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Faculty Professional Development Newsletter

November 2025

Monthly Topic: Differentiated Instruction

What is differentiated instruction? Differentiated instruction is an approach to teaching and learning that was introduced by Carol Ann Tomlinson in the 1990s. Differentiated instruction is grounded in the notion that all students are capable of learning, though not necessarily in the same way or at the same pace. It is an asset-based strategy that centers student equity, engagement, and success. Educators can differentiate their instruction through content (what students learn), process (how students learn content), product (how students demonstrate learning), and environment (learning conditions). Although differentiated instruction has been around for years in K–12 education, its value is increasingly being recognized in higher education—particularly in the context of online learning.

Resources to dive deeper into differentiated instruction

CTOL Grand Reopening

CTOL Grand Reopening is Wednesday, November 5 from 9 am to 4 pm Building 22, Room 181 – Drop in anytime to see the new space, enjoy snacks, and chat about teaching and learning! We look forward to seeing you there!

Professional Development Opportunities

Put a hold on your calendar now for the Assessment, Teaching, and Learning (ATL) and WACC combined Online Conference happening April 29-May 1, 2026!

SBCTC Faculty AI Learning Series

Join SBCTC for monthly workshops to explore practical AI applications for teaching and learning. Each 60-minute Zoom session begins at 1:00 PM and will include presentation, exploration, and discussion. Register below for the sessions that best fit your interests and schedule. If you cannot attend, register for just one session and after the session is over, you will be added to the Canvas class that will have recordings of the sessions and all the materials for each training in one place.

For additional support with implementing and thinking about AI, review the Teaching with AI faculty guide.

Online Self-Paced Classes Offered by Clover Park

Clover Park has graciously extended an offer for SPSCC and all Washington Community College professors to join their professional development classes. Find out more at the CPTC Professional development website.  

DEI Events and Sessions

This list of DEI sessions qualifies for the tenure-track DEI training sessions requirement. Please reach out to Heather Maye with any questions. 

SBCTC On Demand DEI Workshops

If you would like to watch webinars and learn equity strategies to implement in your class here are two DEI approved options:  

LUNCH & LEARN  

Bring your lunch, your questions, and your ideas to the DEIC! Join our community and engage in conversation as we learn together about the people and world around us. Students, staff, and faculty are invited. Led by Director of DEI Jasmin Faulk (monthly/year-long)  

  • November 19th: Code-switching, What and Why  
  • December 10th: Boundaries, When and How  

Location: DEIC (Bld. 27, 2nd floor) Time: 12pm - 1pm  

Previous Newsletters

October 2025

Monthly Topic: CTOL's New Space

The Center for Teaching and Online Learning Lounge has been renovated, and we are ready to welcome faculty back to the space. This space features a classroom setup consistent with standard SPSCC classrooms, giving faculty the opportunity to explore and test instructional technology before using it in their own teaching. It also serves as a venue for CTOL professional development workshops, Communities of Practice, and faculty gatherings. If you would like to reserve the room, you can book it by emailing us at ctol@spscc.edu.

We will hold a grand reopening later in October; keep an eye out for an email invite on the date and time! 

Professional Development Opportunities

Hypothesis Introductory Workshop

Hypothesis allows students to annotate digital documents right in Canvas and this social annotation tool has been shown to increase engagement and learning opportunities. Come learn about this Canvas enabled tool to make your assignments more interactive. Register for the Introductory Hypothesis Workshop on October 15th, from 2pm-3pm!

SBCTC Faculty AI Learning Series

Join SBCTC for monthly workshops to explore practical AI applications for teaching and learning. Each 60-minute Zoom session begins at 1:00 PM and will include presentation, exploration, and discussion.  Register below for the sessions that best fit your interests and schedule. If you cannot attend, register for just one session and after the session is over, you will be added to the Canvas class that will have recordings of the sessions and all the materials for each training in one place. 

Online Class "Designing for Belonging: Student Success Strategies"

  • Dates: October 22, 2025 - January 4, 2026
  • Self-Paced Modules in Canvas: This course includes three self-paced online modules that will take approximately 6 hours to complete. This course includes Optional Practice Activities too.  
  • Who Should Attend: Anyone who is interested in learning more about effective strategies for promoting student success. Additionally, this course has some great resources for anyone looking to explore strategies to strengthen their teaching practice in the age of AI.
  • Facilitator: Dr. Ekaterina Stoops, Director for Teaching and Learning at Columbia Basin College
  • Registration is required. The registration deadline is October 19th or until max enrollment is reached.  

Online Self-Paced Classes Offered by Clover Park

Clover Park has graciously extended an offer for SPSCC and all Washington Community College professors to join their professional development classes. Find out more at the CPTC Professional development website.  

Courses offered include:
  • Inclusive Classrooms: UDL in Action
  • Applied AI in College Classrooms
  • Framework for Faculty and Student Success and more!  

Resources 

Canvas Support with Tips and Tricks!

As you are getting the quarter under way, here are some Canvas Tips and Tricks to help your class more efficient!

Generative AI Resources from SBCTC

Faculty Guide: Teaching With AI

This new comprehensive webpage provides resources for integrating AI into your teaching practice. The page progresses from the basics to more advanced considerations and includes a page of local and national resources. 

DEI Events and Sessions

This list of DEI sessions qualifies for the tenure-track DEI training sessions requirement. Please reach out to Heather Maye with any questions. 

