The Challenges of Student Presence

Roundtable

Showing Up: A Conversation About Student Presence, Purpose, and Connection

What happens when students are physically there but mentally elsewhere, and what does that shift mean for everyone in the room?

In this roundtable, we will compare notes on the subtle ways students pull back from learning and consider the pressures, from burnout to uncertainty about the future, that may be driving it.

We’ll invite you to share approaches you’ve used to foster purpose and connection so that teaching and learning feel meaningful for you and your students.

This conversation will lay the groundwork for a follow-up workshop two weeks later, where we'll explore concrete strategies for cultivating meaning, purpose, and relevance in our courses.

Monday, October 26, 3–4 PM

Online

Workshop

Teaching for Meaning: Strategies for Purpose and Relevance in Any Course

Building on our recent roundtable about student presence and connection, this workshop moves from conversation to concrete practice.

We'll examine teaching approaches that help students see the relevance of what they're learning and connect coursework to their own goals, values, and futures.

Participants will leave with specific strategies they can adapt for their classroom, lab, studio, or clinic.

This session builds on our earlier roundtable on student presence and connection, though attendance at both is not required.

Monday, November 9, 3–4 PM

Online

Practical Teaching Tips You Can Use Now

CELT Videos — NEW!

CELT's teaching tip videos are short, practical videos offering strategies you can apply to your teaching today. Whether you're looking for fresh ideas or new approaches to familiar teaching challenges, these videos offer inspiration and actionable tips to enhance student learning.

Watch

CELT Podcasts

CELT’s monthly podcast brings conversations about teaching straight to your feed. Tune in to Season 2, Episode 2, featuring conversations with Tufts students about what makes their educational experiences meaningful.

Listen

Widen Your Aperture

Pedagogical Partnership Program

Center student perspectives by participating in the Pedagogical Partnership Program (P3) in spring 2027.

In this program, a student partner will observe your course weekly and gather student feedback. Together, you will develop strategies to strengthen student learning and create a more equitable classroom experience.

Apply by Friday, November 6

Learn More & Apply

Tufts Springboard

Springboard Education & Public Health Grants

Sponsored by the Office of the Vice Provost for Education, Springboard Education Grants will support interdisciplinary educational programming that develops new approaches to learning across Tufts in two tracks: general education, with priority given to projects that incorporate experiential learning, AI, or both, and public health.

Q&A Drop-In Sessions

Senior Associate Vice Provost for Education Mary Davis will hold Q&A office hours for those interested in applying for Springboard grants. These sessions will be held via Zoom on the following dates:

For Public Health

Tuesday, October 20, 2–3 PM

Friday, October 30, 11 AM–12 PM

For Education

Thursday, October 22, 12–1 PM

Tuesday, October 27, 2–3 PM

Apply by Monday, November 30

Learn More & Apply

Especially for Early Career Faculty

Foundations of Teaching and Learning

This professional development program aims to support faculty, especially those who are newer to teaching or who wish to build a more solid foundation in pedagogy, to apply evidence-based strategies to create more effective, inclusive classrooms.

Through six interactive Friday sessions (12–1 PM via Zoom), you will explore key factors that impact student learning including motivation, prior knowledge, classroom environment, and metacognition while developing practical teaching strategies.

The program combines pre-session readings with collaborative discussions and culminates in a personalized action plan for transforming your teaching practice.

This program will run on Fridays in spring 2027, 12–1 PM, over Zoom, on the following dates:

January: 29

February:12, 26

March:12

April: 2, 16

Apply by Friday, December 11

Learn More & Apply

Connect with CELT

Please reach out if you don't find what you're looking for or have other questions for us.

Tune in to our Podcasts

Visit our Website

Request a Consultation

Tufts CELT | 617- 627- 4000 | celt@tufts.edu

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