fostering Resilient Writers
September 9, 2025 3:00 - 4:00	Backward Design for Writing Assignments Across the Curriculum	What if the secret to impactful learning lies not in what you teach, but in how you plan for lasting outcomes? Backward design offers a solution by starting with clear end goals and working backward to create meaningful learning experiences. In this workshop, participants will explore the core principles of backward design, including defining desired outcomes, identifying acceptable evidence, and planning purposeful instruction. Attendees will gain a flexible framework for creating impactful writing assignments across disciplines, complete with a step-by-step guide and supplementary resources for effective assignment design. Facilitated by Kerri Flinchbaugh	Register for Backward Design for Writing Assignments Across the Curriculum Join Backward Design for Writing Assignments Across the Curriculum
September 10, 2025 3:00 - 4:00	Teaching Writing Across the Curriculum with AI	Join us for a practical and thought-provoking workshop exploring how AI tools can be integrated ethically and effectively into writing instruction across disciplines. We’ll examine discipline-specific strategies for using AI to support student writing—from idea generation to revision and genre practice—while also reviewing sample assignments and policies that encourage critical thinking and transparency. The session will also include a discussion of the challenges and opportunities AI presents for teaching writing, including issues related to authorship, assessment, and skill development. Facilitated by Kerri Flinchbaugh and Will Banks	Register for Teaching Writing Across the Curriculum with AI Join Teaching Writing Across the Curriculum with AI
September 11, 2025 3:00 - 4:00	Universal Design for Learning in Writing Across the Curriculum	Looking to make your writing assignments more effective for a wide range of learners? his workshop offers practical strategies for designing writing assignments that provide flexibility, clear structure, and multiple ways for students to engage and demonstrate their learning. Learn how to reduce common barriers and build writing tasks that help all students stay motivated, confident, and successful. Facilitated by Kerri Flinchbaugh and Elizabeth Gange’	Register for Universal Design for Learning in Writing Across the Curriculum Join Universal Design for Learning in Writing Across the Curriculum
September 12, 2025 3:00 - 4:00	Principles of Effective Feedback for Writing Across the Curriculum	Tired of spending hours on comments students don’t use? In this workshop, we’ll explore seven key principles of effective writing feedback that make your responses more impactful and less time-consuming. Learn strategies to streamline your feedback process and help students engage with and apply your comments to improve their writing. Facilitated by Kerri Flinchbaugh and Nikki Caswell	Register for Principles of Effective Feedback for Writing Across the Curriculum Join Principles of Effective Feedback for Writing Across the Curriculum
September 17, 2025 3:00 - 4:00	Implementing Transparency: A Simple Shift with a Big Impact	Effective assignment design plays a crucial role in student success, yet too often, students are left to decipher expectations with minimal guidance. This workshop explores how transparent assignment design can enhance student engagement, performance, and confidence by providing clear expectations and purposeful structure. Participants will learn about the Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TILT) framework, see how other ECU faculty have used it in their writing classrooms, and consider how it could be applied in their writing instruction. By articulating the purpose, task, and criteria for success, instructors can improve communication and foster deeper learning. Join us to explore strategies for designing assignments that clarify expectations while empowering all students to take ownership of their writing. Facilitated by Kerri Flinchbaugh	Register for Implementing Transparency: A Simple Shift with a Big Impact Join Implementing Transparency: A Simple Shift with a Big Impact
September 25, 2025 3:00 - 4:00 In Person: Joyner Library 1008	Considering Neurotypes: Rethinking Writing Instruction	Students bring valuable perspectives and unique cognitive strengths to the writing process, yet traditional writing instruction often fails to tap into such potential. This workshop invites instructors to rethink writing by exploring how students with particular neurotypes engage with language, organization, and expression. Participants will gain insight into potential challenges related to executive functioning, working memory, and sensory processing that can affect writing. Through interactive discussions and case studies, we will examine practical, research-based strategies to create more inclusive and supportive writing environments. Attendees will leave with concrete approaches for fostering students' strengths while addressing possible barriers to writing success. Facilitated by Kerri Flinchbaugh and Soph Myers-Kelley	Register for Considering Neurotypes: Rethinking Writing Instruction
