Professional development workshops for educators designed
to increase student engagement & promote empowerment
Virtual workshops now offered through Zoom!
Since 1996, more than 50,000 educators have attended On Course professional development events geared for college and university educators and also applicable for high school and middle school teachers. If you want innovative strategies for engaging students and empowering them to achieve greater success—academic, personal, and professional—these are the workshops for you! Backed by extensive research, On Course strategies are proven to have a positive impact on student academic success and retention (View Institutional Studies).
At the end of the workshops, participants develop a specific plan to implement one or more strategies learned in the workshop. To extend their learning beyond the workshop, participants receive access to a web source of hundreds of innovative ways the workshop strategies have been employed by other educators across the curriculum (from Advising to Zoology and all educational roles in between).
On Course Workshops are ideal for all college faculty, student success instructors, counselors, Trio personnel, and administrators looking for a proven approach to dramatically improving student success, retention and graduation. Although geared for college faculty, the same concepts are easily applicable for middle and high school teachers.
ALL WORKSHOPS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. (See below for workshop descriptions)
ChatGPT & AI Teaching & Learning Workshop:
- Coming soon!
Engaging and Empowering Learners Workshop:
- Coming soon!
More Information / FAQ’s
Retreat Center Information
“This has been, without a doubt, the best workshop I have attended during my 35 years of professional life.”
– Jan Reed, Counselor and Coordinator, First Year Programs, Piedmont Virginia Community College, VA
| ChatGPT & AI Teaching and Learning Workshop |
| May 31, 2024, on Zoom with Dr. Jonathan Brennan The exponential growth of Artificial Intelligence has introduced a profound change in education. The CHATGPT & AI TEACHING & LEARNING WORKSHOP explores the human side of the AI equation, discussing implications for both students and educators. We will explore issues of equity, bias, prompt engineering and the role of cognitive neuroscience in AI student learning strategies. View the ChatGPT and AI Teaching and Learning Workshop Agenda. |
| Engaging & Empowering Learners Workshop (ON COURSE I) |
| May 21 – 24, 2024, in-person with Dr. Jonathan Brennan Held at retreat centers on both coasts of the United States and virtually through Zoom, this workshop is our flagship professional development event geared for college and university educators, although also applicable for middle and high school teachers. In this four-day workshop (three-day if held virtually), you’ll learn dozens of learner-centered strategies for empowering students to become active, responsible and successful learners. To see what past participants had to say about On Course Workshops…read the Testimonials. View the Engaging & Empowering Learners Workshop Agenda. |
| 1-Day Introductory Workshop |
| The 1-day workshop is an introduction to engaging and empowering learner-centered principles, research and strategies. The workshop provides a foundation in learner-centered education as well as practical and proven educational strategies that participants can use immediately with their students. At the end of the workshop, participants develop a specific plan to implement one or more strategies learned in the workshop. To extend their learning beyond the workshop, participants receive access to a web source of hundreds of innovative ways the workshop strategies have been employed by other educators across the curriculum (from Advising to Zoology). View the 1-Day Introductory Workshop Agenda. |
| Designing & Facilitating Learning Workshop (ON COURSE II) |
| In this 4-day workshop, you’ll not only add dozens of new learner-centered strategies to your toolbox, you’ll also learn the essential skills for effectively designing and facilitating learner-centered experiences of any length…from an hour to a semester. This workshop is held at retreat centers on both coasts of the United States. To see what past participants had to say about On Course Workshops…read the Testimonials. View the Designing & Facilitating Learning Workshop Agenda. |
| Engaging Learners through Zoom Workshop |
| Based on the research that Dr. Brennan conducted while writing the book, Engaging Learners through Zoom: Strategies for Virtual Teaching across Disciplines (October, 2020, Wiley Jossey-Bass), this workshop offers educators in all disciplines dozens of strategies to engage their students on Zoom (or other video-conferencing platforms). Many educators are frustrated and overwhelmed with the rapid shift to synchronous, virtual learning, and need more tools to ensure learner engagement, motivation and persistence. Both educators and students are suffering from Zoom Fatigue, and the workshop offers concrete methods to minimize this growing problem. View the Engaging Learners through Zoom Workshop Agenda. |
A college hosting an on-campus On Course Workshop asked for the “Top Ten Reasons to attend an On Course Workshop” to share with their educators. We turned the request over to the On Course Ambassadors. Click HERE to read what some of them had to say.
“The Engaging & Empowering Learners (OCI) workshop kept me on the edge of my seat for four consecutive days. It has really been an eye-opener for me as an instructor, and also helped me grow as a person. I can’t thank you enough for your commitment to educators and students.”
– Robert Quinn, Faculty, Mathematics, Jamestown Community College, NY
“I enjoyed the Designing & Facilitating Learning (OCII) Workshop and will strongly recommend it to my other OCI trained colleagues! The overall content was fantastic. The design team and outcomes presented will be templates for our work both for professional development and in the classroom.”
– Melissa Komadina, Counselor, Skyline College, CA
