Teaching and Learning Center
Upcoming Events
Student Experiences of Teaching Weekly Drop-In Hours
Fri 2/20 • 9AM - 10AM PST
Cassidy Alvarado, Program Manager of Student Experience Initiatives. Instructors, Teaching Assistants, and Evaluation Coordinators can get support navigating Blue (UCLA’s course feedback platform), accessing reports, and more. Instructors and Teaching Assistants Mondays: 3–4 p.m. Fridays: Noon–1 p.m. Evaluation Coordinators and Department Staff Tuesdays: 2–3 p.m. Fridays: 9–10 a.m.
Student Experiences of Teaching Weekly Drop-In Hours
Fri 2/20 • 12PM - 1PM PST
Beginning Winter 2026, Student Experiences of Teaching (SET) will offer virtual drop-in hours with Cassidy Alvarado, Program Manager of Student Experience Initiatives. Instructors, Teaching Assistants, and Evaluation Coordinators can get support navigating Blue (UCLA’s course feedback platform), accessing reports, and more. Instructors and Teaching Assistants Mondays: 3–4 p.m. Fridays: Noon–1 p.m. Evaluation Coordinators and Department Staff Tuesdays: 2–3 p.m. Fridays: 9–10 a.m.
Student Experiences of Teaching Weekly Drop-In Hours
Mon 2/23 • 3PM - 4PM PST
Beginning Winter 2026, Student Experiences of Teaching (SET) will offer virtual drop-in hours with Cassidy Alvarado, Program Manager of Student Experience Initiatives. Instructors, Teaching Assistants, and Evaluation Coordinators can get support navigating Blue (UCLA’s course feedback platform), accessing reports, and more. Instructors and Teaching Assistants Mondays: 3–4 p.m. Fridays: Noon–1 p.m. Evaluation Coordinators and Department Staff Tuesdays: 2–3 p.m. Fridays: 9–10 a.m.
10 + 10 Pop-Up Series: How to Compare and Evaluate AI Tools
Tue 2/24 • 10AM - 10:20AM PST RSVP
Choosing the right AI tool can be a real challenge. This short presentation provides a practical framework, using the Diffusion of Innovation model, to help you choose the best tools. We will explore the five key attributes, which are relative advantage, complexity, compatibility, trialability, and observability. The discussion will support you to confidently select GenAI solutions that enhance teaching and learning. Presenter: Sirui Wang, Senior Instructional Designer with Instructional Design and Media Production #GenAI #pick-your-innovation #diffusion-of-innovation #enhancing-teaching-and-learning Each academic quarter, the UCLA Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) hosts a weekly series of 10+10 Pop-Up sessions on Zoom. These brief, 10-minute presentations focus on specific topics related to course design, teaching, learning, and assessment, and are led by instructional designers and developers from TLC and campus partners. The “+10” refers to an optional 10-minute discussion following each presentation, where participants can ask questions and share insights. These sessions are open to all UCLA instructors—including faculty, lecturers, instructors of record, graduate student instructors, and postdoctoral scholars. Please direct any inquiries to instructorsupport@teaching.ucla.edu.
TLC Drop-In Hours at the Graduate Student Resource Center
Tue 2/24 • 12PM - 1PM PST
Student Activities Center Suite B-11
Meet the TLC’s Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Scholar Engagement (GSPSE) team at the Graduate Student Resource Center (GSRC)! Enjoy coffee and snacks while supplies last and chat with us about all of your TA training and other teaching-related professional development questions.
Student Experiences of Teaching Weekly Drop-In Hours
Tue 2/24 • 2PM - 3PM PST
Beginning Winter 2026, Student Experiences of Teaching (SET) will offer virtual drop-in hours with Cassidy Alvarado, Program Manager of Student Experience Initiatives. Instructors, Teaching Assistants, and Evaluation Coordinators can get support navigating Blue (UCLA’s course feedback platform), accessing reports, and more. Instructors and Teaching Assistants Mondays: 3–4 p.m. Fridays: Noon–1 p.m. Evaluation Coordinators and Department Staff Tuesdays: 2–3 p.m. Fridays: 9–10 a.m.
