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Faculty Development: Faculty Development Sessions

Source for your MSU Faculty Development Needs

Faculty Development Center Sessions

 

 

 Welcome to the Faculty Development Center!
We look forward to learning with you during our sessions!

The Faculty Development Center provides opportunities for ongoing discussions about pedagogy and instructional design. These are accomplished in one-on-one and group settings through faculty consultations, classroom visits, faculty learning communities, workshops, and conferences. We collaborate with people and programs on Murray State’s campus and beyond to support the advancement of engaging pedagogy and effective instructional design. We support the university’s core mission of teaching excellence by helping cultivate an institutional climate that values, promotes and rewards teaching excellence at Murray State University.

We look forward to working with you!

The Faculty Development Center

CONNECTING COURSES TO COMMUNITY NEEDS: DRIVING LEARNING DEEPER

 

CONNECTING COURSES TO COMMUNITY NEEDS: 
DRIVING LEARNING DEEPER
 


 

Did you know we have a wide range of community organizations who would love to partner with you to meet your learning goals for your students?

Integrating community service experiences into your courses is easy and can significantly increase learning outcomes. You are invited to join us in an engaging session to do the following:

Objectives:

  • Explore community service opportunities in our area

  • Identify ways to increase student engagement through community service 

  • Discuss how incorporating community service in your course could enhance learning goals

What to Bring: A laptop

Presenter: Robin Esau, Senior Instructor, Organizational Communication and Leadership

When: Wednesday, September 3, 10:30 - 11:20 a.m.
            Tuesday, September 9, 10:30 - 11:20 a.m.

Where: In Person: FDC Classroom, 100 Pogue Library 
             Via Zoom: https://murraystate.zoom.us/my/msufacdev 

Register: 2025 Fall Registration

TEACHING WITH GENERATIVE AI SERIES

TEACHING WITH GENERATIVE AI SERIES

 

Are you curious about the potential of leveraging generative artificial intelligence (GAI) to positively transform the way you teach—while staying true to your authenticity?

You are invited to discover fresh strategies and insights in our series, Teaching With Generative AI, designed to equip you with innovative strategies for harnessing the power of GAI in your work. Each session is a unique opportunity to stay at the forefront of the latest advancements in GAI and gain practical answers to your most pressing questions.

Whether you are curious, cautious, or excited about GAI, this series offers insights and support to guide you forward. We hope to see you in many of the sessions!

Notes from an AI Novice: How I Teach with Generative AI

How can someone with limited computing expertise integrate AI into course content?

Join us in this session for generative AI beginners, to review examples of how even an AI novice can integrate generative GAI literacy and assignments into students' coursework.

Objectives:

Session participants will have the opportunity to do the following:

  • Examine rationales for incorporating generative AI literacy into their coursework

  • Compare various generative AI assignment formats

  • Discuss ways they might apply AI tools in their own classes

What to Bring: Participants should have access to a generative artificial intelligence platform during the session, if possible.

Presenter: Robert Fritz, Associate Professor, Global Languages

When:  Wednesday, September 10, 1:30 - 2:20 p.m.
             Tuesday, September 16, 2:00 p.m. - 2:50 p.m.

Where: Via Zoom: https://murraystate.zoom.us/my/msufacdev 

Register:  2025 Fall Registration

 

Teaching Well With Generative AI
When You’re Tired of Talking About AI

How can faculty use AI in ways that genuinely save time and support student learning—without adding to our already full plates or buying into the hype?

Generative AI is everywhere, and many of us feel equal parts curious, skeptical, and overwhelmed by it. This session takes a practical, low-stakes approach: no hype, no pressure to master new tools—just three simple ways AI can reduce workload and enhance teaching. Participants will leave with concrete examples, sample prompts, and ideas they can adapt immediately to their own courses.

