Yale faculty are among the most highly respected scholars in the world, and the Poorvu Center is here to help you bring your expertise into the classroom and support student learning. Through collaborative learning communities, specialized workshops, and personalized consultations, we are here to partner with you to support and enhance the educational experience for all Yale students.
Services & Support
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Guiding Framework for Teaching and Learning
This framework highlights the teaching philosophy and concepts that shape our educational development programming.
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Course/Lecture Recording
Recording lectures or presentation materials increases accessibility to your course content while providing opportunities for students to review after class.
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AI Guidance for Teachers
An overview of AI at Yale with specific support to help you think about discussing or incorporating AI in your class.
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Teaching Resource Library
A comprehensive collection of articles and guides to support faculty in their teaching across Yale.
Faculty Fellows
A yearlong opportunity for a small group of faculty from across disciplines to foster discussions around teaching and learning, while promoting equitable teaching practices. Faculty fellows complement the Center’s existing educational development offerings by facilitating sessions for their colleagues that engage in conversations related to accessible or equiteable pedagogies. As ambassadors, the faculty fellows also inform the Center’s future priorities and offerings for faculty, departments, and schools.
Faculty Teaching Academy
A program that provides faculty within their first three years of teaching at Yale with opportunities to advance their knowledge of scholarly approaches to inclusive teaching and practice foundational skills. Participants must complete six components to receive a $3,000 contribution to their research or professional development accounts:
- two (2) teaching focused events,
- two (2) individual teaching consultations,
- one (1) Poorvu Teaching-intensive Summer Institute or approved alternative,
- (1) six-session learning community,
- (2) two peer classroom observations,
- and (1) final program portfolio.
Course (Re)Design
This intensive 3-day teaching program helps instructors design or re-design specific units within a new or existing course. Through the institute, participants will:
- Join a community of Yale instructors and Poorvu Center staff for interactive workshops and structured work time
- Explore pedagogical approaches aligned with teaching values and course goals
- Become aware of university and Poorvu-specific resources to support instructors and students
Blank Canvas
During this in-person or asynchronous workshop, we explore how to create and articulate a comprehensive course syllabus, implement effective organizational strategies, and generate accessible course materials. Additional topics include advanced navigation and the configuration of Canvas gradebook and assignment tools. By the end of the course, you will be equipped to design engaging, inclusive, and well-structured Canvas course sites tailored to diverse student needs.
Teaching Consultations
Any instructor at Yale may request a confidential individual consultation from a member of the Poorvu Center staff. Consultations begin with a discussion, in which the instructor describes course goals, plans for the semester, and any issues or teaching practices that are of primary concern. A librarian may also be included in the process to advise on appropriate resources.
Small Group Feedback Sessions
During these sessions, a trained observer conducts a group discussion alone with students during the last twenty minutes of class. The observer then discusses the feedback with the instructor, and may provide a non-evaluative summary of the feedback (upon request).
Classroom Assessment
Through this process, instructors and students gather evidence of student learning to make decisions about further instruction and grading. Varied classroom assessment techniques and activities are used to help students develop a deeper understanding of classroom materials and practice applying course concepts. Classroom assessment also invites students to reflect on their learning and provide feedback on instruction, allowing for an iterative process.
Faculty Resources
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A Guiding Framework for Teaching
The framework highlights the teaching philosophy and concepts that shape our educational development programming
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A Guiding Framework for Teaching: Resource Page
Instructors can use the framework to guide their teaching choices about assignments, assessments, and classroom facilitation.
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Active Learning
Active learning is instruction that creates opportunities for students to actively participate in the knowledge-making process.
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Effective Proctoring of Exams
Proctoring styles will vary, but these suggestions are meant to help instructors create a fair environment and reduce confusion.
Teaching Resource Library
A collection of articles intended to support your journey as a Yale instructor.
Faculty Bulldog Days
An opportunity to open your classroom to fellow instructors across disciplines so they may explore new disciplines and consider adapting methods of their own teaching.
“Faculty Bulldog Days is a celebration of what a university should be. Visiting my colleagues’ classes makes me feel like a student again. And I have opened up my classroom for the same reason: I love to share what I do with others.”
- Professor Eduardo Fernandez-Duque
Canvas @ Yale
This platform supports a wide variety of external and internal applications that integrate into Canvas to support teaching and learning for faculty and students.
