# Fall Teaching Week ## Fall Teaching Week 2026 In Fall 2026, all Teaching Fellows and Teaching Assistants who are teaching in Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences are required to attend 2 hours of training provided by the Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning. - For TFs and TAs new to teaching in the FAS: [Pedagogy in Practice, Teaching Fundamentals Training](https://bokcenter.harvard.edu/node/1874296) - For TFs and TAs returning to teaching in the FAS: [Two workshops as part of Fall Teaching Week](#fall-teaching-week) --- The Bok Center's Fall Teaching Week offers experienced TFs and TAs the opportunity to explore key topics in teaching and learning, build community and connection, and share experiences and advice with peers across disciplines. In addition to helping you become a stronger teacher, Fall Teaching Week will give you greater confidence for the academic year ahead. **In Fall 2026, Fall Teaching Week will be held from Wednesday, August 26 through Tuesday, September 1.** *Harvard University welcomes individuals with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you would like to request accommodations or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact* [*bokcenter@fas.harvard.edu*](mailto:bokcenter@fas.harvard.edu) *in advance of your participation. Requests for American Sign Language interpreters and/or CART providers should be made at least two weeks in advance, if possible. Please note that the University will make every effort to secure services, but that services are subject to availability.* [ Register for Fall Teaching Week Workshops arrow\_circle\_right ](#register) [ View All Session Descriptions arrow\_circle\_right ](#top) Wednesday, August 26 Thursday, August 27 Friday, August 28 Monday, August 31 Tuesday, September 1 ## Wednesday, August 26 All sessions are held at the Smith Campus Center on the 10th Floor unless otherwise noted. [View the Fall Teaching Week schedule at-a-glance.](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Qs17IjlSGgGjy0ta9ogYQTBBJrUUtzNXOt7oO_FztzQ/edit?usp=sharing) Session resources can be found on the [Teaching Fellow and Teaching Assistant Resources Canvas site](https://self-enroll.tlt.harvard.edu/f0469202-42f5-4e20-88bc-11ad7bc5e536). SortTimeSession Title9:30-10:30 am [Teaching in Gen Ed](#gen-ed) 11:00 am-12:00 pm [Active Learning in Discussion-Based Courses](#active-learning-discussion) 2:00-3:00 pm [Teaching Controversial Topics](#controversial-topics) 3:30-4:30 pm [Grading](#grading) ## Thursday, August 27 All sessions are held at the Smith Campus Center on the 10th Floor unless otherwise noted. [View the Fall Teaching Week schedule at-a-glance.](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Qs17IjlSGgGjy0ta9ogYQTBBJrUUtzNXOt7oO_FztzQ/edit?usp=sharing) Session resources can be found on the [Teaching Fellow and Teaching Assistant Resources Canvas site](https://self-enroll.tlt.harvard.edu/f0469202-42f5-4e20-88bc-11ad7bc5e536). SortTimeSession Title9:30-10:30 am [Teaching as an International Scholar](#international-scholar) 11:00 am-12:00 pm [Active Learning in Problem-Based and STEM Courses](#active-learning-stem) 2:00-3:00 pm [Creative and Effective Teaching with Gen AI](#gen-ai) 3:30-4:30 pm [Teaching Academic Reading and Writing in the Age of AI](#reading-writing-ai) 3:30-4:30 pm [Teaching in Gen Ed](https://bokcenter.harvard.edu/fall-teaching-week#gen-ed) ## Friday, August 28 All sessions are held at the Smith Campus Center on the 10th Floor unless otherwise noted. [View the Fall Teaching Week schedule at-a-glance.](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Qs17IjlSGgGjy0ta9ogYQTBBJrUUtzNXOt7oO_FztzQ/edit?usp=sharing) Session resources can be found on the [Teaching Fellow and Teaching Assistant Resources Canvas site](https://self-enroll.tlt.harvard.edu/f0469202-42f5-4e20-88bc-11ad7bc5e536). SortTimeSession Title9:30-10:30 am [Teaching in Gen Ed](#gen-ed) 11:00 am-12:00 pm [Managing Up, Down, and Sideways: Navigating Teaching Team Dynamics](#teaching-teams) 2:00-3:00 pm [Teaching Controversial Topics](#controversial-topics) 3:30-4:30 pm [Active Learning in Discussion-Based Courses](#active-learning-discussion) ## Monday, August 31 All sessions are held at the Smith Campus Center on the 10th Floor unless otherwise noted. [View the Fall Teaching Week schedule at-a-glance.](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Qs17IjlSGgGjy0ta9ogYQTBBJrUUtzNXOt7oO_FztzQ/edit?usp=sharing) Session resources can be found on the [Teaching Fellow and Teaching Assistant Resources Canvas site](https://self-enroll.tlt.harvard.edu/f0469202-42f5-4e20-88bc-11ad7bc5e536). SortTimeSession Title9:30-10:30 am [Teaching as an International Scholar](#international-scholar) 11:00 am-12:00 pm [Engaging Classroom Presence: Presentation and Boardwork Skills](#presentation-boardwork) 2:00-3:00 pm [Teaching Academic Reading and Writing in the Age of AI](#reading-writing-ai) 3:30-4:30 pm [Creative and Effective Teaching with Gen AI](#gen-ai) ## Tuesday, September 1 All sessions are held at the Smith Campus Center on the 10th Floor unless otherwise noted. [View the Fall Teaching Week schedule at-a-glance.](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Qs17IjlSGgGjy0ta9ogYQTBBJrUUtzNXOt7oO_FztzQ/edit?usp=sharing) Session resources can be found on the [Teaching Fellow and Teaching Assistant Resources Canvas site](https://self-enroll.tlt.harvard.edu/f0469202-42f5-4e20-88bc-11ad7bc5e536). SortTimeSession Title9:30-10:30 am [Engaging Classroom Presence: Presentation and Boardwork Skills](#presentation-boardwork) 11:00 am-12:00 pm [Managing Up, Down, and Sideways: Navigating Teaching Team Dynamics](#teaching-teams) 2:00-3:00 pm [Grading](#grading) 3:30-4:30 pm [Active Learning in Problem-Based and STEM Courses](#active-learning-stem) ### Fall Teaching Week 2026 Session Descriptions expand\_more ## Workshops **\*Session Resources** **will be available on the Bok website.