Immersive Teacher Development Experiences
LSU C-I Teaching Lab
The annual LSU C-I Teaching Lab is an interactive workshop where college teachers explore, collaborate, and share practical strategies for integrating Communication-Intensive (C-I) teaching and learning into their existing undergraduate courses. Throughout the Teaching Lab, participants focus on updating their own course designs to efficiently and effectively advance students’ learning of course content and students’ discipline-specific communication skills.
What We Promise Participants
- A highly productive use of your time, including a purposefully coordinated agenda. Most of your time will be spent in guided small-group discussions, idea exchanges, and applied workshops all via video conference. There will also be designated off-line independent work time and many stretch breaks throughout!
- A $400 stipend for eligible LSU faculty who fully participate in the Lab, and an additional $400 stipend when you certify and teach an LSU undergraduate course as C-I.
What We Ask of Participants
- Log in—digitally and mentally—for all scheduled activities throughout the four-day C-I Teaching Lab.
- Active participation in, and contribute to, the collaborative faculty community experience.
What Past Participants Say About Their Experience
The C-I Teaching Lab was truly the best professional development experience I’ve had since I started teaching. Thank you for the energy and enthusiasm you infused throughout the week; it was contagious and I really needed it! —Agriculture Professor
This was an awesome sharing of experience and expertise, and I benefitted greatly from it—more so than any conference I’ve ever attended. Everything was so well thought out, tasks were clear, goals were clear – and I really work well under those circumstances. Thanks for allowing me to be part of this incredible learning community. —Education Professor
The opportunity to connect and collaborate with colleagues from across campus was really fantastic. I learned a lot this week and I know this is going to elevate my teaching and my students’ learning. —Science Professor
Such an incredible workshop experience! The agenda was innovative and really effective for a live remote format. The participant engagement you were able to facilitate was really impressive. And the workbook was great; I will definitely continue to use it for all my other course designs. (I also loved the welcome package--my colleagues were jealous!). The whole orchestration of the Lab was top-notch; A+ for all the CxC team! —History Professor
This was an effective and efficient way to develop my teaching. I hope all faculty take advantage of this amazing opportunity. —Engineering Professor
Carving out time to think intentionally about our teaching is hard, so thanks for creating this space! The guidance, support, and ideas I took from this week were invaluable. —Social Sciences Professor
I admit that I was skeptical about a 4-day workshop being online, but this was hands down the best remote workshop I have ever participated in. It was even better than some of the in-person workshops I’ve attended. The organization, variation, and facilitation were genius and kept me from feeling zoomed out. —Agriculture Professor
I had a rough semester so when May came around, I was exhausted and really needed a break. I had already committed to the Lab, so I pushed myself to show up. Within the first hour, I was energized and inspired. I met so many new colleagues, and I actually enjoyed being stretched by excellent teachers. I know I glossed over some Lab assignments and probably wasn’t the best student, but I walked away knowing I can do this and do it well. I am truly grateful for your patience and willingness to meet me where I am. —Business Professor
I just left class where I experimented with an activity I learned at last year’s C-I Teaching Lab—WOW! The students responded more enthusiastically than I have ever seen in my 15+ years of teaching. The instruction went smoothly and I think this activity will lead to stronger final projects. It will be a permanent addition to this course. —Social Sciences Professor
C-I Teaching Lab Frequently Asked Questions
LSU undergraduate teachers committed to advancing student learning within their classrooms receive priority consideration. If this is you, tell us about your interest in participating in the next C-I Teaching Lab!
College teachers from other institutions interested in integrating Communication-Intensive teaching and learning into their classrooms are welcome to participate when space permits. If this is you, tell us about your interest in participating in the next C-I Teaching Lab!
The Lab is held each May during the week following LSU Spring Commencement.
The Lab is a unique, interactive experience hosted via live video conferencing. This means you get to bypass the hassle and expenses of travel, and you can participate from any location where you have reliable internet access and can work productively!
Simply tell us about your interest in participating in the next C-I Teaching Lab and we’ll be in touch.
LSU CxC Faculty Summer Institute
The annual LSU CxC Faculty Summer Institute is an interactive college teaching conference designed to energize faculty/instructors, provide interdisciplinary networking and learning opportunities, and arm participants with effective and innovative ideas for leveraging Communication-Intensive (C-I) pedagogy as a high-impact practice within the disciplines.
The Institute kicks off with a refresh on college teaching basics, including mapping learning outcomes, scaffolding assignments, and designing effective assessments. There are also some ad-hoc sessions on topics such as managing teacher burnout, leveraging teaching as scholarship, and mentoring emerging professionals. Then, participants interact with seasoned C-I faculty from across the disciplines who share their C-I teaching secrets (along with the pitfalls they’ve experienced) for integrating formal and informal written, spoken, visual, and technological communication into disciplinary course content. Participants close out their Institute experience by workshopping their own course design and integrating C-I pedagogy in a manner that’s appropriate for their course goals, energizes their own teaching, and elevates their students’ learning. And there is a lot of coffee, tea, chocolate, and collaborative idea sharing along the way!
Participants leave the Faculty Summer Institute with fresh, new teaching methods, well-designed assignments and assessment plans, and all the tools needed to implement their C-I course.
Faculty Summer Institute Frequently Asked Questions
LSU undergraduate teachers committed to advancing student learning within their classrooms receive priority consideration.
College teachers from other institutions interested in integrating Communication-Intensive teaching and learning into their classrooms are welcome to participate when space permits.
The Institute is typically held annually in late May.
The Institute is typically held on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge.
Due to COVID challenges, LSU is not currently hosting the Faculty Summer Institute; however, the C-I Teaching Lab is happening so be sure to check it out!