Connections with CTLD #6

Connections with CTLD #6

Start of Fall Semester 2025

Welcome back to a new semester from all of us at the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Design! We’re excited to start the season with insights, innovations, and support to help you succeed in your teaching.

In this issue of Connections with CTLD, we’re debunking one of education’s most persistent myths in our Executive Director’s Corner. We’re also highlighting a groundbreaking course that combines culinary arts and cannabis science, providing tools to gather meaningful student feedback mid-semester, and showcasing ways our Instructional Accessibility Group can assist you in creating more inclusive learning environments. We hope you have a great semester!

Executive Director's Corner

What Type of Content Is It?

Do you have some auditory learners in your class? Maybe visual? The idea of fixed “learning styles” is one of the most persistent and widespread teaching myths. Research shows it doesn’t hold up, yet it still shapes classrooms everywhere. Learn a bit about where the myth came from, why it lingers, and one research-backed framework to use instead.

Instructional Design Corner

Course Showcase – RST 2420: Cannabis in the Kitchen

Explore how Professor Shannon Donnelly and CTLD partnered to design RST 2420: Cannabis in the Kitchen, an innovative online course blending culinary arts, cannabis science, and multimedia storytelling. Students move from foundational knowledge to hands-on recipe development, contributing to a collaborative OER cannabis cookbook. It’s a masterclass in engaging design and real-world application.

Teaching and Learning Corner

Gather Student Insights Mid-Semester

Curious how your course is landing with students? A Mid-Semester Feedback Session provides focused student input on your course while there’s still time to act on that feedback. Students share strengths and suggestions through a confidential, 15-minute guided process. Schedule your session between weeks 5–9 of the semester. Spots are limited!

Instructional Accessibility Corner

Faculty Accessibility Support

The Instructional Accessibility Group invites faculty to build onto their accessibility knowledge from the Digital Accessibility Made Simple training by connecting with the Instructional Accessibility Group. The IAG provides live trainings, Access Checks, and department visits to support faculty in proactively creating accessible and inclusive learning experiences by removing barriers.