As winter quarter begins, the TLC is excited to provide instructional support to help you incorporate innovative teaching methods into your courses. Our First Day / Week Teaching Checklist offers steps you can take at the start of classes while our Instructor Wellbeing Initiative offers practical guidance on navigating the stress of a new term. This quarter, the TLC will also begin its AI Tools for Teaching Workshop Series to support instructors interested in thoughtfully exploring how to use Generative Artificial Intelligence in their teaching.
Learn more about recent changes to the Educational Innovation Grants Program’s Catalyst Grant (Tier 3) and attend an upcoming information session before the March 1 proposal deadline. Doctoral students and department staff can also learn more about the Collegium of University Teaching Fellows program at an info session later this month. Watch for future communications about the call for Transformation Grants (Tier 4) applications as well.
News
Educational Innovation Grants Now Accepting Proposals
Through March 1, the TLC is accepting proposals for Catalyst Grants (Tier 3) to fund instructor-initiated course interventions and program development projects for next fiscal year. Learn more
Library Instructional Media Requests
This year, the TLC has allocated Seed Grants funds to support instructional media requests. These requests must be reviewed and approved by the UCLA Library’s Instructional Media Collections and Services team by completing a media request form. Instructional media requests do not require applicants to complete the Tier 1 Seed grants application, only the library request form. For questions about instructional media requests, contact imlib@cinema.ucla.edu.
Holistic Evaluation of Teaching Initiative Welcomes New Cohort
The Anderson School of Management and Samueli School of Engineering are the latest cohort of academic departments to participate in HET. Read the story
Distinguished Teaching Awards Now Accepting Nominations
This year, six awards will be presented per group to Senate Faculty, Non-Senate Faculty, and Teaching Assistants who demonstrate effective teaching, inspire and challenge students, and support learning. Learn more
Scholarly Teaching Seminar Explores STEM Education’s Potential in Mitigating Health Disparities
The latest Educational Innovation & Scholarly Teaching Seminar featured UC Davis associate teaching professor Brie Tripp, who presented on the impact of a justice-centered undergraduate science curriculum. Read the story
Resources
Making your Course Accessible
The TLC and campus partners are working to enhance our digital accessibility resources for instructors in alignment with UCLA and UC commitments to inclusive excellence. These guides offer detailed instructions on how to make digital materials accessible for the start of the quarter.
Instructor Wellbeing: Trauma-Informed and Care-Centered Pedagogies
This new resource offers an overview of principles of trauma-informed care and how those principles translate into pedagogy for instructors developing a trauma-informed and care-centered approach.
Preparing to Teach: Lesson Planning
This new resource examines how to apply the principles of backward design — a foundational framework for aligning learning objectives, assessment, and in-class activities — to the lesson planning process.
Events
10 + 10 Pop-up Series
UCLA educational developers and designers offer a series of 10-minute virtual pop-up sessions on course design, teaching, learning, and learning assessment topics — each followed by 10 minutes of Q&A and interactive discussion. Join us on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. starting Week 2 this fall quarter. Visit the 10+10 Pop-up Series website page for the complete schedule.
Student Experiences of Teaching Weekly Drop-In Hours
Beginning Winter 2026, Student Experiences of Teaching (SET) will offer virtual drop-in hours with Cassidy Alvarado, Program Manager of Student Experience Initiatives.
Instructors, Teaching Assistants, and Evaluation Coordinators can get support navigating Blue (UCLA’s course feedback platform), accessing reports, and more.
Instructors and Teaching Assistants
- Mondays: 3-4 p.m.
- Fridays: noon-1 p.m.
Evaluation Coordinators and Department Staff
- Tuesdays: 2-3 p.m.
- Fridays: 9-10 a.m.
Catalyst Grant Information Sessions
Noon–12:45 p.m., January 9 | Register
Noon–12:45 p.m., January 15 | Register
Noon–12:45 p.m., January 23 | Register
Noon–12:45 p.m., January 27 | Register
11–11:45 a.m., February 3 | Register
Instructors of record for undergraduate, graduate, and professional student courses are eligible to propose Catalyst Grant projects.
These upcoming information sessions will provide prospective applicants with an overview of the newly revised requirements for the TLC’s Educational Innovation Grants program’s Catalyst Grants (Tier 3). Attendees will review best practices for successful proposals, see examples of successful applications, and have an opportunity to ask the TLC staff questions.
Developing an AI Course Policy
Noon–1 p.m., January 13 | Powell 190
3–4 p.m., January 21 | Zoom
These sessions are designed for faculty, including professors, lecturers, and adjunct instructors.
This workshop provides a space for instructors to reflect on the impact of GenAI on their disciplines and professions. Participants will examine UCLA data on student GenAI use then discuss the pros and cons of its use in education. Afterwards, participants will draft a deliverable such as a syllabus statement, revised assignment prompt that integrates or speaks to GenAI, or a course communication plan for addressing GenAI. Register for the in-person or Zoom session.
