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As a facilitator and speaker, I design workshops on topics including assessment and grading, active learning, AI in education, corequisites, course design, and accessibility.
Each workshop is built for the specific campus and group, taking into account the dynamics of the institution and the personalities in the room.
In every workshop, I aim to:
create a space where all participants can be experts
make room for skepticism and critical discussion in a constructive way
provide tangible ideas and resources that can be implemented immediately
model effective facilitation and teaching
At its core, my approach is about presenting ideas in a way that invites reflection and supports informed choices, rather than prescribing a single “right” way to teach.
You’ll find a selection of past workshops and presentations below. If you’d like more information or want to explore working together, feel free to reach out at kspoon@sdccd.edu.
Interested in Working Together?
Interested in Working Together?
Email me and we’ll set up a time to talk. We’ll see if there’s a good fit, and I’m happy to serve as a sounding board as you think through your goals.
After that initial conversation, I design each workshop specifically for your campus and the faculty you’re working with - no two sessions are the same.
General compensation for virtual webinars is $700-$1000 and general compensation for in-person workshops is $2000-$4000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What do participants leave with?
What do participants leave with?
Participants leave with a concrete starting point. For example, we might look at an alternative grading framework, have them decide what resonates, and then identify one small change they can make to their own course. That could be something like revising an assessment to allow multiple ways for students to show understanding.
I also share slides, recordings (when available), and a list of resources so people can dive deeper and continuing learning after the session. I usually build in space to collect ideas from the group too, so those can be revisited later or used in a follow-up community of practice. I want to create something more sustainable than a one-off PD workshop.
How are your workshops different from a typical PD session?
How are your workshops different from a typical PD session?
I’m in the classroom right now, teaching multiple math courses, so what I bring is grounded in real constraints and real decisions. I’ve had personal experience with most of the issues faculty face, having taught across modalities and class sizes from 3 to 150. I tend to connect well with STEM faculty who don’t always see themselves in more general PD spaces, but I also regularly work across disciplines and adapt to different contexts.
I don’t run sit-and-get sessions. I’ll introduce ideas, but most of the time participants are doing something with those ideas. I try to surface the expertise already in the room first and build from there, giving faculty who have worked on the topic space to share their thinking. My mantra in the classroom is to never say something a student could say, and I bring that into my workshops as well, while still keeping things moving and making sure we get to the key content.
I’m not trying to get everyone to the same answer. I ask questions that push people to think about why they’re making the choices they’re making, and I provide options that might work in their specific context and positionality.
What does a typical session look like?
What does a typical session look like?
I usually start by having participants surface their current beliefs or experiences. That might be a think-pair-share, a chat waterfall on Zoom, or something like using Dixit cards to elicit feelings.
From there, I highlight themes in the room before getting into the main ideas and ensuring we have a shared understanding of the topic to be discussed. I break the session into smaller chunks and alternate between short bits of content and time for people to actually do something. That could be discussion, working through an activity, or applying ideas to their own course.
If possible, I have faculty experience an activity as a learner. Other times we look at a framework and then apply it. Either way, I try to keep it moving and make sure they’re working with their own materials, not just listening.
I usually end by asking them to name one change they’re going to try.
How do you tailor a workshop to a campus or group?
How do you tailor a workshop to a campus or group?
I start by talking with the organizer(s) about what they actually want out of the session, suggesting potential additional outcomes or helping tweak the existing expectations.
If I can, I look at what else is happening on the campus. For example, I recently worked with Lake Tahoe Community College as part of their Cultural Fluency Teaching Academy. I was able to see their Canvas shell and prior sessions, so I tied my session on equitable grading directly to earlier work on feedback and warm demander practices. That made the session feel connected instead of like a one-off.
During the session, I adjust a lot. I come in with a plan, but I treat it more like improv than a script. I let participant questions and concerns shape where we go.
Who is your work a good fit for?
Honestly, I’ve worked with a wide range of faculty, from people who are already doing this work to people who are pretty resistant to it.
I try to make space for both. If someone is skeptical, I want to hear that and work with it. My goal isn’t to force change, but to get people to really examine their thinking and maybe try something small.
That said, I’m pretty direct. I don’t sugarcoat things, and that can make some people uncomfortable. In my experience, that discomfort is usually where the growth actually happens.
