The Center for Teaching and Learning

Engaging Pedagogy Conference May 2026

Learn Boldly. Live to Inspire.
Date of Conference: May 13, 2026

Gymnastics of Learning: Physical, Mental, and Emotional Strategies for Growth  

In teaching and in pedagogy, no expectation has been thrown around more than growth. Teachers seek professional growth and development. They encourage students to grow throughout the semester by nurturing their evolution and building their lifelong relationship with a “growth mindset.” Students, in turn, bring their expanded skill sets into the community to foster even more growth, a quasi-trickle-down-economy of learning that reaches beyond the borders of our institutions.  

Yet, to facilitate growth, it is often necessary to stretch the idea of what we think we are capable of. We must balance work and life to ensure we nurture our own growth. We must remain flexible in ideology, methodology, and our timelines, self-imposed or mandated by our governing bodies. We must develop strength of mind, body, and spirit. We must build stamina and coach our students and ourselves to become well-rounded scholastic athletes. Finally, we must not forget the times of failure or shifting strategies. 

At the Engaging Pedagogy Conference this year, we at TLU invite you to gather, present, and participate in lectures, workshops, and breakout groups that may focus on, but are not limited to, or exclusive to… 

  • Adapting strategies for enhancing cognitive processing through: 
    • Note-taking, Motor learning, Recovery, Self-motivation, Meditation, Mindfulness, Simulation, Technology (AI) to enhance education, active learning, flipped classrooms, etc. 
  • Engaging and connecting with others in the online environment 
  • Learning for curiosity’s sake 
  • Balancing teaching and learning 
  • Stretching the boundaries 
  • Equipping students and teachers with tools they can use for online learning 
  • Dealing with stage fright, a fear of failure, and performance anxiety 
  • Promoting the physicality of learning 

We invite breakout and poster presenters from Higher Ed, K-12, and graduate students. Please visit the website for more information about the program call, submission process, registration, and dates. Registration is $75 per person (non-TLU participant). Use the discount code 2P2026 for two people. Use the discount code 3P2026 for three or more. Registration is free for all TLU members.

PROPOSAL SUBMISSIONS:

PREGISTRATION:

EPC 2025 Conference at TLU

LET US INSPIRE YOU!

The Texas Lutheran University Engaging Pedagogy Conference is a fun and welcoming event that promotes and inspires regional educators—in high school and higher education—to share innovative and effective teaching methods, encourage teacher well-being, advocate for and commit to inclusive education, and foster a community of educators passionate about student success.

Testimonies

"I have attended and presented at this wonderful and welcoming Engaging Pedagogy Conference. Having gained such connection to and communion with Texas Lutheran University faculty and staff—as well as other local, regional, and national colleagues and practitioners in higher education—makes this event an effortless endeavor for me to suggest to others. I always leave the campus afterward proud to have collaborated, networked, and developed positively in the name of postsecondary student success and faculty community."

  • - Michael C McConnell, EdD. Professor at Texas State University

"The TLU Engaging Pedagogy Conference, run by some of the kindest and most qualified colleagues in higher education today, has become a teaching and learning destination event in the region and state. It has brought together amazing keynotes, presentations, and practitioners, providing an enriching place to share in today’s teaching and learning landscape and discuss innovations shaping its future."

  • - Jeff Schomburg, St. Mary's University

“The Engaging Pedagogy Conference is an excellent opportunity for faculty to come together to learn about and discuss new strategies for teaching and learning. Faculty can engage in rich conversations and create strong connections with colleagues from TLU and surrounding institutions.”

  • - Dr. Sarah Ferguson, VPAA, Texas Lutheran University
Center For Teaching & Learning

Engaging Pedagogy Conference 2024

The 2024 Engaging Pedagogy Conference

Keynote speech, Dr. Scott Graham, The University of Texas Austin

Plenary session, Dr. Scott Graham, The University of Texas Austin

Contact Us

The CTL Committee

Our Mission

CTL Mission

The Center for Teaching and Learning provides development opportunities and resource support to faculty, staff, and students committed to sharing and enhancing effective strategies for teaching and learning. The Center is dedicated to creating a socially just and inclusive educational environment for our diverse community.

CTL Highlights

Related Links

Links to Other CTL Pages

Program Content Foci

Learning Motivation

  • This area focuses on work exploring students' sense of self, motivation, persuasion, and/or persistence. Such work might include but is not limited to altering student perceptions’ of their ability to fit in and succeed, nurturing effective student collaboration, or becoming more resilient in the face of failure.

Blended/Hybrid/Online Applications

  • This area focuses on work exploring innovative uses of technology in blended/hybrid/online courses, including but not limited to:
    • Creating faculty/staff proficiency and excellence in the blended learning environment
    • Developing specific strategies for assessing how blended learning impacts course outcomes
    • Enhancing student engagement/participation
    • Supporting pedagogical models with technology
    • Exploring emerging technology

Collaborative Partnerships

  • This area focuses on work exploring collaborative partnerships (crossing disciplines, departments, programs, or communities) that have enhanced student learning.

Innovative Pedagogy

  • This area focuses on high-impact practices, group work design, facilitation strategies, integrating contemporary real-world problems/applications, and other approaches that encourage deeper student engagement with the course material, course mates, or the institution in ways that produce deeper learning and/or successful retention. 

Pedagogy & SCOLA Presentations

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) offers sessions with faculty/instructors as the presenters, usually lasting about one hour from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. CTL will announce the exact dates at the beginning of the semester. We anticipate approximately seven presentations per year. Presentations are one of two types:

Pedagogy or SCOLA. A description of each type is given below.

  • Pedagogy presentations:

These talks involve but are not limited to, faculty work in innovative teaching methods, assessment and evaluation techniques, and creative use of teaching resources. Please get in touch with Dr. Rodrick Shao at ctl@tlu.edu for more information and opportunities to present.

  • SCOLA presentations:

Scola talks involve original independent research by faculty or results of the collaborative student-faculty research/study, research during summer or sabbatical leaves, books or articles published by faculty, and significant development/results from external grants. Please get in touch with Dr. Reza Abbasian at rabbasian@tlu.edu for more information and opportunities to present.

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