Workshops
Throughout the academic year, including the summer, the CTLT offers scheduled workshops and Workshops by Request designed to support faculty and staff in creating rich and engaging learn-by-doing environments for students.Workshop topics encompass a wide range of topics, such as effective teaching practices, quality course design, and the integration of various academic technologies. Our workshop offerings are updated quarterly; please check often for our updated schedules. We hope you will join us!
Course Content AccessibilityAll digital course materials must be fully accessible to every student to comply with Title II of the ADA. The mandate includes all course materials in Canvas to ensure that every student has equitable access to learning as well as to avoid potential legal consequences. Visit Accessible Learning for details and available support resources. |
Asynchronous Semester Readiness Workshops Summer 2026
The Asynchronous Semester Readiness Workshops are designed to support Cal Poly faculty as they prepare courses for the university's transition to semesters in Fall 2026. These workshops are sponsored by the Cal Poly Semester Conversion Team in collaboration with the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology (CTLT).
Faculty will be guided through:
- Reviewing and refining learning objectives
- Aligning assessments and workload with semester expectations
- Developing a semester course map
- Incorporating formative assessment early and often
- Using Canvas tools to support course organization and communication.
The workshop requires approximately 25-30 hours of effort over three weeks. Please note that this is a self-paced course with structured checkpoints, but faculty may move through it as quickly or as slowly as they wish.
A one-time $500 professional development payment will be provided to each eligible faculty member who completes the workshop and the culminating deliverables. (Download CTLT Stipend Policies PDF)
Learn more and register: Asynchronous Semester Readiness Workshops
Current Workshops
Fall Semester 2026 offerings coming soon.
Accessibility & Universal Design for Learning
Academic Departments Invited to Host Accessible Course Materials Workshops
CTLT’s Faculty Associates for Accessible Course Materials are available to facilitate Essential Skills for Accessible Course Materials workshops during department meetings or for other faculty groups.
These hands-on sessions support faculty in meeting the April 26, 2027 Title II ADA instructional materials accessibility compliance deadline, as outlined by the CTLT, and focus on accessibility best practices, including headings, alt text, accessible links, and Canvas tools (Access4All and TidyUp).
Departments may request a workshop by completing the accessibility skills workshop request form.
One-week or Self-paced Accessibility Workshops: Canvas, Documents, PowerPoint
Accessibility is an essential part of course design and ensures that all students have equitable access to learning. Learn how to create accessible course content by selecting the links below.
Enroll in a self-paced workshop:
TidyUP and Access4All: Improve your Course Accessibility
TidyUP is a tool in Canvas that can help you identify and remove outdated files and unused Canvas content. This handy tool can help you quickly and efficiently improve your course accessibility! This Self-enroll workshop provides hands-on experience using TidyUP, as well as experience using Access4All to identify and fix inaccessible Canvas content.
Self-enroll module: TidyUP & Access4All
TidyUp & Access4All (UDOIT) Q&A and Training Webinars
Interested in training for TidyUP? Choose your own adventure!
- Visit the searchable video hub to access all training videos at once.
- Are you an admin or trainer for your institution? Join us live! RSVP for our synchronous sessions on our Training Calendar.
Interested in training for Access4All (UDOIT)? Choose your own adventure!
- Visit the searchable video hub to access all training videos at once.
- Are you an admin or trainer for your institution? Join us live! RSVP for our synchronous Train-the-Trainer sessions on our Training Calendar.
Inclusive Course Design: Implementing the UDL Guidelines
Self-enroll workshop
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Guidelines
is a framework to guide the design of learning environments that are accessible, inclusive, equitable, and challenging for every learner. This self-paced online workshop offers strategies to apply the principles of UDL to course materials, activities, and assessments to improve learning experiences for all students.