Upcoming Events
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Blank Canvas: Enhancing Your Canvas Course Site [Asynchrounous]
This self-paced virtual workshop is designed for faculty and staff with a foundational understanding of Canvas who wish to refine their skills and enhance their course sites. Participants will learn to create and articulate a comprehensive course syllabus, implement effective organizational strategies, and generate accessible course materials. The course also covers advanced navigation and conf…
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Getting Started with Canvas (Canvas 101 Session 1): Your First Steps to Success
Join us for a dynamic and hands-on training session designed for instructors, instructional support staff, and academic leaders who are new to Canvas or looking to refresh their foundational skills. This workshop will equip participants with the confidence and strategies needed to navigate Canvas effectively, set up courses with clarity, and utilize essential tools that enhance teaching and lea…
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Assignment Tool Kit (Canvas 101 Session 2): Creating, Customize, Collect
Join us for a dynamic and training session designed for instructors, instructional support staff, and academic leaders who are new to Canvas or looking to refresh their skills in creating effective assignments. This workshop will empower participants with the confidence and strategies to: Navigate the Canvas interface and personalize their dashboard Design and structure assignme…
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Gradebook Essentials (Canvas 101 Session 3): Setup, Tips and Troubleshooting
Join us for a practical and interactive training session designed for instructors, instructional support staff, and academic leaders who want to gain confidence in using the Canvas Gradebook. Whether you’re new to Canvas or looking to refine your grading workflow, this session will provide essential strategies for managing grades effectively and troubleshooting common issues. Participants wi…
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Using a Syllabus Checklist to Build an Accessible Course (on Zoom)
Poorvu Faculty Fellow and Professor of Epidemiology and Associate Dean of Community & Practice at the School of Public Health, Dr. Mayur Desai, will facilitate an interactive, virtual workshop on how their program at the School of Public Health is using a syllabus checklist to promote equity and accessibility across the curriculum. The session will explore the origins, goals, and practical appl…
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Quizzes in Canvas (Canvas 101 Session 4): Classic vs New – What You Need to Know
Join us for a focused and practical session designed for instructors, instructional support staff, and academic leaders who want to make informed decisions about which quiz tool best fits their teaching needs. This session will help participants: Understand the key differences between Classic and New Quizzes Explore the strengths and limitations of each tool Learn how to cre…
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AI Course Revision Grant - Info Session
The AI Course Revision Grant supports Yale instructors who are exploring thoughtful ways to navigate artificial intelligence in their teaching, learning, and course design. This information session will provide an overview of the grant’s purpose, eligibility, and funding structure, along with examples of projects from previous cycles. Participants will learn how to frame proposals within one of…
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Working Together in Canvas (Canvas 101 Session 5): Empowering Student Collaboration with Groups You Need to Know
Discover how to foster meaningful student collaboration in Canvas through the effective use of Groups. This hands-on session is designed for instructors, instructional support staff, and academic leaders who want to create engaging, student-centered learning experiences. Participants will: Learn how to set up and manage Canvas Groups for assignments, discussions, and projects Exp…
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Blank Canvas: Open Lab
This 2 hour, hands-on workshop will briefly discuss and showcase the effective use of Canvas for course organization, accessibility, and assessment. The primary agenda for the session will encompass working open lab/ drop-in hours for faculty to work directly in their course sites. The Poorvu Center is committed to hosting inclusive and accessible events that enable all individuals, includ… -
Assessment, Grading, and AI
No one wants to grade AI-generated text, and students do not want to outsource their learning to AI. How do we return to our assessments—essays, group projects, presentations, reading responses and beyond—in light of AI? This workshop is premised on the belief that unpermitted AI use will be less appealing and accessible when assessments align with learning goals and when we are explicit about …
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AI Course Revision Grant - Info Session
The AI Course Revision Grant supports Yale instructors who are exploring thoughtful ways to navigate artificial intelligence in their teaching, learning, and course design. This information session will provide an overview of the grant’s purpose, eligibility, and funding structure, along with examples of projects from previous cycles. Participants will learn how to frame proposals within one of…
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Using a Syllabus Checklist to Build an Accessible Course
Poorvu Faculty Fellow and Professor of Epidemiology and Associate Dean of Community & Practice at the School of Public Health, Dr. Mayur Desai, will facilitate an interactive, virtual workshop on how their program at the School of Public Health is using a syllabus checklist to promote equity and accessibility across the curriculum. The session will explore the origins, goals, and practical appl…
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Nurturing Faculty Well-Being through Self-Compassion
Continuing from the fall semester, this session expands on the opportunity to enrich self-compassion practices. Participants will explore practical strategies derived from cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy to manage stress, decrease self-criticism, and support emotional resilience. The workshop will include interactive exercises, guided reflections, and small-group d…
We’re here to help!
Reach out to the Poorvu Center team if you have any questions or to learn more about our programs.