2025 Workshops
Please use our Professional Development Day Registration Form form to pre-register for workshops.
Session 1 Workshops, 9:00-10:15 a.m.
Moving beyond compliance: Human accommodations in a neurodivergent world
Presenter(s): Jenni Sandler, Julie Pollard, Raman Kaur
Description
This interactive workshop invites educators to shift from a compliance-based view of disability toward neurodiversity-affirming practices that recognize neurological differences as natural human variation. Participants will examine limitations of current accommodation systems, identify barriers beyond formal processes, and discover proactive inclusive teaching strategies. Through reflection and practical application, attendees will develop actionable plans for transforming their instructional approaches to better support all learners.
Outcomes
- Distinguish between compliance-based and neurodiversity-affirming approaches to disability
- Identify systemic barriers that extend beyond formal accommodation processes
- Apply proactive and inclusive teaching and support strategies in their own contexts
Strategic Initiatives
- Goal 1, Objective 1: Community members have equitable access to college learning opportunities
- Goal 2, Objective 1: Increase equitable student outcomes and sense of belonging
- Goal 4, Objective 2: Faculty and staff are trained to use anti-racist and culturally competent practices when interacting with students
Format: Zoom
New Literacy on the Block: AI Literacy and Why It Matters
Presenter(s): Angel Steadman
Description
Information literacy has long been an essential skill, but with the advent of GenAI, the ways we think about information literacy and how we teach it has shifted dramatically. Regardless of whether we as faculty see ourselves as AI adopters or abstainers, we need to have clear messaging about AI use in our classes and provide our students with the knowledge and skills necessary to use AI critically, transparently, and ethically. In this session, we will explore various frameworks for understanding what AI literacy is, and then we will try out some tools to incorporate elements of AI literacy in our existing curriculum–even if we choose not to use AI directly.
Outcomes
- Define AI literacy and identify multiple frameworks for understanding AI literacy;
- Incorporate AI literacy into curriculum in a streamlined, easy-to-understand way;
- Participate knowledgeably in campus discussions related to critical and ethical AI use.
Strategic Initiatives
- Goal 2, Objective 1: Increase equitable student outcomes and sense of belonging
- Goal 2, Objective 3: Course and program learning outcomes are aligned with knowledge, skills, and competencies required in each educational and career pathway
Format: Zoom
Leveling Up Your Advising Strategy
Presenter(s): Beth Carter and Zoe Harris
Description
In this interactive session, you’ll move from easy to expert-level academic advising situations.
We’ll start with the basics, using our advising tools for some common advising issues, and moving into challenging scenarios to stretch your strategic advising problem-solving skills. Whether you are new to advising, or consider yourself a skilled expert, this session will help hone your advising know-how.
Outcomes
- Participants will become more adept at using Watermark, ctcLink, and Pathway Maps for academic advising, and enhance their strategic problem solving skills for when they encounter more challenging academic advising situations with students.
Strategic Initiatives
- Goal 2, Objective 1: Increase equitable student outcomes and sense of belonging
Format: In-person, (limit 50) Building 29 Room 216
Human Research Ethics and the IRB
Presenter(s): Kristen Raine, Maggie Yeh
Description
In this interactive session, psychology faculty members will share a short history of research ethics and how it lays the foundation for modern-day institutional review boards. Specifically, this will include how IRBs help to ensure research with human participants fulfills requirements for respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. There will also be a brief overview of federal requirements for human subjects research and the IRB review process with a goal to help faculty and staff begin to learn how to implement their own research projects that can in turn benefit students, the Highline community, and facilitate the dissemination of this knowledge to the broader public.
This session supports Highline’s strategic goals by promoting faculty and staff research on best practices to support students, including practices that increase access to post-secondary education, retention, completion, and transfer rates, connections to the larger community surrounding Highline, and anti-racist pedagogy.
