EMU Today

Last year, the Bruce K. Nelson Faculty Development Center (FDC) at Eastern Michigan University hosted its inaugural student-led teaching conference, “Flipping the Script.” With sixteen presentations and two plenaries (all led by students), and over 100 attendees, the conference was a resounding success. The presentations and plenaries provided an invaluable opportunity for all participants to enhance their knowledge and broaden their perspectives on teaching and learning. Building on this success, the FDC is pleased to announce our next Flipping the Script conference on Nov. 22, 2024, to further amplify student voices and expand on the insights gained last year.

The experience for students (like ourselves) who presented last year was profoundly enriching. We had the unique opportunity to present on topics we were passionate about to faculty members. Initially, the prospect of our teaching experts in their field was daunting. However, the faculty’s enthusiasm and eagerness to learn made the experience immensely rewarding. Faculty members who attended last year were attentive, receptive, and genuinely interested in the presentations. Many attended to support their own students, significantly boosting the confidence of the student presenters. The presence of faculty members at student presentations is a powerful affirmation of the value of student contributions.

Faculty members can greatly benefit from attending this conference as well. By engaging with student-led presentations, faculty can gain fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to teaching that they might not encounter otherwise. This exposure to new ideas and methodologies can enhance their teaching practices, ultimately benefiting their students’ learning experiences. Flipping the Script provides a unique platform for faculty to learn directly from their students, fostering a collaborative environment where both parties can grow and improve. This mutual exchange of knowledge and ideas helps create a more dynamic and effective educational experience for everyone involved.

Speaking as students, we encourage all faculty to attend this conference, for their sake, but also for the sake of their students. If we have learned anything at the FDC, it is that faculty learn not just from each other, but also from their students. This conference creates a space for meaningful dialogue between faculty and students, allowing students to influence educational practices and create a more responsive and inclusive learning environment. 

Please join us for the Flipping the Script conference on Nov. 22, 2024, in the Student Center.  You may register to attend at this link.

Trinity Perkins is an EMU junior, majoring in Criminology and Criminal Justice.  Elena Parshall is also a junior at EMU, majoring in Clinical Lab Sciences.  They are both student workers at the Faculty Development Center.