** **Active Learning in Discussion-Based Courses** **Wednesday, August 26, 11:00 am-12:00 pm EDT** **Friday, August 28, 3:30-4:30 pm EDT** Chloe Chapin, *Assistant Director, Course Development, Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning* Christine D'Auria, *Assistant Director of the Learning Lab, Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning* This session introduces active learning as a powerful approach to increase student engagement, deepen understanding, and improve retention in discussion-based sections. We will explore core strategies, practice designing active learning activities, and develop tools to use in preparing for section. [Back to top](#top) **Active Learning in Problem-Based and STEM Courses** **Thursday, August 28, 10:00 am-12:00 pm EDT** **Tuesday, September 1, 3:30-4:30 pm EDT** Logan McCarty, *Associate Dean of Science Education; Lecturer on Physics* Rebecca Nesson, *Executive Director, Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning* Jordan Koffman, *Assistant Director of the Learning Lab, Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning* Build on your existing teaching practice by taking active learning further in problem-solving sections and labs. In this session, you will explore strategies that move beyond worked examples toward more participatory, student-centered problem solving. We will demonstrate core techniques, share evidence from Harvard STEM courses, and guide you in designing an activity you can adapt for your own section. Participants will leave with practical approaches to deepen student engagement and support more effective learning. [Back to top](#top) **Creative and Effective Teaching with Gen AI** **Thursday, August 27, 2:00-3:00 pm EDT** **Monday, August 31, 3:30-4:30 pm EDT** Madeleine Woods, *Assistant Director for AI Initiatives, Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning* Dongpeng Huang, *Postdoctoral Fellow in Artificial Intelligence,* *Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning* Jungyoon Koh, *Postdoctoral Fellow in Artificial Intelligence,* *Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning* In this interactive workshop, we will begin with a brief grounding in AI literacy (what current generative AI tools can and cannot do, and what that means for how we evaluate their outputs) before turning to the generative side of the conversation: new and creative ways that teaching fellows are integrating AI into their pedagogy. We will discuss categories of classroom application, from redesigning assignments (students build systems instead of essays), to designing feedback and scaffolding (that preserves intellectual rigor and creates artifacts of student thinking), to ways AI can streamline your own preparation and feedback workflows. You will leave with a clearer sense of where AI can meaningfully extend your teaching practice, with concrete starting points for experimenting in ways that align with your course goals and your students' learning. [Back to top](#top) **Engaging Classroom Presence: Presentation and Boardwork Skills** **Monday, August 31, 11:00 am-12:00 pm EDT** **Tuesday, September 1, 9:30-10:30 am EDT** Jordan Koffman, *Assistant Director of the Learning Lab, Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning* Sarah Emory, *Assistant Director, International Teachers and Scholars, Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning* Refine how you communicate ideas in real time through explanation, boardwork, and classroom presence. This session focuses on strategies for structuring explanations, unpacking key terms, and using the board intentionally to make concepts visible and easier to follow. Participants will experiment with visual and board-based teaching approaches and consider how content delivery shapes student engagement. [Back to top](#top) **Grading** **Wednesday, August 26, 3:30-4:30 pm EDT** **Tuesday, September 1, 2:00-3:00 pm EDT** Jonah Johnson, *Assistant Director of Writing Pedagogy, Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning; Head Preceptor, Writing Program* Hannah Waits, *Postdoctoral Fellow in Civil Discourse, Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning* In this workshop we will present strategies for ensuring equitable, fair, and consistent grading across sections. We will discuss how to seek guidance on grading norms from your course head, how to calibrate grading with fellow section leaders, and how to navigate student grade disputes. We will also cover practical strategies for