Outcomes
- Outcome 1: Participants will leave with a background on the history and importance of research ethics
- Outcome 2: Participants will gain an understanding of the IRB research review process
- Outcome 3: Participants will leave with basic tools to submit their own research proposals
Strategic Initiatives
- Goal 2, Objective 1: Increase equitable student outcomes and sense of belonging
- Goal 4, Objective 1: Inclusive, equitable and supportive policies and practices lead to faculty and staff diversity that reflects the composition of Highline’s student body
- Goal 4, Objective 2: Faculty and staff are trained to use anti-racist and culturally competent practices when interacting with students
Format: In-person (limit 24), Building 29 Room 106
From Static to Dynamic: Building Your Liquid Syllabus
Presenter(s): Robin Martin
Description
Say goodbye to the dreaded 10-page PDF syllabus that students skim once and never revisit!
In this hands-on workshop, we’ll explore Michelle Pacansky-Brock’s innovative “”liquid syllabus”” approach—a living, breathing course companion that meets students where they are and adapts to their needs throughout the term.
Discover how a liquid syllabus can transform your course communication from a one-time information dump into an ongoing conversation. We’ll dive into why this approach is more equitable (especially for first-generation students, multilingual learners, and those managing complex lives), and you’ll leave with practical skills to build your own Google Sites syllabus that’s accessible, engaging, and actually useful.
Whether you’re tech-savvy or tech-curious, this workshop will guide you through the process step-by-step. Bring your course materials and your willingness to experiment—by the end, you’ll have the foundation of your very own liquid syllabus started!”
Outcomes
- Articulate the equity case for liquid syllabi and explain how living documents support diverse student populations by reducing cognitive load, improving accessibility, and honoring the realities of students’ lives.
- Design and publish a basic liquid syllabus using Google Sites that includes essential course information organized in a student-centered, mobile-friendly format.
- Identify key elements of an effective liquid syllabus (welcome videos, navigable structure, just-in-time information, etc.) and create an action plan for iterating and improving their syllabus throughout the term.
Strategic Initiatives
- Goal 2, Objective 1: Increase equitable student outcomes and sense of belonging
Format: Zoom
Designing with Purpose: Enhancing Canvas Courses for Student Success
Presenter(s): Katie Fiorello
Description
In this hands-on workshop, we’ll explore different Canvas course designs and layouts through a design lens, identifying which design choices best support student success, engagement, and access. We’ll start by evaluating real examples of course layouts and navigation structures using evidence-based design principles and best practices. Then, we’ll apply what we learn to refine or redesign our own Canvas courses.
Outcomes
- Identify key components of effective Canvas course design
- Evaluate different layout and navigation options for effectiveness and clarity
- Apply design principles to their courses to increase access, organization, and student engagement
Strategic Initiatives
- Goal 2, Objective 1: Increase equitable student outcomes and sense of belonging
- Goal 4, Objective 2: Faculty and staff are trained to use anti-racist and culturally competent practices when interacting with students
Format: In-person (limit 30), Building 29 Room 101
Session 2 Workshops, 10:30-11:45 a.m.
Academic Freedom
Presenter(s): Justin Kjolseth
Description
Justin Kjolseth from the Washington Attorney General’s Office will be presenting on the basic principles of academic freedom for faculty members. There will be time for Q&A both during and after the presentation.
Outcomes
- Attendees will understand more about Academic Freedom in the state of Washington
Strategic Initiatives
- Goal 2, Objective 3: Course and program learning outcomes are aligned with knowledge, skills, and competencies required in each educational and career pathway
- Goal 4, Objective 1: Inclusive, equitable and supportive policies and practices lead to faculty and staff diversity that reflects the composition of Highline’s student body
- Goal 4, Objective 2: Faculty and staff are trained to use anti-racist and culturally competent practices when interacting with students
Format: In-person, Building 7
Teams Phone & Voicemail
Presenter(s): Edward Richards, Kip Wanzer
Description
This session will explore using the Teams Phone app. You will learn about different app settings, using the app on multiple devices, and configuring the apps behavior to meet your needs.
Outcomes
- Learn the basic functions of the Teams Phone app
- Be more efficient with phone calls and voicemail
- Customize settings to make the app easier to use.
