Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning

A room full of instructors seated at round tables with slides projected at the front.

Recap: What Better Teaching Can Do

Dr. David Gooblar (University of Iowa) visited in September to share his research on supporting students through good teaching.

Three people at a table draped in blue: Joel Amidon (a white man w/plaid shirt), Nicole Roberson (a white woman w/red shirt), and Candies Winfun-Cook (a Black woman w/multicolor shirt).

Recap: The K-12 Landscape and College Student Preparation

On Wednesday, September 16, CETL hosted a panel on “The K-12 Landscape and College Student Preparation,” moderated by our Senior Director Dr. Josh Eyler. Panelists Dr. Joel Amidon, Dr. Nicole Roberson, and Dr. Candies Winfun-Cook were asked what a college student in 2026 might be like, how this

Marvin King, a Black instructor in a white quarter-zip shirt, sits at his desk. A student in a chair facing him is shown. She has long dark hair.

Talking It Out: Why I Switched to Oral Final Exams

One professor shares how he experimented with a new format for his classes’ final exams. While exhausting, Dr. Marvin King found the process to be deeply rewarding and worth continuing in discussion-heavy courses.

Medical workspace with laptop, molecules, and stethoscope on green background.

I thought adding theory would create barriers. Instead, it removed them.

In this guest blog post, Dr. Kristen Alley Swain shares a reflection on how adding theory boosted students’ performance and empowered greater understanding.

A woman in the center of the picture has a hand up as she makes a point while discussing with two others. In the background are other tables of faculty discussing.

Recap: Facilitating Effective Classroom Discussions

On Wednesday, September 2, CETL kicked off our fall workshops with a session on “Facilitating Effective Classroom Discussions: A Tried-and-True Way to Maximize Student Learning and Engagement.” The facilitator for the workshop, CETL Senior Director Josh Eyler, started off by asking attendees to share the most challenging part

A large number of students attend a workshop in a ballroom. They are sitting at round tables with blue tablecloths.

Meet CETL's 2026-27 Graduate Teaching Fellows

Three new graduate teaching fellows joined the CETL team for the 2026-2027 academic year. Learn more about them and their work with us.

Recap: Welcome Week takeaways

CETL offered multiple opportunities for instructors to plan for an engaging fall semester ahead. Here are a few of our key takeaways.

A girl sits at a table, reading "Hop on Pop" by Dr. Seuss.

What we read this summer

The CETL team is a group that loves to read (and write)! Here are a few things we read this summer.

A woman in a deep red long-sleeved button-down shirt is talking to others at a round table with a blue tablecloth. The room is seen in the background with a crowd of people engaging similarly

CETL Fall 2026 Programming Preview

We at CETL are excited for another year of connecting with UM instructors to facilitate honest and useful conversations about teaching.

A certificate appears beneath a rolled piece of paper secured by a black ribbon.

CETL Honors Graduate Teachers

Meet the winners of the 2025-2026 Graduate Excellence in Teaching Awards, Anna Platt and Godwin Egbe.

Three adults sit at a table in a white industrial space. They have books and notebooks open in front of them. No digital devices are in view.

Recap: Analog Approaches in the Age of AI

Designing learning environments that encourage student thinking and learning requires intentionality. Three professors share how they’re approaching teaching in the age of AI.

Flower Darby speaks. Behind her and projected on the wall is a slide that reads, "Enjoyment promotes intrinsic and extrinsic motivation."

Recap: Harness the Science of Emotion in the Age of AI with Flower Darby

Drawing on affective neuroscience, Flower Darby provides several ideas for engaging students and deepening learning.

CETL's mission is to promote exemplary teaching and effective learning at the University of Mississippi.

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