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Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching

Create transformative learning experiences.

Reflective, Evidence-Informed, Innovative

The Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching has been a hub of reflective, evidence-informed, and innovative pedagogical practices at Northwestern University for over 30 years. We are proud to advance Northwestern's commitment to delivering an outstanding educational experience through programming, resources, and initiatives that promote inclusive teaching and stimulate substantive course/curricular development.

Featured Programs

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Course Design Institute: Generative AI Edition

Interested in (re)designing a course to integrate more inclusive and engaging practices? Want to jumpstart building your course for winter or spring quarter? Experiment with generative AI tools to craft meaningful learning outcomes, design authentic assessments, and sequence activities as you are guided step-by-step in the creation of Canvas-ready modules in this special generative AI edition of our popular Course Design Institute.
REGISTER
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Supporting Student Success Practicum

Join the 1,000+ instructors who have enhanced their teaching with the practical, flexible, and supportive University Practicum. This 3-week, online practicum explores strategies for supporting students' holistic success, including leveraging resources on equitable access and designing assessments that align with students' motivations and strengths.
LEARN MORE & REGISTER

Featured Guides & Resources

Teaching During Turbulent Times

Classroom environments have felt the impacts of a world faced with crises. Worry and fear can influence how students show up in classrooms and their ability to focus on learning. This Learning & Teaching Guide offers ten strategies for instructors to support students during turbulent times while also being attentive to their own professional and personal well-being.
EXPLORE THE GUIDE

Embracing AI as Essential Learning

National expert on digital innovation, C. Edward Watson, discusses generative AI in higher education in his keynote address, "Preparing Students for Life BVeyond College: Embracing AI as Essential Learning," presented at Northwestern University, September 2024. Video is available to Northwestern community members with University credentials.
WATCH THE VIDEO

News

Upcoming Events

Jan
21
2025

Moving Beyond CTECs: Using Feedback to Improve Your Teaching

10:00 AM
Student evaluations can serve a variety of purposes in the classroom: they can provide insights on students’ experiences...
Jan
24
2025

Efficient and Equitable Grading and Feedback for STEM TAs

1:00 PM 627 Dartmouth Place, 627 Dartmouth Place
Are you interested in gaining more skills around generating rubrics and grading schemes and how to apply existing gradin...
Feb
4
2025

2025 Supporting Student Success Practicum (SSSP) Pre-Practicum Keynote

All Day
This virtual event (open to Northwestern University faculty, staff, and students) kicks off the 2024-25 Supporting Stude...
Feb
4
2025

2025 Winter Supporting Student Success Practicum (SSSP)

All Day
The Supporting Student Success Practicum is an online series of sessions designed to deepen understanding of the multipl...
Feb
6
2025

Inclusive Teaching Reading Group (Principle 1: Social Identities)

10:00 AM
During the month of February, the Searle Center is hosting an inclusive teaching reading group online from 10:00-11:00am...
Feb
13
2025

Inclusive Teaching Reading Group (Principle 2: Clear Standards & Expectations)

10:00 AM
During the month of February, the Searle Center is hosting an inclusive teaching reading group online from 10:00-11:00am...

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