Objectives:

By the end of this session, participants will be able to do the following:

  • Identify at least three low-effort teaching tasks where AI can provide meaningful support

  • Evaluate when AI use adds value to teaching and when traditional approaches may be more effective

  • Discuss personal teaching challenges that AI might help address

What to Bring: A phone or computer to try out prompts (optional)

Presenter: Amanda Joyce, Professor, Psychology

When: Tuesday, September 23, 11:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.
            Thursday, October 2, 11:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.        

Where:  Via Zoom: https://murraystate.zoom.us/my/msufacdev 

Register:  2025 Fall Registration

 

 

Generative AI and You

Want to learn innovative ways to respond to generative AI, integrating it into your teaching?

Join us in this session to explore innovative ways to address the challenges associated with students' use of generative AI, as well as opportunities for integrating AI tools into teaching.

Objectives:

Session participants will be equipped to do the following:

  • Detail the ways in which students can be guided to use AI ethically and effectively

  • Integrate AI into classroom activities

  • Avoid common pitfalls associated with generative AI

What to Bring: An example assignment that students would likely use AI to complete (regardless of whether or not they should)

Presenter: Sean Rife, Professor, Psychology

When:  Wednesday, October 8, 1:30 p.m. - 2:20 p.m.
             Thursday, October 16, 3:30 p.m. - 4:20 p.m.

Where: In Person: FDC Classroom, 100 Pogue Library 
             Via Zoom: https://murraystate.zoom.us/my/msufacdev 

Register: 2025 Fall Registration 

Lightning Session: Creating Engaging Videos With Generative AI

Are you interested in practical ways to create videos that engage your learners without adding hours to your workload? This lightning session features three presentations highlighting innovative approaches educators are using to enhance student learning with AI. You’ll explore methods for generating scripts, producing instructional videos, and making simple edits to improve clarity and flow. By the end of the session, you’ll leave with actionable ideas and inspiration to create your own AI-assisted teaching videos.

Presentation 1: Generative AI in Action: Creating Course Content Videos that Engage

Are you new to AI and want to learn how to quickly create free AI video tutorials or instructional videos that will engage students? 

Join us in this beginner-friendly lightning presentation to discover how to use free AI software to quickly and easily create class-specific video content. You will learn practical tips, see real examples, and walk away with tools you can use right away to make course content more relevant and impactful.

Objectives:

In this session, participants will discover the following:

  1. Key ways generative AI tools can be used in the creation of course-specific content videos

  2. How a free generative AI application can be used for video production, scriptwriting and visual enhancements in instructional contexts

  3. Potential benefits and limitations of using this generative AI program in course video creation

Presenter: Deanna Staskel, Assistant Professor, Nutrition and Dietetics; Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Director

Presentation 2: Designing Generative AI Video Assignments

How can I integrate AI video creation technology into my students' coursework?

In this lighting presentation, you will discover practical strategies that the presenter used to design and implement a graded AI video assignment in a course.

Objective:

Participants will connect the principles of AI assignment design to their own disciplines and classes.

Presenter: Robert “Moses” Fritz, Associate Professor, Global Languages

Presentation 3: Creating Videos With Generative AI That Capture Attention and Enhance Learning 

What if you could create engaging learning videos quickly and easily, without spending hours on production?

In this presentation, you’ll discover how to turn your teaching ideas into videos that clearly communicate your content and engage students. You’ll explore practical strategies for generating scripts, producing videos, and making simple edits that improve clarity, flow, and impact—helping students grasp the objectives and get excited about learning while saving time and enhancing learning outcomes.

Objectives:

By the end of this session, participants will be able to do the following:

  1. Identify strategies for generating scripts that lead to engaging learning videos

  2. Describe how generative AI can streamline video creation

  3. Recognize how simple edits and customization choices impact video clarity, flow, and engagement

Presenter: Firm Faith Watson, Director, Faculty Development Center

When: Tuesday, October 21, 2:00 p.m. - 2:50 p.m.

Where: Via Zoom: https://murraystate.zoom.us/my/msufacdev 

Register: 2025 Fall Registration

Developing Transparent Assessments in the Age of Generative AI

If you are concerned about your students relying on generative AI to complete their course work, then is the value of your assignments communicated clearly?

With generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, the goal usually is on the output or the product. However, such technology also can lessen the human effort in accomplishing a task. While the outcome matters, so does the value of learning. As instructors, we must clarify the value of the learning process to our students. The Transparency in Learning and Teaching, or TILT, can help with this process. This session will focus on applying TILT to increase the student effort.

Objectives:

  1. Identify the challenges and opportunities posed by generative AI tools in balancing task efficiency with the educational value of student learning

  2. Design or adapt at least one course assignment or activity using the TILT framework to increase student effort, engagement, and accountability in the learning process

What to Bring: An assignment or learning activity to improve with the TILT framework

Presenter: Melony Shemberger, Professor, Journalism and Mass Communications

When: Thursday, October 23, 11:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.  
            Tuesday October 28, 2:00 p.m. - 2:50 p.m.

Where: Via Zoom: https://murraystate.zoom.us/my/msufacdev 

Register: 2025 Fall Registration

 

Generative AI and the Copyright Law

How can I avoid copyright issues when using GAI?

The exponential growth in adoption of GAI tools by organizations across many industries, including education, raises critical questions about compatibility of these chatbots with existing copyright laws, particularly in the United States. Several prominent organizations and individuals believe that GAI chatbots are currently violating the U.S. copyright laws. The collision between GAI and copyright law requires a thorough examination of how these chatbots may be at odds with copyright regulations in the United States. Towards this goal, this presentation explores the United States copyright law and brings to the attendees’ attention some ways in which GAI chatbots and their users may unintentionally violate this law.

Objectives:

  1. Discuss the basics of the US copyright law

  2. Discuss some of the ways in which GAI chatbots and their users may be at odds with the US copyright law

Presenter: Vlad Krotov, Professor, Master of Science in Information Systems 

When: Thursday, October 23, 2:00 p.m. - 2:50 p.m. 
            Wednesday, October 29, 10:30 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.

Where: Via Zoom: https://murraystate.zoom.us/my/msufacdev 

Register:  2025 Fall Registration

Pull it All Together: An Informal Conversation About Leveraging Generative AI to Help Us Succeed

What if Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) could help you solve complex problems or complete time-consuming tasks with ease and even delight? Are you curious about how GAI might help you to transform the way you teach, research and more, while achieving unprecedented levels of innovation and efficiency, without losing your authenticity?

Join Dr. Firm Faith Watson and presenters of the Generative AI (GAI) series for an engaging informal conversation to explore the fascinating world of GAI and its practical applications in various aspects of our lives. Whether you are curious about how GAI can enhance creativity, streamline content creation, or revolutionize problem-solving, this conversation is your opportunity to get valuable insights to help you succeed in our ever-evolving digital landscape.

Our discussion will cover real-world examples, insights into the latest advancements, and practical tips on how to leverage GAI to your advantage. Join us as we pull together the threads of GAI, unravel its potential, and explore how it can empower you in your personal and professional journey. We plan to explore relevant questions, including success stories about how GAI have helped us in various areas of our lives.

When: Friday, November 7, 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Where: Via Zoom: https://murraystate.zoom.us/my/msufacdev 

Register: 2025 Fall Registration

THE POWER OF CANVAS MODULES FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING SUCCESS

THE POWER OF CANVAS MODULES FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING SUCCESS
 


 

Do you know that Canvas Module tool is packed with several features to improve the learner experience?

Although there are several ways to organize your course, the basic building block of this organization in Canvas is Modules, which allow you to arrange content so that the progression of the course is enhanced and your learners navigate the materials better. However, there are features that you might be overlooking to help you use Modules more effectively. This workshop will unpack those features.

Objectives:

By the end of this session, you will be able to do the following.

  • Evaluate the best use of Modules for your courses in Canvas

  • Add content to Canvas Modules

  • Apply additional Module features to improve course flow and student progress

  • Develop a plan for how you will use Modules in your course

What to Bring: You will be encouraged to try different module features as you practice. Log into your Canvas account at the start of the session.