Trust, but Verify: The GenAI - Human Connection (Zoom)
Wed 2/25 • 2PM - 2:30PM PST RSVP
As generative AI usage expands across academic settings, educators must decide when AI outputs can be trusted - and when they require verification. This 30-minute Zoom workshop introduces a “Trust, but Verify” framework that centers human judgment in working with AI-generated content. Through guided examples and discussion, participants will build shared language and critical awareness around evaluating AI outputs and exercising informed human oversight. Please contact idmp@teaching.ucla.edu if you have any questions.
Student Experiences of Teaching Weekly Drop-In Hours
Fri 2/27 • 9AM - 10AM PST
Beginning Winter 2026, Student Experiences of Teaching (SET) will offer virtual drop-in hours with Cassidy Alvarado, Program Manager of Student Experience Initiatives. Instructors, Teaching Assistants, and Evaluation Coordinators can get support navigating Blue (UCLA’s course feedback platform), accessing reports, and more. Instructors and Teaching Assistants Mondays: 3–4 p.m. Fridays: Noon–1 p.m. Evaluation Coordinators and Department Staff Tuesdays: 2–3 p.m. Fridays: 9–10 a.m.
Mental Health Literacy in the American University System: A Practical Guide for Postdocs
Fri 2/27 • 11AM - 1PM PST RSVP
Strathmore Building Conference Room 200
Offered through the Teaching and Learning Center’s Instructor Wellbeing Initiative in collaboration with the Postdoctoral Association and award-winning mental health speaker and advocate, Ross Szabo. This interactive, in-person professional development workshop provides a practical and straight forward approach to help postdocs address common mental health challenges that can show up in classes, mentoring relationships, and office hours. The first portion lays out a common language for mental health that offers a baseline to navigate these issues, as well as how to frame mental health from a health education perspective. The second part of this session offers guidelines for if participants choose to incorporate their personal stories about mental health into interactions with mentees and students to help do so in ways that protect the boundaries of all parties and reinforce learning objectives. Lunch will be provided.
Student Experiences of Teaching Weekly Drop-In Hours
Fri 2/27 • 12PM - 1PM PST
Beginning Winter 2026, Student Experiences of Teaching (SET) will offer virtual drop-in hours with Cassidy Alvarado, Program Manager of Student Experience Initiatives. Instructors, Teaching Assistants, and Evaluation Coordinators can get support navigating Blue (UCLA’s course feedback platform), accessing reports, and more. Instructors and Teaching Assistants Mondays: 3–4 p.m. Fridays: Noon–1 p.m. Evaluation Coordinators and Department Staff Tuesdays: 2–3 p.m. Fridays: 9–10 a.m.
Practice and Play with EdTech: Exploring Productivity Potentials with Google Gemini
Tue 3/3 • 2PM - 3:30PM PST RSVP
Powell 190
The Practice and Play with EdTech series offers instructors a hands-on opportunity to explore teaching tools and strategies with TLC staff. Each session begins with a brief overview of a tool followed by a guided exercise and time to explore and apply the tool to participants’ own course. In this session, participants will explore how to leverage AI to support aspects of their teaching workflow — from brainstorming lesson plans to drafting assessments or developing grading strategies. Participants will experiment with Google Gemini and practice crafting prompts to support their courses. The session will also include time to critically assess AI-generated responses for accuracy, relevance, and bias. This session is designed for graduate students, TAs, and postdocs. All instructors are welcome to attend.
Bring Your Own Syllabus: Co-Working and Consultation Session
Fri 3/6 • 1PM - 3PM PST RSVP
Powell 190
Are you looking to refresh, rewrite, or rethink your syllabus? Are you designing a new course, and want to learn about best practices for syllabus design? Join the Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) for a co-working and peer review session during which you will look at example syllabi; consider backward design principles for syllabus design; explore strategies to foster belonging in your syllabus; and, finally, create a digitally accessible syllabus. This session is open to all instructors, including TAs and postdocs.
