Teaching and Learning Conference
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
8:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Virtual & In person | Zoom & Memorial Union
The conference theme for 2026 will be active and experiential learning.
Join hundreds of instructors who attend this conference each year to pick up quick teaching ideas and tips.
This annual conference is FREE and open to ANY faculty, instructor, staff, or graduate student interested in attending. Individuals from other colleges and universities are encouraged to attend, network, and present at this conference. We also welcome K-12 educators!
Future Conference Dates:
- Tuesday, May 18, 2027
2026 Keynote Speaker
Closing Keynote
The Waldo Effect: Teaching With Presence, Purpose, and Permission to Be Real
Ateba Whitaker,
Virginia Tech
Educators are often encouraged to be engaging but not always supported in being fully present. This closing keynote introduces The Waldo Effect, a framework connecting educator authenticity, pedagogical presence, and active learning to student engagement and sustainable teaching.
Schedule
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
View Schedule of Events >>
8 - 8:15 a.m. - Check-in | Light Breakfast
8:30 a.m. - Welcome Message | Provost Shari Veil
8:45 a.m. - Panel Discussion | Strategies for Achieving Active and Effective Learning
9:45 a.m. - Break
10 a.m. - Concurrent Sessions I
10:30 a.m. - Break
10:45 a.m. - Concurrent Session II
11:15 a.m. - Break
11:30 a.m. - Concurrent Session III
12 p.m. - Lunch | Inspiring Colleague Award
12:30 p.m. - Closing Keynote Speaker
Panel Discussion
Join us for a discussion with NDSU instructors on various strategies they have implemented in their courses to achieve active and effective learning for their students. Learn how you might incorporate those strategies into your classes.
Strategies for Achieving Active and Effective Learning
Connie M. Koski, Ph.D.
NDSU Assistant Professor
Koski is a strong advocate of place-based teaching and learning techniques modeled after the National Collegiate Honor's College's City-As-Text (tm) pedagogy. She and her former colleagues have published several articles and a book chapter on the adaptation of this technique to an interdisciplinary approach to teaching about immigration. Koski will offer examples of how she uses this in her courses.
Kaylyn Woxland, MBA
Lecturer
Woxland brings a dynamic blend of industry insight and innovative teaching to the classroom, designing discussion‑driven learning experiences that actively immerse students in real‑world problem‑solving. She will share practical strategies she uses to foster interactive, student‑centered environments that strengthen participation and deepen understanding.
Laura Parson, Ph.D.
NDSU Associate Professor
Parson earned a Ph.D. in Teaching & Learning, Higher Ed. from the University of North Dakota and an M.Ed. in Adult Education from Westminster College with a certification in Teaching English as a Second Language. She will discuss strategies she uses when teaching synchronously online and in-person in Organizational Leadership and Change, Qualitative Research, and Higher Education.
Samiran Banerjee, Ph.D.
NDSU Assistant Professor
Banerjee's teaching focuses on bringing ecological theories and real-world data into the classroom to help students understand complex biological systems. He uses simple examples and encourages students to apply those ideas to other systems, helping them build deeper understanding. Banerjee will discuss how he integrates environmental microbiomes, ecological theory, and data analysis through active learning, including discussions, guest lectures, and open-resource assessments.
Sydney Armbrust, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP
Assistant Professor of Practice
Armbrust coordinates the infectious disease course in the pharmacy program, where lectures are listened to outside of class and classroom time is utilized for active learning activities where students act as an antimicrobial stewardship team. Armbrust will also discuss the pharmacy practice lab, where students complete tasks a pharmacist would do on a daily basis, including emergency scenarios, and having students on rotation for experiential education.
Registration
This event is FREE and open to all faculty, instructors, staff, and graduate students. Individuals may opt for a combination of virtual and in-person attendance for the various sessions.
Individuals not affiliated with NDSU who choose to attend the in-person lunch session will need to register for the conference and may then choose to pre-pay a nominal fee for their meal or select from the dining options in the Memorial Union. Pre-paid meals include a light breakfast, lunch, and a coffee bar.
Get Your Registration In By:
- Tuesday, May 5 - In-Person Attendance
- Monday, May 18 - Virtual Attendance (We cannot guarantee you will receive breakout session links after this date.)
If you register and you find that you are no longer able to attend call 701-231-7015 or email ndsu.otl@ndsu.edu to let us know.
Keynote Session Videos
Teaching Tips Booklet
Get tips from all of our past Teaching and Learning Conference speakers as well as tips and tricks from other learning events.
