{"id":3647,"date":"2025-01-09T01:38:29","date_gmt":"2025-01-09T01:38:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/?post_type=furman-update&#038;p=3647"},"modified":"2025-01-09T16:15:38","modified_gmt":"2025-01-09T16:15:38","slug":"winter-pruning-for-a-successful-spring","status":"publish","type":"furman-update","link":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/updates\/winter-pruning-for-a-successful-spring\/","title":{"rendered":"Winter Pruning for a Successful Spring"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3648 alignright lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2025\/01\/campus-front-gate-1140-768x511.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2025\/01\/campus-front-gate-1140-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2025\/01\/campus-front-gate-1140-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2025\/01\/campus-front-gate-1140-512x341.jpg 512w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2025\/01\/campus-front-gate-1140.jpg 1140w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/200;\" \/>The<span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0e<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">arly part of January has a familiar cadence for many of us in the Furman community, a kind of dual rhythm where we are both shoring up for the year ahead and also anti<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">cipating the rea<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">wakening of campus as students return.\u00a0 If your commute includes passing through the main gates, you may be a little surprised at how bare our front entrance appears after recent necessary tree removal. There may be some advice for us in this startling paring back, which <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/trees-to-be-replaced-around-main-entrance\/#:~:text=The%20last%20significant%20phase%20of,when%20the%20campus%20was%20built.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">was required to ensure safe and more proliferated<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> future growth. What can you prune from your syllabus or to-do list today that can prepare you and\/or your students for a growth-filled Spring? What can you do\u2014or commit NOT to do now\u2014so that your April will not be as T.S. Eliot warns\u2014the cruelest month?\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Here are some FDC resources that can help smooth your own re-entry to campus and into the semester:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"30\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If you are beginning to update your syllabus, Furman\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/furman.app.box.com\/file\/826233050041?s=3nqavz2eiykdyug5ys4q7uqyxokql99w\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">general syllabus<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/furman.app.box.com\/folder\/41308938663?s=kln5dwulkdy88he6arw7c2ord8mhxqxe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">spring 2025 course schedule<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> templates may be useful.<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"30\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">If you would like to spruce up your first day approaches to enhance student engagement, peruse this comprehensive\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/resources.depaul.edu\/teaching-commons\/teaching-guides\/learning-activities\/Pages\/the-first-day.aspx\">DePauw University \u201cThe First Day of Class\u201d<\/a>\u00a0guide.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"30\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">If you are in the<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> \u201cfinishing touches\u201d phase of updating your syllabi and assignments, consider building time into your syllabi to include a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/programs-grants\/small-group-instructional-feedback\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Small Group Instructional Feedback<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> session. These sessions are most productive just prior to or at mid-term (mid-February to the week just after Spring Break this semester).\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"30\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If it is time for a peer observation, consider working with the FDC\u2019s peer coaches. To schedule a peer observation or an SGIF, or to request one-on-one coaching, please complete our online <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/furman.az1.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_6swEpK56yqwvuSh\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">collaboration request form<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"30\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Finally, mark your calendars and join the FDC for any of our upcoming Spring Professional Development programs, including a special faculty-led Lunch &amp; Learn series on AI in Action in and beyond the classroom. Read on for more details below, visit our website <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/events\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">events page<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, or download the FDC\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/furman.box.com\/s\/78k642e98h67xw7dps358a6ejxooxaeg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Spring 2025 Programming\u00a0 handout<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">).<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240,&quot;335559991&quot;:360}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The\u00a0early part of January has a familiar cadence for many of us in the Furman community, a kind of dual rhythm where we are both shoring up for the year [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","update-categories":[],"class_list":["post-3647","furman-update","type-furman-update","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/updates\/3647","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/updates"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/furman-update"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/updates\/3647\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3683,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/updates\/3647\/revisions\/3683"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3647"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"furman-update-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/update-categories?post=3647"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}