涩里番

Teaching for Learning Month

Every day in May 2026

Teaching for Learning Month听is presented by Teaching and Academic Programs (TAP) and offered in partnership with The Office of Science Education (OSE). The theme for May 2026 is Fostering relationship-rich classrooms.

Choose from a variety of facilitated events and self-access activities to suit different schedules and ways of participating.

What are relationship-rich classrooms?

Relationships are a vital part of the educational experience. Learning environments that prioritize trust, belonging, and meaningful interaction foster crucial connections, which help students engage with academic content, develop essential learning skills, and overcome challenges. In an age increasingly shaped by generative AI, relationships cultivated in the classroom serve as a vital counterbalance, grounding learning in empathy, authenticity, and shared experience.

Friday, May 1, 2026, 10:00-11:00am, Online

A conversation with Dr. Mays Imad (Facilitated by听Dr. Armin Yazdani, OSE)

Join us for an online session with neuroscientist and educator听听as she explores how relationship rich teaching nurtures meaning, sparks insight, and sustains learning. Drawing on听听听in neuroscience and motivation, Mays will share with us how caring, connected classrooms help students make sense of complexity, experience 鈥渁ha鈥� moments, and build lasting understanding.听

Read some of Mays鈥� recent publications in The Teaching Professor:

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This event is part of Teaching for Learning Month.

Exploring student perspectives on relationship-rich education

Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 10:00-11:00am,听McLennan Library Building, Room MS-74

Join us for this unique, interactive event developed in collaboration with undergraduate student leaders where you will hear directly from students about what relationship-rich education looks and feels like. Engage in activities designed to facilitate meaningful dialogue with students, and gain insight into how belonging and support shape student learning experiences.

Discussion on the Freshman Research Initiative with Dr. Gwendolyn Stovall, The University of Texas at Austin

Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 2:00鈥�3:30 pm, 2001 涩里番 College, room 650

Dr. Gwendolyn Stovall is an Associate Professor of Practice in Molecular Biosciences at UT Austin and a leader in the , a large-scale program that integrates authentic research experiences into undergraduate education. She also directs the High School Research Initiative, an NIH-supported program that brings inquiry-based research into high school classrooms.

Dr. Stovall will give a brief presentation on the Freshman Research Initiative, focusing on how large-enrollment, course-based research programs are designed and implemented, followed by a Q&A.

Stovall, G. M., Huynh, V., Engelman, S., & Ellington, A. D. (2019). . Sensors, 19(15), 3270.

Buckley, D., Stovall, G. M., et al. (2025). . American Journal of STEM Education, 16, 95鈥�108.

You can learn more about Dr. Stovall鈥檚 work here: and here:

For accessibility information click here.

Making space for in-class connections

Wednesday, May 13, 2026, 10:00-10:45am,听McLennan Library Building, Room MS-74

This panel will explore how flipped classroom and blended learning approaches can foster in-class connection opportunities that enhance the student learning experience. Panelists will share examples of reshaping class time to foster community and conversation among students and with the course teaching team.

Panelists:听
Dr. Grant McKenzie, Associate Professor, Geography
Dr. Katelin Schutz, Assistant Professor, Physics (Trottier Space Institute)
Dr. Pallavi Sirjoosingh, Senior Faculty Lecturer, Chemistry

Moderator: Dr.听V茅ronique Brul茅,听Educational Developer, Office of Science Education