October 2, 2025 3:00 - 4:00	Cultivating Metacognition: Strengthening Writing with Transparent Teaching	Metacognition (thinking about thinking) serves as the cornerstone for meaningful, adaptable, and lasting learning. By fostering metacognitive writing practices, educators can empower student writers to activate prior knowledge, apply new strategies, reflect on their strengths and challenges, and transfer skills across various contexts. In this workshop, participants will explore the Transparency in Teaching and Learning (TILT) framework and see how other ECU instructors have used it to enhance student metacognitive awareness. By clearly communicating the purpose, task, and criteria of assignments, educators can help students understand the "why" behind their learning, fostering deeper reflection and self-regulation. Participants will leave with actionable techniques, adaptable templates, and a TILT-informed metacognitive checklist to support effective course planning and improve student writing outcomes. Facilitated by Kerri Flinchbaugh	Register for Cultivating Metacognition: Strengthening Writing with Transparent Teaching Join Cultivating Metacognition: Strengthening Writing with Transparent Teaching
October 7, 2025 3:00 - 4:00	Teaching for Transfer: Helping Students Adapt Writing Across Contexts	Helping students transfer writing skills across disciplines and contexts is vital for fostering their long-term success as adaptable communicators. Teaching for transfer emphasizes equipping students to recognize, adapt, and apply writing strategies and rhetorical principles beyond the writing classroom. In this workshop, participants will delve into research-based strategies for facilitating writing transfer, explore activities and assignments that promote reflective and adaptable learning, and examine ways to connect classroom writing to real-world scenarios. By the end of the session, attendees will leave with practical tools, assignment ideas, and a framework for empowering students to transfer writing knowledge and skills to new and varied context. Facilitated by Kerri Flinchbaugh	Register for Teaching for Transfer: Helping Students Adapt Writing Across Contexts Join Teaching for Transfer: Helping Students Adapt Writing Across Contexts
October 15, 2025 3:00 - 4:00	Belonging in Writing Across the Curriculum: Trauma-Informed Writing Pedagogies	How can we create writing classrooms that feel safe, supportive, and empowering for all students? This workshop invites you to engage with trauma-informed core values for teaching writing and offers practical strategies to address the challenges students bring with them to the classroom. Together, we’ll explore questions such as: What does a safe and supportive writing environment look like? and How can we adapt our teaching to meet the wide range of student experiences and needs? Through reflection, self-assessment, and concrete strategies, you’ll leave with tools to strengthen your approach to writing instruction and foster a greater sense of belonging among your students. Facilitated by Kerri Flinchbaugh	Register for Belonging in Writing Across the Curriculum: Trauma-Informed Writing Pedagogies Join Belonging in Writing Across the Curriculum: Trauma-Informed Writing Pedagogies
January 14, 2026 3:00 - 4:00	Cultivating Metacognition: Strengthening Writing with Transparent Teaching	Metacognition (thinking about thinking) serves as the cornerstone for meaningful, adaptable, and lasting learning. By fostering metacognitive writing practices, educators can empower student writers to activate prior knowledge, apply new strategies, reflect on their strengths and challenges, and transfer skills across various contexts. In this workshop, participants will explore the Transparency in Teaching and Learning (TILT) framework and see how other ECU instructors have used it to enhance student metacognitive awareness. By clearly communicating the purpose, task, and criteria of assignments, educators can help students understand the "why" behind their learning, fostering deeper reflection and self-regulation. Participants will leave with actionable techniques, adaptable templates, and a TILT-informed metacognitive checklist to support effective course planning and improve student writing outcomes. Facilitated by Kerri Flinchbaugh	Register for Cultivating Metacognition: Strengthening Writing with Transparent Teaching Join Cultivating Metacognition: Strengthening Writing with Transparent Teaching
January 15, 2026 3:00 - 4:00	Teaching for Transfer: Helping Students Adapt Writing Across Contexts	Helping students transfer writing skills across disciplines and contexts is vital for fostering their long-term success as adaptable communicators. Teaching for transfer emphasizes equipping students to recognize, adapt, and apply writing strategies and rhetorical principles beyond the writing classroom. In this workshop, participants will delve into research-based strategies for facilitating writing transfer, explore activities and assignments that promote reflective and adaptable learning, and examine ways to connect classroom writing to real-world scenarios. By the end of the session, attendees will leave with practical tools, assignment ideas, and a framework for empowering students to transfer writing knowledge and skills to new and varied contexts. Facilitated by Kerri Flinchbaugh	Register for Teaching for Transfer: Helping Students Adapt Writing Across Contexts Join Teaching for Transfer: Helping Students Adapt Writing Across Contexts