Math & Stats
Math & Stats
Communicating to Connect with ALL Students
June 2023, Invited Keynote for U.S. Conference on Teaching Statistics
Small Steps Towards a Student-Centered Classroom
co-presented with Allison Stern (Tutor, Mesa)
June 2024, Invited Workshop for Community of Practice for Calculus Instructors at Mt. San Antonio College
Active Learning in Math
May 2024, Invited Workshop for Sierra College
Calculus and Corequisite Support with Embedded Tutoring
co-presented with Allison Stern (Tutor, Mesa)
April 2024, Invited Webinar for California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office's AB1705 Learning Series
Active Learning in Math as a Tool to Promote Equity
March 2024, Invited Webinar for @ONE
An Adventurer's Guide to Coreq Calculus
February 2024, Invited Workshop for Puente Community College Programs Spring 2024 Conference
Feedback in Introductory Statistics
Jan 2024, Invited Presentation for Teaching and Evaluating Data Communication at Scale @ Institute for Mathematical and Statistical Innovation (IMSI)
Teaching Statistics Students about Accessibility
Nov 2023, Contributed Presentation @ AMATYC Annual Conference
June 2023, Contributed Poster @ USCOTS
Authentic and Alternative Assessments for the Intro Stats Course
co-presented with Kathleen Almy (Almy Education)
Mar 2023, Invited Webinar for ASA / AMATYC
Leveraging Video for Instruction and Assessment in Math
co-presented with Juan Bernal (Mathematics, Mesa)
Mar 2023, Invited Webinar for @ONE
Students First! Accessibility for STEM (Math)
Mar 2023, Invited Webinar for @ONE
Online Teaching
Online Teaching
Moving STEM Courses Online
co-facilitated with Bob Nash (@ONE), Sarah Hawkins (Biology, City), & Maryline Chemama (Chemistry, Chaffey)
Jun 2023, Invited Workshop for @ONE @ Online Teaching Conference
Assessing Learning in Online Classes
April 2024, Invited Webinar for @ONE
Building Formative Assessment Into your Canvas Pages
Oct 2023, Contributed Presentation for SDCCD Online Summit
Making the Case for (and Supporting) Equitable Online Courses
co-presented with Katie Palacios (Instructional Designer, Mesa)
Oct 2023, Contributed Presentation for RP Group Strengthening Student Success Conference
Hybrid Course Design
co-presented with Christina Crosby (Psychology, Mesa)
Aug 2023, Contributed Presentation for FLEX Week @ San Diego Mesa College
Level Up Your Canvas Pages with Accessible HTML
co-presented with Tasha Frankie (Computer Science, Mesa)
Aug 2023, Contributed Presentation for FLEX Week @ San Diego Mesa College
Getting the MOST out of the CVC-OEI Rubric with Cohorts
co-presented with Kim Lacher (English, Mesa)
Jun 2023, Contributed Presentation for Online Teaching Conference
Time Saving and Productivity Tips in Canvas
co-facilitated with Cara Smulevitz (Art History, Mesa)
Jan 2023, Contributed Presentation for Catalyst Teaching Conference and New Faculty Institute @ San Diego Mesa College
Assessment
Assessment
Equitable Grading Strategies
April 2026, Workshop for Cultural Fluency Teaching Academy @ Lake Tahoe Community College
Equitable Grading Strategies
May 2025, Workshop for Cultural Fluency Teaching Academy @ Lake Tahoe Community College
Getting Started with a New Approach to Grading
September 2024, Presentation for California Acceleration Project
Reassessing Your Assessments in the Age of AI
co-presented with Mariam Kushkaki (English, Mesa)
August 2024, Presentation for New Faculty Institute @ San Diego Mesa College
Equitable Grading Strategies
co-presented with Jason Kalchik (English, Mesa)
Jan 2024, Contributed Workshop for Catalyst Teaching Conference @ San Diego Mesa College
Feedback in Introductory Statistics 📊
Jan 2024, Invited Presentation for Teaching and Evaluating Data Communication at Scale @ Institute for Mathematical and Statistical Innovation (IMSI)
Building Formative Assessment Into your Canvas Pages
October 2023, Contributed Webinar for SDCCD Online Summit
Equitable Grading
co-presented with Oscar Preciado (English, City)
May 2023, Invited Workshop for AFT Summer Institute
Making an Ungrading Checklist
Nov & Dec 2022, Invited Webinar for San Diego Miramar College
Alternative Grading Practices
Nov 2022, Panelist for Innovative Teaching and Learning aNet session @ AMATYC
Active Learning
Active Learning
Active Learning in Math as a Tool to Promote Equity 🧮
March 2024, Invited Webinar for @ONE
Active Learning for Week 1
co-presented with MOST
August 2024, Convocation Breakout Session for San Diego Mesa College
Small Steps Towards a Student-Centered Classroom
June 2024, Presentation for Community of Practice for Calculus Instructors
Active Learning in Math
May 2024, Invited Workshop for Sierra College
Engaging Students with Active Learning
co-presented with Tasha Frankie (Computer Science, Mesa)
Jan 2024, Contributed Workshop for Catalyst Teaching Conference @ San Diego Mesa College
Active Learning 101
co-presented with Mariam Kushkaki (English, Mesa)
May 2022, Invited Workshop for Strong Workforce Institute @ San Diego Mesa College
Full Listing of Presentations
Full Listing of Presentations
2026
2026
Equitable Grading Strategies Workshop, Cultural Fluency Teaching Academy for Lake Tahoe Community College, Workshop (April 21st, 2026)