Presenter: Melony Shemberger, Professor, Journalism & Mass Communications

When:  Thursday, September 11, 11:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.
             Tuesday, September 23, 2:00 p.m. - 2:50 p.m.

Where: Via Zoom: https://murraystate.zoom.us/my/msufacdev 

Register: 2025 Fall Registration

FALL WRITING GROUP CHALLENGE

FALL WRITING GROUP CHALLENGE

 

There's just something about this time of year! It's one of the best times to work on your publications or other writing projects. Are you interested in joining other faculty to work consistently toward your writing goals in a quiet virtual space?

Consider joining the FDC's Writing Group Challenge to get your important work done in a space with like-minded individuals! Whether you need to work on your articles, books, grants, book chapters, or other writing projects, you will be challenged to commit to your most important goals and receive encouragement, accountability, and much more, along the way.

Facilitator: Dr. Firm Faith Watson, Director, Faculty Development Center

When: Wednesdays: September 17; October 1, 15, 29; November 12; 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Where: Online: Via Zoom: https://murraystate.zoom.us/my/msufacdev 

Register: 2025 Fall Registration

ADMINISTRATOR PREPARATION AND MENTORING

ADMINISTRATOR PREPARATION AND MENTORING


 

Have You Considered Serving as an Administrator? Are you interested in understanding more about how to transition from a faculty position to an administrative role? 

Transitioning to an administrative role from a faculty position can be daunting. If you have questions concerning whether or not you might be interested in serving as an administrator, or if you have wondered how that transition might work, this session will help you answer those questions, provide important information about the typical daily life of a Murray State administrator, and more. 

Objectives:

Session participants will have opportunities to do the following:

  • Discuss the duties involved in serving as an administrator

  • Produce a "success" document which focuses on their goals 

  • Engage in open discussions concerning administrative work that will lead to an understanding of their future prospects as an administrator 

What to Bring: A notebook

Presenter: David Balthrop, Professor, Global Languages and Theatre Arts

When:  Thursday, September 18, 11:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. 
             Wednesday, September 24, 2:30 p.m. - 3:20 p.m.

Where: Via Zoom: https://murraystate.zoom.us/my/msufacdev 

Register: 2025 Fall Registration

Exploring Your Mentoring Needs
 


 

What kind of mentoring do I need? How do I find effective mentors and support in my profession? 

Mentoring is essential in any area of life, including our careers. Finding the right team of mentors to support our goals and needs can be challenging. This session will introduce you to a network of supports you may/may not have to help you navigate your career and life journeys.

Objectives:

Session participants will be able to do the following:

  1. Explain the value of mentoring maps in fostering professional development

  2. Distinguish between various types of mentoring relationships

  3. Identify mentoring relationships that they need to achieve their career goals

What to Bring: Note taking tools

Presenter: Esther Malm, Associate Professor, Psychology

When: Wednesday, September 24, 10:30 a.m. - 11:20 a.m. 
            Friday, November 14, 1:30 p.m. - 2:20 p.m.

Where: Via Zoom: https://murraystate.zoom.us/my/msufacdev 

Register: 2025 Fall Registration

EXPLORING YOUR MENTORING NEEDS

Exploring Your Mentoring Needs


 

What kind of mentoring do I need? How do I find effective mentors and support in my profession? 

Mentoring is essential in any area of life, including our careers. Finding the right team of mentors to support our goals and needs can be challenging. This session will introduce you to a network of supports you may/may not have to help you navigate your career and life journeys.

Objectives:

Session participants will be able to do the following:

  1. Explain the value of mentoring maps in fostering professional development

  2. Distinguish between various types of mentoring relationships

  3. Identify mentoring relationships that they need to achieve their career goals

What to Bring: Note taking tools

Presenter: Esther Malm, Associate Professor, Psychology

When: Wednesday, September 24, 10:30 a.m. - 11:20 a.m. 
            Friday, November 14, 1:30 p.m. - 2:20 p.m.