giving effective written feedback and introduce tools for creating and using rubrics to support differentiated, transparent grading. [Back to top](#top) **Managing Up, Down, and Sideways: Navigating Teaching Team Dynamics** **Friday, August 28, 11:00 am-12:00 pm EDT** **Tuesday, September 1, 11:00 am-12:00 pm EDT** Rebecca Nesson, *Executive Director, Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning* This interactive workshop is designed to enable experienced TFs/TAs (including Head TFs/TAs) to navigate the complex dynamics of teaching teams with confidence. Participants will explore common challenges such as open communication, clarity surrounding roles, and pedagogical alignment. Through case studies and peer discussions, this workshop will offer TFs/TAs practical strategies and tools to build more collaborative and effective teaching teams. [Back to top](#top) **Teaching Academic Reading and Writing in the Age of AI** **Thursday, August 27, 3:30-4:30 pm EDT** **Monday, August 31, 2:00-3:00 pm EDT** Jonah Johnson, *Assistant Director of Writing Pedagogy, Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning* Chloe Chapin, *Assistant Director of Course Development, Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning* In this interactive workshop, we will explore the evolving landscape of teaching reading and writing in the age of AI. We will discuss pedagogical debates about AI’s role in helping students read and write at different stages of expertise, and consider strategies for fostering critical awareness and responsible engagement that align with a range of course goals and policies. You will leave with a clearer understanding of ongoing conversations around AI in higher education, and with practical ideas for approaching these conversations in the context of the AI policy for your course. [Back to top](#top) **Teaching Controversial Topics** **Wednesday, August 26, 2:00-3:00 pm EDT** **Friday, August 28, 2:00-3:00 pm EDT** Matthew Sohm, *Assistant Director of Civil Discourse and Classroom Culture, Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning* Hannah Waits, *Postdoctoral Fellow in Civil Discourse, Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning* TFs and TAs teaching in courses covering controversial topics are often understandably apprehensive. Through a series of interactive case studies, this workshop will offer pragmatic advice and concrete tools to cover challenging and divisive subject matter in a way that is engaging and respectful of all students. TFs and TAs will leave with ready-to-use tools that will help them foster and manage challenging conversations related to course material. [Back to top](#top) **Teaching in GenEd** **Wednesday, August 26, 9:30-10:30 am EDT** **Thursday, August 27, 3:30-4:30 pm EDT** **Friday, August 28, 9:30-10:30 am EDT** Adrienne Phelps-Coco, *Director of the Program in General Education* Matthew Sohm, *Assistant Director for Civil Discourse and Classroom Practice, Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning* This interactive workshop will equip you with useful tools and strategies for teaching in Gen Ed, whether it’s your first time in the program or whether you’re an experienced Gen Ed TF. We will discuss how to navigate teaching teams and the respective roles of TFs, TAs, Head TFs/TAs, and course heads. We will also explore some common challenges of teaching in Gen Ed, from teaching outside your home discipline / program to addressing student expectations and giving feedback, and will ensure that you understand how to access resources in the Gen Ed program and across campus to support your teaching. You will leave with greater confidence to teach effectively in any Gen Ed category, and in both smaller and larger Gen Ed courses. [Back to top](#top) **Teaching as an International Scholar** **Thursday, August 27, 9:30-10:30 am EDT** **Monday, August 31, 9:30-10:30 am EDT** Sarah Emory, *Assistant Director, International Teachers and Scholars, Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning* Jordan Koffman, *Assistant Director of the Learning Lab, Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning* Are you a TF/TA who earned your undergraduate degree at an institution outside of the U.S.? What have you noticed about teaching undergraduates at Harvard that differs from your own experiences as an undergraduate? We will discuss intercultural dynamics and how they inform approaches to teaching and learning. In this interactive workshop, you will have the opportunity to explore issues related to teaching across borders and boundaries and practice strategies to connect with your students. [Back to top](#top) ## Campus Resources **Online HGSU Orientation** **Date and Time TBD** \*\* **Zoom \*\*** As you prepare for the semester, make sure you have everything you need to get back to work this fall. Student workers at Harvard are covered by a union contract and entitled to an appointment letter, an orientation from a union steward, access to benefit funds, and the right to participate in your union. Come talk to your HGSU representatives to learn about your contractual rights, how the union organizes to enforce them, and what you can do to help. [Back to top](/fall-teaching-week#top)