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Kaneb Center Summer Teaching Academy

A graphic that reads Kaneb Center Summer Teaching Academy in white with letters of the words underlined to indicate the academy's acronym, KCSTA. There is a photo of people at tables talking in the background, which is blue.

The Kaneb Center Summer Teaching Academy (KCSTA) provides robust, intensive training to ensure instructors are equipped with evidence-based pedagogical strategies to create transformative learning experiences for all students.

Throughout the academy, you reflect on your teaching practices, learn from invited experts on teaching and learning, and network with colleagues from a variety of disciplines to (re)design course materials.

2026 KCSTA

  • Theme: Teaching for Civility, Critical Thinking, and Civic Identity
  • When: June 2–4, 2026
  • Where: University of Notre Dame, Main Building Room 200
  • Cost: No cost to attend
  • Hosted by: Notre Dame Learning’s Kaneb Center for Teaching Excellence

The application period for the 2026 KCSTA is now closed.

Description

Notre Dame classrooms are training grounds for students to develop the attitudes, skills, and knowledge that will shape their engagement as citizens and professionals. To ensure instructors are adequately prepared to support students on this journey, we’ve designed this year’s KCSTA with the theme of “Teaching for Civility, Critical Thinking, and Civic Identity,” focusing on pedagogical tools that will help you navigate the challenges and opportunities of teaching and learning in these polarizing times.

As a participant in the academy this summer, you will:

  • Learn and apply strategies to structure effective class discussions, dialogues, and debates
  • Redesign course materials and assessments to promote critical thinking and civic identity development
  • Learn from experts about tools and methods to prepare for and respond to potentially difficult situations in the classroom
  • Reflect on and explore ways to teach polarizing topics while promoting civility and critical thinking
  • Learn about, explore connections between, and apply principles of inclusive pedagogy and Catholic social teaching (CST) in course design
  • Form and learn from a network of like-minded colleagues across a variety of disciplines

Conference Structure and Themes

The academy will run from June 2–4 starting at 9:00 a.m. each day, with formal workshop sessions concluding at 12:30 p.m.

Light refreshments and snacks will be provided during workshop sessions.

In the afternoon, we will have optional focused work time sessions from 1:00–4:30 p.m. Participants will have the option to:

  • Work on their own course materials
  • Draft and discuss course materials with some peer feedback
  • Have one-on-one conversations with Kaneb Center faculty and staff to discuss ways to implement strategies discussed in the morning sessions

Session Themes

  • Reflection to Practice: Teaching from and with Our Core Values
  • Designing Learning for Minds and Hearts: Creating Cognitive and Affective Learning Outcomes
  • Classroom Conversations: Debate, Dialogue, and Discussion
  • Faculty Perspectives on Teaching Polarizing Topics
  • Beyond Disciplinary Knowledge: Holistic Assessment of Student Learning
  • Leveraging AI and Immersive Technology for Civil Discourse and Critical Thinking

Questions

Have a question about the Kaneb Center Summer Teaching Academy not answered on this page? Please feel free to contact us at kaneb@nd.edu.