Where: Via Zoom: https://murraystate.zoom.us/my/msufacdev 

Register: 2025 Fall Registration

FACULTY SHARED GOVERNANCE ROUNDTABLE

FACULTY SHARED GOVERNANCE ROUNDTABLE
 


 

What is shared governance, and how can faculty strengthen it in collaboration with campus partners in the face of emerging challenges in higher education? 

Shared governance has long been a cornerstone of higher education, but its meaning and practice continue to evolve. At our recent Faculty Senate Executive Committee retreat, a central question emerged: Do we mean the same thing when we use the term shared governance? This informal conversation will invite participants to reflect on how the idea has changed over time, how it is practiced at Murray State, and what it might look like in the future. Together, we will consider both challenges and opportunities in ensuring that faculty remain meaningfully engaged in shaping the direction of our institution and public higher education more broadly.

Objectives:

During the session, we plan to do the following:

  • Reflect on personal and institutional understandings of shared governance

  • Identify current challenges and opportunities for faculty engagement in governance

  • Explore strategies to strengthen faculty capacity to shape institutional decision-making

  • Foster dialogue to build a collective vision of shared governance at Murray State

Presenter: Michael Bordieri, Professor of Psychology and Faculty Senate President

When: Wednesday October 22, 1:30 p.m. - 2:20 p.m. 
            Tuesday, November 11, 3:30 p.m. - 4:20 p.m.

Where: In Person: FDC Classroom, 100 Pogue Library 
              Via Zoom: https://murraystate.zoom.us/my/msufacdev

Register: 2025 Fall Registration

ANNOUNCEMENTS

  ANNOUNCEMENTS  

EXPLORE NONPROFIT OPPORTUNITIES IN YOUR COMMUNITY

 

Are you a faculty member wanting a community partner for class assignments and/or projects? Nonprofit Connections is a great way to explore those options!

The Nonprofit Connections event is organized by the Nonprofit Leadership Program in partnership with the MSU Office of Development. It's open to all of MSU's campus community as well as the greater Murray community. Attendees will find this event to be an excellent opportunity to speak with nonprofit leaders who will share first-hand information about the needs and issues that drive their missions and provide details about how to get involved in their important work.

Organizations typically in attendance include 4-H, Murray-Calloway County Humane Society, Beyond Uganda, Cassidy's Cause, Young Life, CASA, Hope Calloway, Friends of LBL, Murray Art Guild, Soup for the Soul, Playhouse in the Park, and many, many more.

When: Thursday, September 11, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Where: Curris Center Small Ballroom, 3rd Floor

 

RESPONDUS NEWS



 

We all want to promote integrity to protect and prevent the possibility of cheating during online exams, right? Here's some news you may want to read!

Respondus has added new sensitivity levels and a new Handheld Device flag. The sensitivity levels are Relaxed, Standard, and Strict, and they provide more or less flagging, depending on the need. Strict sensitivity settings detect when portions of the face have moved outside of the video frame, or when both eyes are not visible, giving a Partial Missing flag. Relaxed sensitivity reduces the sensitivity of missing flags so that if part of the face or eyes are missing from the frame, but the student is still detected, it will reduce unnecessary flags. These features can be useful for providing more information or for reducing flags on an open-book test. Find out more: https://web.respondus.com/sensitivity-levels-in-respondus-monitor/

The Handheld Device flag is a new feature in Respondus Monitor that is turned on by default. Previously, handheld devices were detected but did not generate a separate flag. Now, if a handheld device comes into view during a Respondus LockDown Browser with Monitor test, it will trigger its own specific flag, which can be removed through the Sensitivity drop-down settings.
Find our more: https://web.respondus.com/handheld-device-flag-for-respondus-monitor/

 

Call for Reviewers: The Journal of Faculty Development


 

The Journal of Faculty Development invites educators to be peer reviewers to support our mission of advancing scholarship in teaching, learning, and faculty development across higher education. We are seeking experienced educators and academic professionals who are committed to promoting excellence in faculty growth, instructional innovation, and institutional transformation.

