Please Share with Faculty
Heather Woodson
Good afternoon all,
I am writing to ask for you to forward this email to your faculty. Gaston College will be hosting the 12th annual SPARC Professional Development Day on Friday, March 27, 2026 from 8 am until noon. This year’s event is being co-sponsored by Cleveland Community College, Rowan Cabarrus Community College, South Piedmont Community College, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
This is a multidisciplinary conference focused on active learning and interdisciplinary learning. Conference presenters come from multiple areas including biology, chemistry, math, psychology, art, English, information literacy, and more.
This year, our keynote session will be from Todd D. Zakrajsek PhD. The title and description for the keynote session, derived from his book being released in late Spring 2026, is shared below.
The Science of Learning Meets AI: Practical Strategies for Deeper Learning
Decades of learning-science research offer clear guidance on what helps students learn and also what quietly derails them. Generative AI creates new opportunities to put that research into action and help students who have too often been left behind. Rather than rushing through material, or using AI to just do their work, students can engage more intentionally and confidently. This session offers a practical, evidence-informed look at how faculty can use genAI to enrich learning, reduce cognitive barriers, and help every student move toward deeper understanding.
Dr. Zakrajsek is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Medicine at UNC at Chapel Hill. Previously, he was a tenured associate professor of psychology and built faculty development efforts at three universities. Todd has authored/coauthored six books in the past five years and has given keynote addresses, campus workshops, and conference presentations in all 50 states, 12 countries, and four continents.
I have attached a “Save the Date announcement” with a QR code to register and to submit proposals for the concurrent sessions.
Thank you very much for sharing.
Dr. Heather M. Woodson
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Gaston College
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