Dialogue across Difference (DaD) Faculty Fellows Program Information Session 1
Tue 3/10 • 4PM - 5PM PDT RSVP
Please join us for the first Dialogue across Difference Faculty Fellows Program Information Session hosted by the UCLA Teaching and Learning Center and the UCLA Dialogue across Difference Initiative on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 4-5pm on Zoom. For more information about the program, visit our website: https://teaching.ucla.edu/programs/dad-faculty-fellows/. Please contact instructorsupport@teaching.ucla.edu if you have any questions.
GenAI Workshop Series - Creating Knowledge Base Using Google NotebookLM for Student Engagement
Wed 3/11 • 1PM - 2PM PDT RSVP
Don't miss the next topic in the Teaching and Learning Center's GenAI Workshop Series. During this In-Person workshop, we will explore and discuss: -The role of AI-supported knowledge construction in enhancing student engagement and deeper learning. -How Google NotebookLM can be used to curate, organize, and connect course materials into interactive knowledge bases. -Strategies for involving students in co-creating and expanding shared AI-assisted notebooks as part of their learning process. -Examples of how NotebookLM can support collaborative inquiry, reflection, and critical discussion in academic settings. By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to: -Explain how creating shared or individual knowledge bases in Google NotebookLM can enhance student engagement and active learning. -Demonstrate how to organize readings, notes, and resources in NotebookLM to scaffold knowledge building across a course or project. -Design learning activities that engage students in analyzing, connecting, and synthesizing information using NotebookLM. -Integrate NotebookLM into classroom or online environments to promote collaborative inquiry and reflective dialogue. -Evaluate ethical and pedagogical considerations when using AI-generated insights in shared student learning spaces.
TA & Postdoc Drop-In Hours: Social Grading Edition!
Thu 3/12 • 2PM - 4PM PDT
Powell 190
Join the TLC for TA and postdoc drop-in hours, social grading edition! Work through end-of-quarter grading while enjoying refreshments and building community with your fellow TAs. TLC staff members from the Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Scholar Engagement (GSPSE) team will also be available to support you.
Dialogue across Difference (DaD) Faculty Fellows Program Information Session 2
Mon 3/16 • 11AM - 12PM PDT RSVP
Please join us for the second Dialogue across Difference Faculty Fellows Program Information Session hosted by the UCLA Teaching and Learning Center and the UCLA Dialogue across Difference Initiative on Monday, March 16, 2026, 11am-12pm on Zoom. For more information about the program, visit our website: https://teaching.ucla.edu/programs/dad-faculty-fellows/. Please contact instructorsupport@teaching.ucla.edu if you have any questions.
Delivering Meaningful Feedback Quickly and at Scale (In-Person Workshop)
Mon 4/6 • 12PM - 12:30PM PDT RSVP
YRL 21570
This 30-minute interactive session explores why specific, criteria-aligned feedback supports learner motivation and improvement, and highlights practical strategies for delivering high-quality feedback efficiently at scale. Through guided reflection and discussion, participants will consider evidence-based feedback principles before viewing a brief demonstration of scalable grading practices in Gradescope, including rubric-based grading and AI-assisted answer grouping. This session may be especially useful for instructors teaching large classes or courses with limited grading support.
Developing Professional Competencies with AI-Informed Assignments (In-Person)
Wed 4/15 • 10AM - 11AM PDT RSVP
In this workshop, you will reflect on essential professional competencies in your discipline in relation to how AI may or may not be used in students’ future workplaces. You will then revise one of your course assignments to develop an AI-informed set of goals and assignment rubric targeting the development of career-ready skills.