Using Google NotebookLM as a Learning Tool
Part of the AI Tools for Teaching Workshop Series
1–2 p.m., January 14 | Young Research Library 21570
1–2 p.m., February 18 | Zoom
This workshop is open to all instructors, including faculty, TAs, as well as postdocs. Instructors of record who complete all three workshops in the series are eligible to receive $500 in seed funds.
The TLC’s Instructional Design and Media Production team will host a three-part AI Tools for Teaching Workshop Series to support instructors interested in thoughtfully exploring how to use Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in their teaching. The first workshop will explore how to use Google NotebookLM — an AI-powered notebook platform designed to help users organize, synthesize, and generate insights — to support their class learning goals. Register for the in-person or Zoom session.
Trauma-Informed and Care-Centered Pedagogies
3–4 p.m., January 22 | Powell 190
1–2 p.m., February 11 | Zoom
This workshop is open to all instructors, including faculty, TAs, as well as postdocs.
This workshop examines neuroscience and psychology-based research to answer questions on how trauma impacts student learning. Participants will explore the principles of trauma-informed and care-centered pedagogy before practicing how to apply a trauma-informed approach. They will then identify care-centered and compassionate teaching practices to support all students’ learning. Register for the in-person or Zoom session.
Collegium of University Teaching Fellows Information Sessions
10–11 a.m., January 22 | Zoom
Noon–1 p.m., January 28 | Zoom
4–5 p.m., February 2 | Zoom
These info sessions are open to interested graduate students and department staff.
Learn how doctoral students can apply to develop and teach a course based on their research through the Collegium of University Teaching Fellowsprogram. Eligible graduate student fellows will receive tuition and fee remission during the quarter when they teach their course. Departments may nominate a single candidate by 5 p.m. on March 20. RSVP for an Info Session to receive the Zoom link.
Navigating Unexpected Conversations in Office Hours
3–4 p.m., January 29 | Powell 190
This session is part of the How do You Lead in Grad School? Series
This professional development workshop explores conversational strategies to use when addressing complex student concerns that can arise in office hours. Participants will also learn about campus resources to support themselves and their students. Light refreshments will be served. Register here
Leveraging Python-Generated Learning Analytics to Support General Chemistry Student Success
10–11 a.m., February 2 | Pritzker 1531 and Zoom
Jocelyn E. Nardo, an assistant professor of chemistry & biochemistry at The Ohio State University, will examine how instructor-created Python tools can help scale personalized feedback in large-enrollment STEM courses to empower student learning. The seminar will explore how a learning analytics pipeline can help students transform raw course data into individualized, interpretable reports to help them make decisions about their study strategies. Register here
Aligning Learning Objectives with Lesson Planning
Noon–1 p.m., February 3 | Powell Library 190
2–3 p.m., February 9 | Zoom
These sessions are open to all instructors, including faculty, TAs, and postdocs.
This foundational workshop will prepare participants to create student-centered and effective lesson plans using the backward design framework. Participants will explore the framework’s steps — developing student learning objectives, determining assessment evidence, and choosing activities and instruction — before applying that structure to sample lesson plans. Register for the in-person or Zoom session.
Course Design Fundamentals for TAs
1–2 p.m., February 5 | Powell 190
This workshop will introduce the foundational principles of effective university course design. Participants will explore the backward design approach to align learning objectives, assessments, and activities, and will be introduced to reflective practices that can enhance teaching and learning. Join the Graduate Student & Postdoctoral Scholar Engagement unit of TLC for drop-in hours immediately after the workshop from 2 to 4 p.m. to work on developing or refining a course in your field with support from TLC staff and peers. Register here
TA & Postdoc Drop-In Hours: Course Design Edition!
2–4 p.m., February 5 | Powell 190
Work through questions about designing lesson plans and syllabi while enjoying refreshments and building community with fellow TAs and postdocs. TLC staff members from the Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Scholar Engagement (GSPSE) team will also be available for support. Learn more
UCLA Connects: Campus Community Conversations
February 4 | Zoom
UCLA’s True Bruin Values are being refreshed through a broad process involving a dedicated steering committee, community surveys, and collaborative dialogue. Additional input from the UCLA community is being solicited via a Campus Community Conversation on Feb. 4.
Learn more about ways to get involved in this phase of the engagement on the True Bruin Values website.
From Our Campus Partners
2026 Grad Slam Competition
Registration open through January 26
Hosted by the Division of Graduate Education
Teaching Table for STEM Classrooms
12:30–1:30 p.m., January 15 | Terasaki Life Sciences 1100
Hosted by the Center for Educational Innovation & Learning in the Sciences (CEILS)
Maximize Your Course Impact: Enhance Accessibility and Inclusion with the Ally Tool
1–1:45 p.m., January 22 | Zoom
Hosted by the Bruin Learn Center of Excellence (CoE)