Reviewer Responsibilities:

Reviewers play a critical role in ensuring the quality and relevance of published content. Responsibilities include the following:

  • Providing timely, constructive, and objective evaluations of submitted manuscripts.

  • Offering feedback on methodological rigor, clarity, and practical application.

  • Upholding the ethical standards and scholarly expectations of the journal.

About the Journal of Faculty Development

The Journal of Faculty Development is an independent, peer-reviewed journal. Issued three times per year, it is a medium for the exchange of information regarding faculty development in post-secondary educational institutions.

The Journal of Faculty Development publishes research and scholarship on innovation in faculty development that is relevant for administrators, faculty members, and faculty development professionals. The focus of this independent, peer-reviewed scholarly journal is on faculty development in post-secondary educational institutions. It provides support for educators and administrators seeking research studies (using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies) that further explore theory and philosophies related to faculty development. Our readership includes faculty developers, academic leaders, and educators who are engaged in the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) and institutional change.

Benefits of Serving as a Reviewer

  • Contribute to the advancement of faculty development scholarship.

  • Stay current with emerging research and trends in higher education.

  • Providing evidence of service to the academy for tenure and promotion.

How to Apply

If you are interested in joining our community of reviewers, please send an email with your title, institutional affiliation, and a list of your areas of expertise to Dr. Melony Shemberger, managing editor of the JFD, at mshemberger@murraystate.edu. She will include your information as a record in the Journal’s database of reviewers.

Help shape the future of faculty development by lending your expertise to our peer-review process.

FDC OPPORTUNITIES, RESOURCES AND SERVICES

  FDC OPPORTUNITIES, RESOURCES AND SERVICES

SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTIONAL FEEDBACK (SGIF)

SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTIONAL FEEDBACK (SGIF)

Need feedback to improve your students’ learning experiences and potentially improve your end-of-course ratings? ​

You might be interested in participating in the FDC's Small Group Instructional Feedback (SGIF).

About SGIF: SGIF provides the opportunity for faculty to work with a facilitator to gather feedback from groups of student in their course (for about 25-30 minutes) about what is helping them learn and what could be improved. It also places extremes student opinions in context which, in turn, increases the validity of students' feedback and improve students' motivation.

Facilitator:  Firm Faith Watson, Director, Faculty Development Center

When:   Midway in the semester 

Register:  https://tinyurl.com/SGIF-Registration

View Flier: https://tinyurl.com/SGIF-Flyer

1-on-1 Consultations

1-on-1 Consultations

 

Do you need individual help (e.g., to design your face-to-face, online or blended courses)?

Please reach out to Dr. Firm Faith Watson to arrange one-on-one virtual  consultations at fwatson2@murraystate.edu. 

 

FDC TO YOU

 

Does your department have a need that the FDC could help you to meet?
The Faculty Development Center offers customized sessions that cater directly to your department's needs. Contact Dr. Firm Faith Watson at fwatson2@murraystate.edu to make arrangements.

The Faculty Development Academy

 

THE FACULTY DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY

 

Good news! We have organized the Faculty Development Academy (FDA), a virtual space (via Canvas) for you to access on-demand professional development resources in areas that include, but are not limited to, the following: Strategies for Teaching and Learning, Teaching Well With Technology, Scholarly Activities, Promotion and Tenure, Leadership, Wellbeing and Work-Life Balance.

What else is in this FDA for me?

In this self-paced academy, you have opportunities to do the following:

  1. Access on-demand resources (e.g., session recordings and handouts)

  2. Reflect on your learning (including personal application or plans to apply what you learned), and earn badges and certificates

Access the FDA featured sessions and more by self-enrolling in the FDA via  Canvas: https://murraystate.instructure.com/enroll/WTGYHH