Supporting STEM Students with Academic Excellence Workshops (AEWs)
Welcome Back Week,
This session introduces STEM faculty to MESA's Academic Excellence Workshops (AEWs), a peer-facilitated, collaborative learning model designed to reinforce challenging STEM content. Many faculty want stronger peer support structures for students but aren't sure where to start — this session offers a clear entry point.
By the end, participants will be able to connect how AEWs support deeper STEM learning and identify a pathway to connect students to the program in order to make clear recommendations to students.
Organization: Professional Development. Primary Professional Development Focus Area: Engaging Students. Categories: FLEX. Internal Presenter(s) [including yourself, if applicable]: Alice Martinez, Alejandro Rivas-Madrid. Which campus is your event taking place? Verdugo. Zoom Invite Link (if applicable): https://glendale-edu.zoom.us/j/82186071443.
Monday, August 24, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM.
San Gabriel Building 376.
Padlet 101: Creative Tools for Active Engagement and RSI
Welcome Back Week
Discover how Padlet’s creativity and collaboration tools can support student engagement and active learning in your Canvas course. Create your first Padlet board and explore layouts for brainstorming, discussion, lesson openers, and resource sharing, along with settings that support accessible and secure participation. We’ll also review Canvas Gradebook integration to streamline assessment and feedback.
This workshop supports PLAY goals in Technology and Innovation and Engaging Students, connecting innovative tools to meaningful student participation and learning.
Create their first Padlet board designed for brainstorming, discussion, or resource sharing
, Apply accessible and secure settings to support inclusive student participation
, Connect Padlet activities to RSI documentation and Canvas Gradebook integration for streamlined feedback
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Organization: Professional Development. Primary Professional Development Focus Area: Engaging Students. Categories: FLEX, GLOW UP. Please list External Presenter: Jenny Simms. Zoom Invite Link (if applicable): https://glendale-edu.zoom.us/j/89143601871.
Monday, August 24, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM.
Zoom.
Padlet 102: Advanced Tools for Implement
Welcome Back Week
This session is designed for current Padlet users who are ready to expand their skills and explore more advanced ways to use Padlet for teaching and learning. Take your Padlet skills to the next level by designing multimodal learning experiences, differentiated activities, and dynamic lesson plans that support diverse learners. Explore Padlet’s robust features, including Sandbox and Arcade, and discover new ways to increase student engagement, collaboration, and creativity. Participants will leave with practical strategies for using Padlet beyond the basics and ideas they can implement in their own courses. This workshop supports a PLAY goal in the Technology and Innovation and Engaging Students focus areas, helping instructors explore how emerging tools can enhance coursework and create more meaningful learning experiences.
After this session, participants will be able to:
Design multimodal Padlet activities that support diverse learners and increase student engagement.
, Apply…
Organization: Professional Development. Primary Professional Development Focus Area: Engaging Students. Categories: FLEX, GLOW UP. Please list External Presenter: Jennifer Simms.
Tuesday, August 25, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM.
Library Building 313*.
Teach with Team Internships
Welcome Back Week,
This session is designed for full-time faculty, adjunct faculty, counselors, librarians, and other educators who are interested in creating meaningful, career-connected learning experiences and helping students apply their classroom knowledge to real-world challenges.
How do we give students opportunities to build career-ready skills when there’s already so much to cover? You’re not alone in wondering how to move learning beyond the classroom while still staying true to your discipline and course goals.
WHAT WE’LL EXPLORE TOGETHER: In this session, participants will:
Learn how Team Internships connects students with real-world projects while developing skills such as collaboration, communication, problem-solving, and professional confidence.
, Explore what it looks like to serve as a Team Internships instructor and how faculty can bring their disciplinary expertise into an experiential learning environment.
, Hear about the program structure, faculty role, and ways Team…
Organization: Professional Development. Primary Professional Development Focus Area: Engaging Students. Categories: FLEX. Which campus is your event taking place? Verdugo.
Tuesday, August 25, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
Sierra Vista Building 230.