Self-enroll link: Inclusive Course Design
Canvas
Fall Conference 2026 Canvas Workshops
Aug 21, 2026
Additional Canvas sessions will be scheduled throughout the semester. To set up a consultation or for questions, please email canvassupport@calpoly.edu
Introduction to Cal Poly Canvas
During this presentation, faculty will learn the basics of Cal Poly Canvas’ login, navigation, tools, and menus. Support resources, including course templates, online self-paced courses, web resources, email, chat, and consultations, will also be demonstrated.
UPDATE: Friday, Aug. 21, 11-12 am PST - Synchronous Zoom Session
Assessments and Grades within Cal Poly Canvas
During this presentation, faculty will get an overview of the Canvas Assessments tools and when to use them. Since all graded assessments will be added to the Gradebook, faculty will also learn about Gradebook settings and layout.
UPDATE: Friday, Aug. 21, 12-1 pm PST - Synchronous Zoom Session
DesignPLUS: Creating Canvas Content with Cal Poly Templates
During this presentation, faculty will learn how to use the DesignPLUS tool to enable Cal Poly templates for a Home Page, Assignment, Discussion, and Modules.
Coming soon; please see our support page.
Artificial Intelligence
Custom GPTs for your Course
Fall 2026
Dates TBA
This hands-on workshop demonstrates the process of building Custom GPTs using ChatGPT’s creation tools. Participants learn how to turn their existing course materials into interactive AI assistants designed to support students with content clarification, study help, and course navigation.
Fall registration information coming soon!
Team Learning
Team Learning Basics
Self-enroll workshop
This fully online self-paced workshop provides an overview of team learning in the higher education classroom, and offers strategies for creating, managing, and assessing teams. This workshop includes team learning examples from Cal Poly instructors.
Self-enroll link: Team Learning Basics
Assignment & Assessment Design
Assignment and Assessment Design to Promote Academic Integrity
Next Offering TBD
This workshop builds faculty knowledge about course design factors that enhance student self-efficacy and increase the promotion of academic integrity. Assignment and Assessment Design to Promote Academic Integrity reviews evidence-based teaching strategies for designing or revising course assignments to enhance students' learning, critical thinking, and reflection practices.
The workshop includes support for creating activities and assignments that meet desired course learning outcomes, increase intrinsic motivation, and promote students' honest engagement with learning processes.
Learn more: Assignment and Assessment Design to Promote Academic Integrity
Online and Hybrid Teaching
Online and Hybrid Teaching Presentation
Fall 2026: Dates TBA
Are you interested in teaching an online or hybrid course but not sure where to start?
This short presentation, offered multiple times throughout Fall 2026 and Spring 2027, will help guide you through the resources and pathways available for teaching online or hybrid courses at Cal Poly after the semester conversion.
This presentation explains the online course proposal process, CSU Rubric for Quality Teaching, how to obtain certification for quality for both your teaching and your course, and what the CSU Fully Online / CourseMatch program has to offer.
Fall registration information coming soon!
Introduction to Online Teaching and Learning (IOTL) for Semester Redesign
Fall 2026: September 14 - October 9
We are accepting applications for this four-week, fully online and asynchronous (no Zoom sessions) workshop which will focus on best practices for redesigning your semester course for the online or hybrid learning environment, including developing pre-course welcome letters, course policies, and creating a course design road map that implements a strong pedagogical approach to online course delivery. By the end of this workshop, participants will map out a semester course and design and complete one modular unit (typically 1 week) of a fully online course of their choosing.
There is a $500 stipend available to eligible participants who pass the course with a minimum 80% score, and who complete all activities.
Fall registration information coming soon!
Inclusive Teaching
Intro to Equitable and Inclusive Teaching
next offerings tbd
Introduction to Equitable and Inclusive Teaching introduces faculty to evidence-based teaching strategies for equity and inclusion, supports faculty in developing an inclusive course climate, encourages faculty to reflect on the impacts of social identities in higher education teaching and learning environments, and supports faculty in further developing an equitable and inclusive teaching lens. Participating in this program is a way for you to contribute in concrete and powerful ways to our goals of making Cal Poly more equitable and inclusive.