SBCTC On Demand DEI Workshops

If you would like to watch webinars and learn equity strategies to implement in your class here are two DEI approved options:  

LUNCH & LEARN  

Bring your lunch, your questions, and your ideas to the DEIC! Join our community and engage in conversation as we learn together about the people and world around us. Students, staff, and faculty are invited. Led by Director of DEI Jasmin Faulk (monthly/year-long)  

  • October 15th: Conflict Resolution, How and When  
  • November 19th: Code-switching, What and Why  
  • December 10th: Boundaries, When and How  

Location: DEIC (Bld. 27, 2nd floor) Time: 12pm - 1pm  

September 2025

Monthly Topic: Welcome to Fall 2025!

As you are preparing to teach this quarter, keep in mind these great resources:

Professional Development Opportunities

Resources and Announcements

CTOL Updates

Changes at the Center for Teaching and Online Learning – We would like to welcome Vanessa Call to the CTOL as the Instructional Designer and Canvas Administrator. We are currently in the process of hiring an Assistive Technology Specialist. We will let you know once they join the team!

Communities of Practice

Sign up for Communities of Practice (CoP) before September 28! Here are the CoP descriptions and there is a link to the registration form at the top.

SBCTC Course Design Lab

Join SBCTC for state-wide support most Fridays for unstructured drop-in style lab time to chat about online course design, Canvas, and other Ed Tech tools and projects. Open to all faculty and staff at WA Career and Technical Colleges. Bring your online course design questions, teaching expertise, and Ed Tech tools, tips, and tricks to share. Instructional designers come chat, share, collaborate, or brainstorm with other instructional designers! See the WA State eLearning Council calendar to find dates and times.

Highlights in Teaching

AI in Teaching and Learning

From e-Learning Council and collected from SBCTC colleges:

Teaching with AI, Learning with AI, Syllabi Guidance, GEN AI Policies, AI Assignment Repository

DEI Events and Sessions

This list of DEI sessions qualifies for the tenure-track DEI training sessions requirement. Please reach out to Heather Maye with any questions. 

LUNCH & LEARN  

Bring your lunch, your questions, and your ideas to the DEIC! Join our community and engage in conversation as we learn together about the people and world around us. Students, staff, and faculty are invited. Led by Director of DEI Jasmin Faulk (monthly/year-long)  

  • October 15th: Conflict Resolution, How and When  
  • November 19th: Code-switching, What and Why  
  • December 10th: Boundaries, When and How  

Location: DEIC (Bld. 27, 2nd floor) Time: 12pm - 1pm  

Professional Development Opportunities 

CTOL Calendar of Events 

SBCTC statewide calendar of events 

SBCTC How to Use Open Education Resources (OER 101) Online 5/5 - 5/19 

Monthly Highlight – Alternative grading (AKA ungrading) 

Ungrading, contract grading, labor-based grading, there are a lot of different names and techniques for alternative grading. I went on a deep dive into alternative grading with some AI and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as well during my winter 25 quarter. I have talked to several people interested in my journey, and I would like to share some of the experiences I had, lessons I learned, and data I gathered.  

First off, if you are unfamiliar with alternative grading, I recommend you read these articles by leaders in ungrading, contract grading and alternative grading techniques:  

Here is a report I created about my Adventures in Ungrading that has areas about how I prepared the class content and syllabus, introduced the structure to students, navigated the challenges that came up, and feedback I got from the students throughout the class. A the end I reflect on what I would change and what went well. Please note you will need to log into your SPSCC Office 365 account because I am sharing student feedback, and you must be logged into your SPSCC account to access.  

SPSCC Diversity Events  

Lunch and Learn 

Uncomfortable Conversations 

Voices of Social Justice 

Professional Development Opportunities 

CTOL Calendar of Events 

Assessment, Teaching & Learning Conference April 29-May 1 

UDL Conference in July – in Washington D.C. July 22–23, 2025 

Monthly Highlight – Pressbooks 

Pressbooks is simple book production and content management system software based on WordPress technology. You can find and publish OER (Open Educational Resources) textbooks, online media collections, scholarly articles, syllabi, fiction and non-fiction books, white papers, and more in multiple formats. Books designed in Pressbooks also have integration with H5P activities, can be imported into Canvas, and can be customized to serve your own courses. As such, they can be a robust alternative to expensive textbooks. Check out some great information on getting started with Pressbooks. 

More OER resources are at Open Washington. Find a large collection of OER classes, books, images, simulations, and video and audio clips. If you want help with OER, reach out to Ryer Banta our OER Librarian. 

AI in Teaching and Learning 

From e-Learning Council and from SBCTC colleges: 

Teaching with AI, Learning with AI, Syllabi Guidance, GEN AI Policies, AI Assignment Repository 

SBCTC Resources 

English 101 Redesign and beyond 

Anti-racist writing assessments are a way to ensure students in English 101 courses are taught and assessed without negative racial bias.  

Antiracist Curriculum Initiative Repository of Artifacts  

ACI Curriculum Design 

Nontraditional Grading Resources -Antiracist Assessment 

Promising Practices webinar: Supporting Neurodiverse Learners! 

Monday, April 28th from 11 am – 12 pm (online) 

Monica Olsson (SBCTC) and Sara Gardner, director of the Neurodiversity Navigators program at Bellevue College, will share efforts to support neurodiverse learners. 

Register for the Webinar