January 20, 2026 3:00 - 4:00	Belonging in Writing Across the Curriculum: Trauma-Informed Writing Pedagogies	How can we create writing classrooms that feel safe, supportive, and empowering for all students? This workshop invites you to engage with trauma-informed core values for teaching writing and offers practical strategies to address the challenges students bring with them to the classroom. Together, we’ll explore questions such as: What does a safe and supportive writing environment look like? and How can we adapt our teaching to meet the wide range of student experiences and needs? Through reflection, self-assessment, and concrete strategies, you’ll leave with tools to strengthen your approach to writing instruction and foster a greater sense of belonging among your students. Facilitated by Kerri Flinchbaugh	Register for Belonging in Writing Across the Curriculum: Trauma-Informed Writing Pedagogies Join Belonging in Writing Across the Curriculum: Trauma-Informed Writing Pedagogies
January 21, 2026 3:00 - 4:00 In Person: Joyner Library 1008	Considering Neurotypes: Rethinking Writing Instruction	Students bring valuable perspectives and unique cognitive strengths to the writing process, yet traditional writing instruction often fails to tap into such potential. This workshop invites instructors to rethink writing by exploring how students with particular neurotypes engage with language, organization, and expression. Participants will gain insight into potential challenges related to executive functioning, working memory, and sensory processing that can affect writing. Through interactive discussions and case studies, we will examine practical, research-based strategies to create more inclusive and supportive writing environments. Attendees will leave with concrete approaches for fostering students' strengths while addressing possible barriers to writing success. Facilitated by Kerri Flinchbaugh and Soph Myers-Kelley	Register for Considering Neurotypes: Rethinking Writing Instruction
January 22, 2026 3:00 - 4:00	Implementing Transparency: A Simple Shift with a Big Impact	Effective assignment design plays a crucial role in student success, yet too often, students are left to decipher expectations with minimal guidance. This workshop explores how transparent assignment design can enhance student engagement, performance, and confidence by providing clear expectations and purposeful structure. Participants will learn about the Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TILT) framework, see how other ECU faculty have used it in their writing classrooms, and consider how it could be applied in their writing instruction. By articulating the purpose, task, and criteria for success, instructors can improve communication and foster deeper learning. Join us to explore strategies for designing assignments that clarify expectations while empowering all students to take ownership of their writing. Facilitated by Kerri Flinchbaugh	Register for Implementing Transparency: A Simple Shift with a Big Impact Join Implementing Transparency: A Simple Shift with a Big Impact
February 5, 2026 3:00 - 4:00	Teaching Writing Across the Curriculum with AI	Join us for a practical and thought-provoking workshop exploring how AI tools can be integrated ethically and effectively into writing instruction across disciplines. We’ll examine discipline-specific strategies for using AI to support student writing—from idea generation to revision and genre practice—while also reviewing sample assignments and policies that encourage critical thinking and transparency. The session will also include a discussion of the challenges and opportunities AI presents for teaching writing, including issues related to authorship, assessment, and skill development. Facilitated by Kerri Flinchbaugh and Will Banks	Register for Teaching Writing Across the Curriculum with AI Join Teaching Writing Across the Curriculum with AI
February 10, 2026 3:00 - 4:00	Universal Design for Learning in Writing Across the Curriculum	Looking to make your writing assignments more effective for a wide range of learners? his workshop offers practical strategies for designing writing assignments that provide flexibility, clear structure, and multiple ways for students to engage and demonstrate their learning. Learn how to reduce common barriers and build writing tasks that help all students stay motivated, confident, and successful. Facilitated by Kerri Flinchbaugh and Elizabeth Gange’	Register for Universal Design for Learning in Writing Across the Curriculum Join Universal Design for Learning in Writing Across the Curriculum
February 11, 2026 3:00 - 4:00	Principles of Effective Feedback for Writing Across the Curriculum	Tired of spending hours on comments students don’t use? In this workshop, we’ll explore seven key principles of effective writing feedback that make your responses more impactful and less time-consuming. Learn strategies to streamline your feedback process and help students engage with and apply your comments to improve their writing. Facilitated by Kerri Flinchbaugh and Nikki Caswell	Register for Principles of Effective Feedback for Writing Across the Curriculum Join Principles of Effective Feedback for Writing Across the Curriculum