Summer 2025

Tuesdays at 12:00 pm, ET

Picnic PD Workshop Series

Want a Quick Overview? Download the 2025 Schedule

JHU faculty, teaching assistants, and academic staff are invited to attend CTL’s annual Picnic PD (Professional Development) summer series, which includes several practical workshops on effective teaching, learning, course development, and technology. Every year, our CTL instructional designers craft a relevant theme that weaves through our series of workshops. However, each workshop stands alone, giving attendees the freedom to pick the ones that spark their interest. While attendees don't have to attend every session, we encourage them to join as many as they can to fully immerse themselves in the experience and reap all the benefits.

Learner-Centered Teaching and Learning

The theme for the 2025 Picnic PD is Learner-Centered Teaching and Learning. This approach emphasizes active learning, where students are encouraged to take responsibility for their learning process to foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and the application of knowledge in real-world scenarios. In connection to this theme, each 2025 workshop is centered around a specific type of learner we see at JHU with a particular emphasis on BSPH.

The BSPH Learner

Learn more by watching this short introductory video, centered on our theme:

The BSPH Learner: Student data and trends and what this means for the Bloomberg School of Public Health (# minutes) | [transcript]

Amy Pinkerton, Senior Instructional Designer

This video introduces the Bloomberg School of Public Health Learner, focusing on student data and trends. It uses data from the JHU Graduate Student Composition (Fall 2024) report, the JHU institutional profile in the National Center for Education Statistics, and insights from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) 2024 Forum Conference to identify our students and what they expect from their graduate learning experience. It also explores what these data and trends mean for learner-centered teaching and learning at BSPH. While the focus of the data analysis is on BSPH, schools across the university can benefit from watching.

Logistics

These virtual workshops occur over Zoom on Tuesdays at 12:00 PM (noon) ET in June and July. The complete schedule is available below as well as on our downloadable PDF poster. Recordings will be posted on our On-Demand Workshop Videos Page.

Format:

30 minutes of interactive, practical workshop followed by
30 minutes of Q&A and open discussion

Cost:

All workshops in the series are free.

If you have questions about the series, please reach out to Amy Pinkerton.

Registration

Zoom registration is required. Registration links for each workshop are on the CTL Events Calendar.

2025 Picnic PD Schedule

The Adult Learner: Teaching and Reaching the Adult Brain

Date: Tuesday, June 3rd at 12:00 PM ET
Emily Haagenson, Instructional Designer
Heather Schwitalla, Instructional Designer

This workshop will rely on adult neurodevelopment research to explore 5 tips for teaching and reaching the adult brain. According to the research in brain-based learning, specifically for adults, the professional learning opportunities we develop should include the promotion of memory activation, opportunities for self-regulation, and emotional and socio-emotional connection. We can optimally design these opportunities by prioritizing real-life applications and actively and intentionally organizing the material for adult learners. We will offer research-supported recommendations and provide practical strategies, specifically for adult brains, and together in the session, we will make small, discernable improvements to your course activities. Practical suggestions and examples will prioritize a variety of learning contexts, including synchronous, asynchronous, online, in-person, and open education courses.

Keywords: andragogy, neurodevelopment, memory, self-regulation

The Curious Learner: The Intersection of Curiosity and Adult Learning

Date: Tuesday, June 10th at 12:00 PM ET
Amy Pinkerton, Senior Instructional Designer

This workshop is an interactive exploration into curiosity, interest, and adult learning. Questions to be discussed include: What is the difference between curiosity and interest? What role does curiosity play in adult learning? How can curiosity be piqued in adult learners? Using practical tips and strategies, we will demonstrate how to foster curiosity in both virtual and face-to-face classrooms and discover how to create a learning environment that encourages inquisitiveness and lifelong learning.

Keywords: curiosity, interest, learner motivation

The Empowered Learner: Busting Myths, Building Mastery

Date: Tuesday, June 17th at 12:00 PM ET
Lu Chi, Instructional Designer

Ever wonder why some teaching methods fall flat—or worse, hinder student growth? In this dynamic workshop, you’ll become a myth-buster, dismantling misconceptions about learning and replacing them with strategies that actually work. Through live polls and open discussion, you will leave not just informed but equipped to transform your graduate class into a hub of curiosity, resilience, and lasting mastery.

