Steal This Lesson: Active Learning at RIT

Faculty standing at the front of room presenting with a few faculty members seated — *ActiveLearn Institute faculty work through ideas together, sharing strategies, questions, and early redesign concepts in a collaborative learning space.*

Each summer, RIT’s ActiveLearn Institute (AL-I) brings together faculty from across the university to rethink and redesign their courses to incorporate evidence-based active learning strategies. Through both Intro and Advanced tracks, participants spend the summer experimenting with new strategies, revising lessons and assessments, and building learning experiences that center student engagement, collaboration, and impact. The result is not just redesigned courses but a growing community of instructors willing to test ideas, share failures, and iterate toward better teaching.

On February 13 from 1-3pm in SHED 3350, faculty from the 2025 ActiveLearn Institutes will host an ActiveLearn Showcase, open to all RIT faculty, adjuncts, and graduate teaching assistants. This interactive event moves beyond formal presentations and instead invites you to explore hands-on demonstrations, engage in short conversations with presenters, and see real examples of active learning in action. Presenters will share redesigned lessons, teaching strategies, and early evidence of how these changes have influenced student learning in their courses.

Whether you are actively redesigning a course, or just curious about what active learning can look like in different disciplines, the Showcase offers practical ideas you can take back to your own teaching. And if this sparks your interest, keep an eye out. Summer 2026 active learning and course design opportunities will be announced soon.