Education Innovation Week 2022

Education Innovation Week 18 April - 21 April Focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Dear Colleagues, It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 4th Annual Education Innovation Week at the United States Air Force Academy. The events of this week provide us with an opportunity to celebrate the amazing learning community that we have at USAFA and to take the time to reflect on our teaching and our cadets’ learning. This year, the theme for the week aligns with the NCLS focus on Ethics and Respect by looking more closely at issues of diversity, equity and inclusion in the classroom. We hope you will spend some time learning more about the DEI strategic initiatives, find out about how colleagues across disciplines integrate DEI into their content, and pick up some tips on ways to make your course and your classroom more welcoming and inclusive. We are fortunate to have Professor Jeff Schinske as our special speaker this year. I am certain that you will come away from his interactive, workshop-style presentations with concrete ideas to improve inclusivity that you can implement in your future classes. I know that time is a precious commodity at our Academy, but I think you will find great benefit in spending some of your time (in person) this week attending the sessions and talking with colleagues from across DF about inclusive teaching and learning. Dr. Rob Flaherty Associate Dean for Educational Innovation This program includes detailed descriptions of the various panels, workshops, and sessions.

Monday 04/18 (T-Day) 1135-1230 We don’t know what we don’t know: What do in L5 the data say about diversity at USAFA? Diversity, equity and inclusion have become an increasingly important focus at USAFA. As we try to make improvements in our processes and practices to encourage greater equity and inclusion, what do we know about diversity issues at USAFA that can inform our planning? In this session, presenters will highlight sources of data that can give us some insight into these matters. Facilitators: Dr. Joe Don Looney and Dr. Rob Flaherty 1545-1645 Lessons from our time at USAFA: in the Distinguished Visiting Professor Panel Heritage Room Each year we welcome a number of civilian visitors to our faculty as they pursue professional development opportunities on leave from their home universities. They come to be part of the USAFA mission of developing officers of character, and to learn from our faculty. Our DVPs also bring a wealth of experience and can provide a fresh look at our curriculum and teaching practices. In this session, several of our DVP colleagues will share their insights about USAFA and what they will take away from this special experience. Panelists: Dr. Dennis Bouvier (DFCS); Dr. Amelie Davis (DFEG); Dr. Arri Eisen (DFB); Dr. Michele Gaudreault (DFAS); Dr. James Hunt (DFLA); Dr. Brian McAllister (DFM)

Tuesday 04/19 (M-Day) 1135-1300 Teaching Diversity Across the Divisions in 5H60 While we understand the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) to create effective learning environments for our cadets, it is equally important that they learn the value of DEI as leaders in our air and space forces. This session examines the way that all four academic divisions teach aspects of DEI as direct content in their courses. Presenters will describe the way they engage cadets in diversity-related content and share some of the challenges that arise in teaching this content. A broader discussion will follows. Panelists: Maj Ilea Heft (DFB); Dr. Ryan Kelty (DFPS); Dr. Sarah Nance (DFENG); Captain Dana Sanelli (DFCE) 1545-1645 Making Assignments More Engaging in the Heritage Room Are you searching for ways to help your students be more successful on assignments? This session will explore how to create assignments that appeal to your students’ interests and backgrounds, which will increase student excitement and engagement, improve completion rates through increased student agency, and make grading more interesting for you! Participants will leave this session with an outline for an assignment that can be used in their classes, as well as ideas for how to improve the quality of the work that students are submitting. Facilitator: Dr. Calli Holaway

Wednesday 04/20 (T-Day) 1135-1230 The DEI Landscape and the Role of DF in L5 The USAFA DEI strategic plan was completed this year, and has implications for our work in DF. In this session, learn more about how we are approaching DEI issues as an institution, and explore the strategic areas that most directly involve DF. Facilitator: Colonel Troy Harting (DFM) 1545-1645 Cadet Wing Diversity and Inclusion System in the Heritage Room A new position was recently implemented in the cadet wing focused on diversity and inclusion. You may know them by the purple cords they wear. Come hear from the cadets about this initiative. What is the purpose of the system? How well is it working? What challenges need to be addressed? Cadet Facilitators: Alexander Carey; Ymani Nesmith

Thursday 04/21 (M-Day) Jeff Schinske a professor of Anatomy & Physiology at Foothill College where he conducts research on faculty practices, student experiences, and science identity in biology classes. Jeff has authored numerous high-profile biology education research articles, and serves as lead biology curriculum reviewer for California's course articulation system. He was the 2018 recipient of the national Outstanding Undergraduate Science Teaching Award from the Society for College Science Teachers. 0800-0900 Coffee and Conversations with Dr. Jeff Biology Common Schinske Area Meet our keynote speaker. Jeff wants to learn about USAFA – come tell your story! 0930-1100 Exploring Inclusive Curricula in the College L5 Classroom: Scientist Spotlight HW Assignments In this interactive workshop, attendees will reflect on the impacts of stereotypes in their fields, examine Scientist Spotlight homework assignments as a research-based intervention to shift students' stereotypes, and consider implementation strategies for spotlight-type assignments in a wide array of course types and subject areas. 1135-1300 Structure Matters: 21 Strategies to Promote 2P318 Student Engagement and Make Classrooms Fair and Inclusive In this interactive workshop, participants will share a common experience as the basis for discussing how students may experience classroom environments differently from one another. Individual participants will then have the opportunity to self-assess their current awareness of 21 common equitable teaching strategies and identify those that could be immediately implemented in their classrooms.