Learn more and register: Intro to Equitable and Inclusive Teaching
Sustainability
Sustainability Catalog (SUSCAT) Course Inclusion Workshop
Next Offerings TBD
There is still time to include your course in the 2026 Curriculum Catalog as a Sustainability focused or related course, so choose a date and attend this activity-focused workshop. These workshops provide valuable insights into aligning all or part of your course curriculum and course content with sustainability principles, meeting institutional sustainability goals, and gaining formal recognition within the university’s sustainability framework.
Learn more and register: SUSCAT Course Inclusion Workshop
Cultivating Connections: Parts One and Two
Next Offerings TBD
This two-part workshop series extends an invitation to faculty members from all disciplines who are keen on deepening their comprehension regarding Native Nations. It aims to equip participants with the necessary awareness and tools to engage with Tribal communities equitably and effectively, while also exploring the Indigenous underpinnings of contemporary sustainability practices and knowledge.
Learn more: Cultivating Connections
Writing
Fall Semester 2026 1/2-Day Faculty Writers Sprints
dec 16-18, wednesday-Friday, 9:00 am-12:00 pm
These 3, half-day Faculty Writers' Sprints are designed to help faculty make progress on their scholarly writing. The group meets daily with facilitator Dr. Dianna Winslow, CTLT Assistant Director and Writing Instruction Specialist.
Each day there will be group check-ins with a light breakfast to start, concentrated writing time, and plenty of snacks and coffee to keep the momentum going.
Dianna will offer one-on-one consultations as requested, and help form "buddy groups" for post-sprint encouragement if desired. Tara Gray's Publish and Flourish book and other occasional resources shape daily discussions about the writing and research process. The newest edition of Gray's book will be provided to you free of charge by the CTLT once you enroll in the group.
Learn more and register: Fall Semester 2026 1/2-Day Faculty Writers Sprints
Writing in the Disciplines
Next Offerings TBD
This workshop is offered in partnership with the Office of Writing and Learning Initiatives and is designed to create space for faculty to explore how writing operates within their disciplines and to develop writing learning outcomes for their courses.
Writing In the Disciplines provides evidence-based teaching strategies for using writing to enhance students' learning, critical thinking, and written communication practices.
Learn more and register: Writing in the Disciplines
Additional Offerings
We offer a variety of self-paced workshops, Book Circles, and more! We also provide workshops and consultations upon request.
Self-enroll Workshops
Creating Effective Learning Objectives (self-paced module)
Always available
Developing clear learning objectives is a fundamental element of effective course design, yet not all instructors have had the opportunity to learn to write effective and measurable learning objectives. This self-paced module provides guidance and instructions for those who are new to writing learning objectives, and those who may wish to review and revise current objectives.
Self-enroll: Creating Effective Learning Objectives
OER Faculty Roadmap (self-paced module)
Always available
The OER Faculty Roadmap is a self-paced online Canvas module designed to help faculty explore, create, optimize, and maintain Open Educational Resources (OER) for their courses.
Self-enroll: OER Faculty Roadmap
Self-paced Accessibility Modules
Always available
Accessibility is an essential part of course design and ensures that all students have equitable access to learning. Select any of the links below to self-enroll in an online module to learn how to create accessible course content.
Canvas Webinar Recordings & Self-Paced Courses
Always available
We provide live webinars and share recording links on the Canvas Workshop and Events page. Please check out the page for items, such as:
- Introduction to Canvas
- Using Templates
- Creating Content
- Gradebook Setup
- Secure Exams
Self-Paced Online Courses
Workshops by Request
The CTLT offers one-on-one, small group, and departmental consultations that enable all Cal Poly faculty and staff, either full or part-time, to enhance their teaching effectiveness, discuss opportunities for teaching innovation, and implement new pedagogies. Consultations provide a mechanism for educators to reflect upon their teaching practices and develop a research-informed plan to improve student learning.
For information on CTLT Staff expertise and consultation topics, visit CTLT Consultations.
