This multidisciplinary series of conversations highlights original research and intentional reflection by scholars committed to high-quality teaching in higher education contexts. It provides instructors and scholars opportunities to showcase their research and discuss new ways to think about teaching. All events are free and open to the public. Events are hosted on Zoom and include live captions.
2025-26 Events
The psychological, social, and educational benefits of fostering intellectual humility
Thursday, November 20 | 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Intellectual humility – the recognition that one’s beliefs might be wrong – has important implications for the degree to which people think carefully about their knowledge and beliefs, are open to new information and different viewpoints, and deal effectively with disagreements. This session examines the role of intellectual humility in learning and critical thinking, its effects on people’s well-being, and tactics for enhancing intellectual humility, especially in college classrooms.
Mark Leary is Garonzik Professor Emeritus of Psychology & Neuroscience at Duke University. His teaching and research interests focus on social psychology, personality, research methods, and statistics, with an emphasis on social motivation and emotion.
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Enhancing collegiality in the classroom
Thursday, February 5 | 12:00-1:00 p.m.
In this era of social atrophy, how might instructors encourage students to come together not only as learners in the classroom, but also as colleagues? What does collegiality mean? Tarnath will share how instructors can invite students into a more relational way of being that, in the short-term, can enhance classroom cultures, and, more importantly, offer students long-term strategies they use beyond the classroom.
Anu Taranath is a Teaching Professor in English and Comparative History of Ideas on the UW Seattle campus. As a speaker, author, educator, and racial equity consultant, she works across sectors to deepen conversations on history, harm and healing.
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Building social connection in large classes: The UW Five for Flourishing Initiative
Thursday, May 7 | 12:00-1:00 p.m.
This session introduces UW’s Five for Flourishing Initiative, a project designed to foster social connection and belonging among students in large enrollment courses. The project team will share the initiative’s 5 core strategies and preliminary data. UW faculty members who implemented the strategies will also report on their experiences.
The UW Five for Flourishing Initiative is a collaboration between the UW Center for Teaching & Learning, the UW Resilience Lab, and UW Academic Strategy & Affairs.
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Accommodations
The University is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education, and employment for individuals with disabilities. These events will include live-captioning services. If you need additional disability accommodations, please reach out to the UW Disability Services Office (DSO). When contacting DSO at dso@uw.edu, please share the event details listed in the event registration form.