Strategic Initiatives
- Goal 4, Objective 4: Highline College creates and maintains physical facilities and technology infrastructure to ensure accessible and safe learning and working environments
Format: Zoom
Pivot Tables – Excel and Google Sheets
Presenter(s): Oussama Alkhalili
Description
How to use Pivot Table in Microsoft Excel and Google Sheet to analyze and summarize large datasets, allowing users to dynamically reorganize and analyze information by dragging fields into different areas like rows, columns, and values to calculate sums, averages, counts, or percentages.
Outcomes
- Identify opportunities in your work area to improve data-based decisions with pivot tables
- Create a pivot table from a dataset using either Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets
Strategic Initiatives
- Goal 4, Objective 4: Highline College creates and maintains physical facilities and technology infrastructure to ensure accessible and safe learning and working environments
Format: Hyflex, Building 30 Room 202 and on Zoom
Curating Classroom Culture: Working With Students Toward Equity and Authenticity
Presenter(s): James Boutin
Description
Participants will reflect on the ways that their relationship and culture work as educators impact student belonging and success. Participants will leave with a stronger sense of the unique tools and skills they can bring to building positive learning cultures.
Outcomes
- Participants will gain awareness of and develop their unique skills for supporting collaborative and safe learning communities.
- Participants will reflect on their roles as relationship and culture workers
Strategic Initiatives
- Goal 2, Objective 1: Increase equitable student outcomes and sense of belonging
- Goal 3, Objective 1: Highline College contributes to economic and social vibrancy of the communities it serves
- Goal 4, Objective 1: Inclusive, equitable and supportive policies and practices lead to faculty and staff diversity that reflects the composition of Highline’s student body
Format: In-person, Building 29 Room 216
Connecting the Dots: A Case Study in Decision-Making with Multiple Data Sources
Presenter(s): Kelsey Anderson, Emily Coates, Skyler Roth
Description
Join the Institutional Research team as we take a deep dive into analyzing multiple related data sources. We will walk through a case example focused on resource allocation for one of Highline’s strategic priorities. Participants will walk away with a data-informed and student-centered perspective that can be applied to future decision-making.
Outcomes
- Participants can analyze multiple related data sources to make informed decisions and draw logical conclusions.
- Participants can assess usefulness and credibility of data sources for their purposes.
- Participants know when and how to seek assistance from campus partners like IR and ITS.
Strategic Initiatives
- Goal 2, Objective 1: Increase equitable student outcomes and sense of belonging
- Goal 4, Objective 3: Employees demonstrate the ability to use anti-racist practices in goal setting, scenario planning, assessment and continuous improvement
Format: In-person (limit 30), Building 30 Room 203
Commuting to Highline
Presenter(s): Francesca Fender, Katelyn Saechao
Description
This session will be divided into two sections, the first providing participants with information and resources for alternative transportation options that serve Highline College. The second portion is a brief update on the Sound Transit Link Light Rail Station, including the opening date, safety considerations, future incentives for students, and anticipated bus route changes.
Format: In-person, Building 29 Room 214
Session 3 Workshops, 1:15-2:30 p.m.
Build an Underwater Robot at the MaST
Presenter(s): Rus Higley, Aeriel Wauhob, Malik Johnson, Lily Gray
Description
Intended as a team building opportunity, whether within your department or across the campus, with colleagues you know well or people you barely know, come join us for a session of building underwater drones. Known as ROV’s in the field, teams will work together to build and operate their ROV to complete an assigned mission off the MaST pier. Feel free to sign up with your department, a random group, or even as an individual. Perhaps the Librarians want to challenge Continuing Education who have a beef with ITS who remembers being humbled by the mental gymnastics of the Psychology Department…this is your chance! Please note, ideal group/team size is 3-5 participants and if signing up as a team, all members must individually sign up to reserve their spots.
Please note this is a double session and it will run from 1:15-4pm.
Format: In-person (limit 24 people), MaST
Math Department Updates
Presenter(s): The Math Department
Description
The Math Department will be sharing what they’ve been up to and what they have planned to meet the collegewide initiative to get more students through their college level math requirement in their first year. This will be a round table discussion where you can share and also hear from others about what would help the students they see regularly.
