Adjunct Faculty Programs

Adjunct faculty will read and explore the book “Small Teaching“ by James Lang. In the book, Lang presents a strategy for improving student learning with a series of modest but powerful changes that make a big difference, many of which can be put into practice in a single class period. The group meets monthly (hybrid) to discuss key ideas from the text and share practical ways to apply the strategies in their own teaching. This program is ideal for instructors who:

• are adjunct faculty at Boise State
• would like to engage with fellow adjunct faculty in discussions around teaching best practices
• are available to meet four times during the semester

Program details

• Date/Time: Thursdays from 12pm -1pm
  • January 28, February 25, March 11, April 15
• Modality: Hybrid (In person in ILC 315 or via Zoom)
• Complete the application form by January 15, 2027. Spots are limited!

Bi-weekly sessions to get your questions answered, troubleshoot a teaching challenge or just chat about teaching topics. Stop by any time; no registration needed. Join via Zoom. Upcoming sessions:

• Tuesday, October 6⋅1:00 – 3:00pm
• Tuesday, October 20⋅1:00 – 3:00pm
• Tuesday, November 3⋅1:00 – 3:00pm

If you are unable to attend during these times, you are welcome to schedule a personal consultation.

Sparkshops are monthly 25-minute interactive Zoom sessions focused on high-demand teaching topics (e.g., grading, class community, classroom management, student engagement). At the end of the session, participants will be able to identify one new teaching strategy for use in their classroom. 

Dates for Fall 2026 SparkShops (Register via Campus Groups – Boise State login required):

• September 1st, 12pm: Just Do It? Supporting Student Motivation
• October 20th, 12pm: Creating Authentic Assessments
• November 3rd, 12pm: Establishing Criteria for Evaluating Student Work
• December 1st, 12pm: The CAT is out of the Bag – Formative Assessments

During a consultation, you’ll meet with a CTL consultant to talk through your questions, ideas, and goals for your course. The meeting is informal and focused on the specific topics of interest you identify (e.g., student engagement or assessment strategies). The consultant will offer best practices and resources, and help you develop practical steps to strengthen your teaching and improve student learning. Request a CTL Consultation and we will meet with you at your convenience. 

MAP requests are open for Fall 2026. Please submit this request form.

The Mid-semester Assessment Process (MAP) is one of the CTL’s longstanding programs. A MAP enables instructors to assess their teaching and gauge how and what students are learning in a particular course all while the semester is still in progress. Midway through the semester, a CTL consultant will conduct an anonymous student feedback survey and a guided discussion in your class. An asynchronous option is also available. Following the MAP survey, the consultant will meet with the instructor privately to review the results and together identify areas for improvement. Learn more about MAPs!

The CTL offers a variety of certificates that provide opportunities for all educators to develop their teaching practices focusing on foundational skills in effective teaching. Available certificates:

Reflective Teaching Practice Certificate – Helps educators develop reflective teaching habits and supports any teaching modality.

Course Design Certificate – For instructors who completed a CTL Course Design Program and applied it to design one of their courses.

Evidence-Based Teaching Certificate – Ideal for new instructors or those without formal training; introduces foundational, research-based teaching practices.

The Course Design Institute and Course Design Academy help participants gain knowledge of evidence-based course design practices and complete substantial work towards a new or revised course design.