GenAI Tools Series Workshop Creating Knowledge Base Using Google NotebookLM for Student Engagement
Wed 4/15 • 1PM - 2PM PDT RSVP
Join us for the second topic in the TLC's GenAI Tools Series: Creating Knowledge Base Using Google NotebookLM for Student Engagement Date: Wednesday, April, 15 2026 Time: 1 - 2 p.m. Location: Zoom During the workshop, we will explore and discuss: • The role of AI-supported knowledge construction in enhancing student engagement and deeper learning. • How Google NotebookLM can be used to curate, organize, and connect course materials into interactive knowledge bases. • Strategies for involving students in co-creating and expanding shared AI-assisted notebooks as part of their learning process. • Examples of how NotebookLM can support collaborative inquiry, reflection, and critical discussion in academic settings. By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to: • Explain how creating shared or individual knowledge bases in Google NotebookLM can enhance student engagement and active learning. • Demonstrate how to organize readings, notes, and resources in NotebookLM to scaffold knowledge building across a course or project. • Design learning activities that engage students in analyzing, connecting, and synthesizing information using NotebookLM. • Integrate NotebookLM into classroom or online environments to promote collaborative inquiry and reflective dialogue. • Evaluate ethical and pedagogical considerations when using AI-generated insights in shared student learning spaces. Instructors who complete all three workshops will be eligible to receive $500 in seed funds for AI tool licensing and further experimentation with AI in teaching and learning.
Delivering Meaningful Feedback Quickly and at Scale Workshop Zoom
Thu 4/16 • 3PM - 3:30PM PDT RSVP
This 30-minute interactive Zoom session explores why specific, criteria-aligned feedback supports learner motivation and improvement, and highlights practical strategies for delivering high-quality feedback efficiently at scale.
GenAI Tools Series - Developing Students' Critical Thinking Skills Using Google NotebookLM
Wed 5/13 • 1PM - 2PM PDT RSVP
181 Powell Library
Join this In-Person Workshop to explore the third topic in this series: Developing Students’ Critical Thinking Skills Using Google NotebookLM The TLC’s Instructional Designers will host the GenAI Tools Workshop Series to support instructors, like yourself, who are interested in thoughtfully exploring how to use Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in their teaching. During the workshop, we will explore and discuss: -How GenAI tools like Google NotebookLM can support critical thinking and inquiry-based learning. -Strategies for designing learning activities that prompt students to analyze, evaluate, and question AI-generated content. -Examples of how NotebookLM can be integrated into assignments that foster deeper reasoning and reflection. -Methods for guiding students to critique AI outputs for accuracy, bias, and logic. -Best practices for aligning AI use with learning outcomes and institutional academic integrity standards. By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to: -Explain how Google NotebookLM can be used to support and scaffold students’ critical thinking and metacognitive skills. -Design AI-enhanced learning activities or assignments that require students to analyze, evaluate, and revise AI-generated content. -Model strategies for helping students question assumptions, identify bias, and assess evidence in AI responses. -Integrate NotebookLM into classroom practices that promote reflection, argumentation, and evidence-based reasoning. -Formulate guidelines for responsible and ethical AI use that maintain academic integrity while fostering critical inquiry. Instructors who complete all three workshops will be eligible to receive $500 in seed funds for AI tool licensing and further experimentation with AI in teaching and learning.
GenAI Tools Workshop - Developing Students' Critical Thinking Skills Using Google NotebookLM
Wed 6/3 • 1PM - 2PM PDT RSVP
Join UCLA TLC's Instructional Designers in the GenAI Tools Workshop Series. For this Zoom workshop, instructors will explore how Google NotebookLM, an AI-powered notebook designed to help users organize, synthesize, and generate insights, can be used to enhance teaching and learning. During the workshop, we will explore and discuss: -How GenAI tools like Google NotebookLM can support critical thinking and inquiry-based learning. -Strategies for designing learning activities that prompt students to analyze, evaluate, and question AI-generated content. -Examples of how NotebookLM can be integrated into assignments that foster deeper reasoning and reflection. -Methods for guiding students to critique AI outputs for accuracy, bias, and logic. -Best practices for aligning AI use with learning outcomes and institutional academic integrity standards. By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to: -Explain how Google NotebookLM can be used to support and scaffold students’ critical thinking and metacognitive skills. -Design AI-enhanced learning activities or assignments that require students to analyze, evaluate, and revise AI-generated content. -Model strategies for helping students question assumptions, identify bias, and assess evidence in AI responses. -Integrate NotebookLM into classroom practices that promote reflection, argumentation, and evidence-based reasoning. -Formulate guidelines for responsible and ethical AI use that maintain academic integrity while fostering critical inquiry. Instructors who complete all three workshops in this series will be eligible to receive $500 in seed funds for AI tool licensing and further experimentation with AI in teaching and learning.