Outcomes
- Describe how the Math department plans to get more students through college level math
- Articulate methods for helping students complete math classes
Strategic Initiatives
- Goal 2, Objective 1: Increase equitable student outcomes and sense of belonging
Format: In person, Building 29 Room 216
Chair Yoga
Presenter(s): Natalie Hughs
Description
Take a restorative break and rejuvenate your mind and body with this gentle Chair Yoga session—perfect for all fitness levels! This guided practice uses seated and standing movements supported by a chair to improve flexibility, reduce tension, and boost focus. No special attire or equipment needed—just bring yourself and an open mind. Leave feeling relaxed, refreshed, and ready to take on the rest of your day.
Format: Hyflex (limit 30), Building 3 Room 103 and on Zoom
Incorporate Climate Justice Into Your Curriculum
Presenter(s): Woody Moses, Tarisa Matsumoto-Maxfield
Description
This is an opportunity to learn from your colleagues about how to incorporate climate justice into your curriculum. Highline faculty have been developing climate justice teaching modules for years, and we now have a repository of lessons that you can use in your classes. Come learn what others have done and how you can help your students learn about the impacts of climate and what we can do about it.
Outcomes
- Attendees will be able to find climate justice modules to incorporate into their curriculum.
- Attendees will be able to explain how climate justice relates to their discipline.
Strategic Initiatives
- Goal 2, Objective 1: Increase equitable student outcomes and sense of belonging
- Goal 2, Objective 2: Students enroll in academic and workforce programs that are aligned with labor market needs and increase social/economic mobility
- Goal 3, Objective 1: Highline College contributes to economic and social vibrancy of the communities it serves
- Goal 4, Objective 1: Inclusive, equitable and supportive policies and practices lead to faculty and staff diversity that reflects the composition of Highline’s student body
- Goal 4, Objective 2: Faculty and staff are trained to use anti-racist and culturally competent practices when interacting with students
- Goal 4, Objective 3: Employees demonstrate the ability to use anti-racist practices in goal setting, scenario planning, assessment and continuous improvement
Format: In-person (limit 24), Building 29 Room 101
26-28 CLNA Prof Tech Programs Working Session
Presenter(s): Raegan Copeland, Tanya Powers
Description
This is an opportunity for Prof Tech faculty to work with their departments to complete the CLNA data review and current/desired state documentation that will drive Perkins funding for the 26-28 academic years. This will be a supported and guided working session best done with your department with the goal of completing the needed documentation. Faculty should bring laptops if they can.
Outcomes
- Complete the element 3 Size, Scope, Quality document
- Identify current/desired state and develop strategies to achieve desired state by using the CLNA template 26-28 and provided data.
Strategic Initiatives
- Goal 1, Objective 2: Students enroll in programs of study that lead to social and economic mobility
- Goal 2, Objective 2: Students enroll in academic and workforce programs that are aligned with labor market needs and increase social/economic mobility
- Goal 2, Objective 3: Course and program learning outcomes are aligned with knowledge, skills, and competencies required in each educational and career pathway
- Goal 3, Objective 1: Highline College contributes to economic and social vibrancy of the communities it serves
Format: In-person (limit 50), Building 29 Room 201
PDFs and Accessibility (…and more…)
Presenter(s): Michael Hanscom
Description
PDFs are everywhere — in classes, on our websites, and in our email — but many of them don’t pass accessibility checks. If you’re seeing red Ally meters in your Canvas courses or if you create PDFs to distribute around campus, those should be made accessible. We’ll take a look at the internal structure of PDFs, how they work with assistive technology, how you can check yours to see how they score, and even how to do some simple fixes! While we’ll be focusing on PDFs, we’ll also be open to other questions about document accessibility. This session will be good for faculty and staff alike! We’ll be in a computer lab (and you can bring your laptop), so feel free to bring your own documents to look at them as we go.
Outcomes
- Learn about the pros and cons of PDFs.
- Learn how to check the PDFs for accessibility compliance.
