Options Available for Continued Learning When You Can't Be There
Yes, conferences and other professional commitments can sometimes interfere with our teaching schedule.
However, there are options available at ETSU to keep your students learning while you are away.
We encourage you to not cancel class, but consider the options below:
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Living Room Conversation
A team member of Student Activities can come to your class to facilitate a Living Room Conversation discussion with your class.
Living Room Conversations follow a model that permits all students to have a voice and present their thoughts from their unique point of view. Topics cover a broad range of subject areas and often address universal ideas.
Emerging themes from the conversation can then be sent to you, so that you can pick up where the conversation left off.
Subject to availability by trained staff - please request 2 or more weeks before your absence.
Living Room Conversations Topics
Request a facilitator here.
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Center for Academic Achievement Visit
The CFAA offers instructors the opportunity to have a center representative come to their classrooms to give an overview of our services.
These workshops can cover a variety of topics and can be customized to fit the needs of that particular course. Visits can last from 5 minutes to 1 hour depending on the instructor's preference
Learn more about your options here.
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Colleague Guest Lecture
Do you have a colleague who can offer particular expertise on a topic in your class? Invite that colleague to share their deeper knowledge with your class as a guest lecturer for the day.
Alternatively, try reaching out to the CTE. We have several volunteer Affiliates and Associates who may be available (with enough advanced notice) to come to your class and lead one or two activities about learning-general topics - such as how learning works, useful study skills, or the ethics of AI use. Talk with us and let's see what might be possible!
Email us: teaching@etsu.edu -
Go Online
Ask students to spend the scheduled class time online in your D2L shell, participating in pre-structured discussions, guided inquiries, reading notes (e.g., using Perusall), or other interactive activities (e.g., Padlet).
You can also include some short, pre-recorded information from you about topics to be learned and discussed for the day.
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Visits To or From Other ETSU Units
Availability of these services may vary, but could be possibilities to investigate:
- The Counseling Center may offer workshops for your students; alternatively, they offer workshops at the Culp to which you could direct your students (if times align with your class).
- Career Services may be able to offer a workshop on career-related topics; check with them to determine their comfort level with providing a workshop in your absence.
- See if your class meeting time coincides with a Prestigious Awards workshop or info session.