Keywords: learning myths

The Engaged Learner: Finding Your Voice

Date: Tuesday, June 24th at 12:00 PM ET
Renee Dutton-O'Hara, Executive Audio Producer

Brian Klaas, Assistant Director for Technology
Mia Lamm, Senior Instructional Designer

IThis workshop will focus on the importance of engaging learners when presenting — both what you say and how you say it. We will discuss techniques to develop a compelling speaking style, and a narrative framework to help shape your presentation content. By focusing on engagement, you ensure that learners not only focus on the content but also develop a deeper understanding and lasting connection to the material. Through practical, real-world examples, this workshop will change the way you approach the creation and design of your presentations.

Keywords: edutainment, lectures, storytelling, presentation techniques

The Developing Learner: Leveraging Knowledge Checks to Support Understanding and Foster Connection

Date: Tuesday, July 8th at 12:00 PM ET
Emily Haagenson, Instructional Designer

Lauren Dana, Instructional Designer

This workshop will emphasize the value of formative assessments, specifically knowledge checks, to enrich the overall learning experience in your course. Knowledge checks help both the students and you to know that learning is on track. Neurologically, student memories are activated through the retrieval practice which helps improve retention and thereby connection to the material. Knowledge checks can also provide additional contact or feedback points for students craving a connection with the teaching team. As faculty, it is also a good way for you to be sure students are attending to the most important foundational components before they apply them to your higher-level assessments. Best of all, CoursePlus and other learning platforms provide sophisticated formative quiz tools that automate this process and provide you with the data to execute it well. In this session, we will help you start to create a knowledge check to begin using in your course today. .

Keywords: formative assessment, knowledge checks, feedback, CoursePlus tools

The Large Enrollment Course Learner: How to Create a Clear Consistent Student Experience in Complex Large Enrollment Courses

Date: Tuesday, July 15th at 12:00 PM ET
Boris Buia, Instructional Designer

This workshop will address the specific challenges posed by large enrollment courses. It will offer concrete strategies on consistent communication with students, on coordinating large teaching teams and on preparing, deploying, and reviewing assessments in the large enrollment course context. These proven best practices will help eliminate the inconsistencies, confusion and disorganization that can arise in large courses, empowering students to focus on learning and mastery of course concepts.

Keywords: large enrollment courses, communication, teaching team coordination, assessments

The Motivated Learner: Providing Assessment Choice to Activate Student Motivation

Date: Tuesday, July 22nd at 12:00 PM ET
Lauren Dana, Instructional Designer

Keri McAvoy, Instructional Designer

Featuring BSPH Faculty: Dave Love, PhD, MSPH

This workshop will first examine educational research on how assessment choice enhances both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in adult learners. Next, we will explore various ways to incorporate choice into assessments, providing concrete examples—including those from current BSPH courses—that you can adapt to your own teaching. The workshop will also showcase BSPH faculty member Dave Love, who will share his innovative approach to integrating student assessment choice into his online course. You will leave with practical strategies to apply these concepts to your own course, creating a more engaging and student-centered learning experience.

Keywords: learner motivation, assessment choice

The Global Learner: Diverse Public Health Perspectives

Date: Tuesday, July 29th at 12:00 PM ET

Lauren Dana, Instructional Designer

Renee Dutton-O'Hara, Executive Audio Producer

Emily Haagenson, Instructional Designer
Amy Pinkerton, Senior Instructional Designer

This workshop will emphasize the value of the international public health perspective for all learners in your course. In this workshop, we will be utilizing the LITE Framework (Learner, Instruction, Technology, and Environment) to provide practical strategies for supporting international students, enrich all students by prioritizing a global perspective, and celebrate international, expert voices, both faculty and guest speakers. By the end of this workshop, you will gain actionable insights to create a more globally inclusive learning environment that benefits both international and domestic students alike.

Keywords: international students, guest lectures, global perspective