- Start learning how to adjust the internal structure of PDFs to be more accessible.
Strategic Initiatives
- Goal 1, Objective 1: Community members have equitable access to college learning opportunities
- Goal 2, Objective 1: Increase equitable student outcomes and sense of belonging
- Goal 4, Objective 1: Inclusive, equitable and supportive policies and practices lead to faculty and staff diversity that reflects the composition of Highline’s student body
- Goal 4, Objective 4: Highline College creates and maintains physical facilities and technology infrastructure to ensure accessible and safe learning and working environments
Format: Hyflex, Building 30 Room 202 and on Zoom
Session 4 Workshops, 2:45-4:00 p.m.
Listening to the Landscape: Journaling in the Highline Forest
Presenter(s): Tarisa Matsumoto-Maxfield
Description
Did you know a forest lives right on our campus? Our students often visit this space with their science classes to observe and collect samples. In this session, we’ll step away from our screens to practice nature journaling. We’ll observe, listen, record, and reflect. This focused practice is a great tool to refresh and reduce stress.
Don’t worry. No prior experience is required. Please bring a notebook or pad of paper and something to write with. Participants must be able to walk to the Highline Forest for the session.
Format: In-person (limit 30), Between buildings 26 and 29; Alternate location in case of rain: Mt. Jupiter room (Building 8 Room 309)
Highline Stitching Circle
Presenter(s): Maggie Yeh, Kristen Raine
Description
Come join us on PD day to learn how to knit and build a collaborative knitting project! All knitting levels are welcome (no prior experience needed!) and all supplies will be provided. Attendees will learn how to do basic knitting stitches and create a portion of a larger group project, completing a small square that will be combined into a community patchwork blanket.
This session will focus on building campus community and connection for faculty and staff through collective crafting and skill-building. Attendees will also learn a skill that can be independently practiced to promote personal wellness.
Format: In-person (limit 20). Building 3 Room 103
Discover the Highline Wellness Center: Your Guide to Getting Started
Presenter(s): Natalie Hughs
Description
Join Natalie, the Wellness Center Manager, for an interactive session designed to help faculty and staff make the most of the Highline Wellness Center. Learn how to create your account and log in, explore our fitness spaces, and get comfortable using equipment safely and effectively.
This hands-on workshop will also highlight campus wellness resources, goal-setting tips, and ways to start or enhance your personal fitness journey. Whether you’re new to the gym or looking to refresh your routine, this session will help you feel confident and supported every step of the way.
Format: In person (limit 25), Building 26 – Wellness Center
Q&A on Faculty Advancement
Presenter(s): James Peyton and Rolita Flores Ezeonu
Description
There are some changes to the application components for full-time faculty column advancement in the 2025-28 HCEA-HC Negotiated Agreement. Come learn about eligibility, the application portfolio requirements, and the resources that are available. This session will provide a brief overview of column advancement and then focus on answering questions about the current portfolio requirements.
Outcomes
- Describe the column advancement process
- Be able to describe changes to the column advancement portfolio requirements
Strategic Initiatives
- Goal 4, Objective 1: Inclusive, equitable and supportive policies and practices lead to faculty and staff diversity that reflects the composition of Highline’s student body
Format: Hyflex, Building 29 Room 216 and on Zoom
Using AI at Highline
Presenter(s): Marc Lentini
Description
Learn about generative AI tools available to Highline faculty and staff. This session will cover how to log in and submit a prompt to get Gemini and Copilot to do their thing. We’ll also cover safety tips for working with confidential information and how to check the accuracy of answers from AI tools.
Outcomes
- Describe basic cautions about using AI
- Write and execute basic AI prompts using Highline-licensed AI tools
Strategic Outcomes
- Goal 2, Objective 3: Course and program learning outcomes are aligned with knowledge, skills, and competencies required in each educational and career pathway,
- Goal 4, Objective 4: Highline College creates and maintains physical facilities and technology infrastructure to ensure accessible and safe learning and working environments
Format: Hyflex, Building 30 Room 202 and on Zoom