Building Accessible Math Materials, AMATYC Webinar (April 2026)
Accessible Math Materials Deep Dive, Palomar Community College, Zoom Workshop (February 6th, 2026)
Building Accessible Teaching Materials, Catalyst Teaching Conference for San Diego Mesa College, Workshop (January 27th, 2026)
Building Accessible Math Materials, Palomar Community College, Workshop (January 21st, 2026)
2025
2025
Exploring Shifts for Transforming Assessment, AMATYC Annual Conference, Breakout Session (November 14th, 2025)
Rethinking Proofs and Derivations in Math Intensive Courses, AMATYC Annual Conference, Themed Breakout Session (November 13th, 2025)
Rethinking Assessment in the Age of AI, FLEX Week for San Mateo Community College, Webinar (October 8th, 2025)
Emphasizing Concepts over Computations, American Statistical Association, Webinar Panel (September 23rd, 2025)
From Practice to Performance Review File, New Faculty Institute for San Diego Mesa College, Workshop (September 19th, 2025)
Rethinking Online Assessments in the Age of AI, FLEX Week for San Diego Mesa College, Workshop (August 19th, 2025)
Beyond the Lecture: Making Classroom Learning Active, FLEX Week for San Diego Mesa College, Workshop (August 19th, 2025)
Equitable Grading Strategies Workshop, Cultural Fluency Teaching Academy for Lake Tahoe Community College, Workshop (May 16th, 2025)
Equity in Teaching, New Faculty Institute for San Diego Mesa College, Workshop (March 21st & April 18th, 2025)
Practical Accessibility in Math: Simple Steps for Inclusive Courses, SDICCCA's AccessAbility Week, Webinar (March 11th, 2025)
Lightning Lessons in Accessibility: Simple Steps to Inclusive Teaching, SDICCCA's AccessAbility Week, Lightning Presentation (March 11th, 2025)
Accommodations as Good Teaching: Practical Strategies for Inclusive Classrooms, SDICCCA's AccessAbility Week, Webinar (March 11th, 2025)
Integrating OER into Course Design, SDCCD's Open Ed Week, Webinar (March 4th, 2025)
Puente Gente in Math: Comunidad Through Knowledge Sharing, Puente Spring Faculty Conference (February 27th, 2025)
Sparking Curiosity, Catalyst Teaching Conference for San Diego Mesa College, Lightning Presentation (January 28th, 2025)
Using NotebookLM to Create Content Resources, Catalyst Teaching Conference for San Diego Mesa College, Workshop (January 28th, 2025)
Assessments in the Age of AI, Catalyst Teaching Conference for San Diego Mesa College, Webinar (January 27th, 2025)
2024
2024
An Adventurer's Guide to Corequisite Calculus, AMATYC Annual Conference, Breakout Session (November 15th, 2024)
Faculty Showcase, SDCCD Distance Education Summit, Panel Facilitator (October 4th, 2024)
Getting Started with a New Approach to Grading, California Acceleration Project Webinar Series, Invited Presentation (September 27th, 2024)
Lessons Learned from Coreq Calculus, NLET Virtual Community of Practice, Invited Presentation (September 27th, 2024)
Providing Accommodations Equitably in Calculus Post-AB1705, California Community Colleges Chancellors Office, Webinar (September 12th, 2024)
Bridging the Gap: Effective Teaching Practices for Addressing Missing Prerequisite Knowledge in Community College Calculus, K-16 Math for Careers Summit, Invited Presentation (September 12th, 2024)
Lessons Learned from Coreq Calculus, AB1705 Workshop at El Camino College, Presentation (August 30th, 2024)
Active Learning for Week 1, Convocation Breakout Session for San Diego Mesa College, Workshop (August 15th, 2024)
Reassessing your Assessments in the Age of AI, New Faculty Institute for San Diego Mesa College, Workshop (August 13th, 2024)
Small Steps Towards a Student-Centered Classroom, Community of Practice for Calculus Instructors, Breakout Session (June 15th, 2024)
A Typical Day in Coreq Calculus, Community of Practice for Calculus Instructors, Presentation (June 15th, 2024)
Active Learning in Math, Sierra College, Workshop (May 28th, 2024)
Mesa's Ongoing Success for Teaching (MOST) Team - A Model for Faculty-Led Professional Learning, ACCJC Partners in Excellence Conference, Poster Presentation (May 9th, 2024)
Calculus and Corequisite Support with Embedded Tutoring, Equitable Placement, Support and Completion Ab1705 Webinars for California Community Colleges Chancellors Office, Webinar (April 26th, 2024)
Assessing Learning in Online Classes, @ONE Spring 2024 Webinar Series, Webinar (April 19th, 2024)
Active Learning in Math as a Tool to Promote Equity, @ONE Spring 2024 Webinar Series, Webinar (March 15th, 2024)
An Adventure's Guide to Coreq Calculus, Puente Community College Programs Spring 2024 Conference, Workshop (February 29th, 2024)
Coreq Calculus at Mesa, AB1705 Regional Meeting for San Diego Area Community Colleges, Workshop (January 23rd, 2024)
Engaging Students with Active Learning, Catalyst Teaching Conference for San Diego Mesa College, Workshop (January 23rd, 2024)
Equitable Grading Strategies, Catalyst Teaching Conference for San Diego Mesa College, Workshop (January 23rd, 2024)
Feedback in Intro Statistics, Teaching and Evaluating Data Communication at Scale for Institute for Mathematical and Statistical Innovation, Presentation (January 11th, 2024)
2023
2023
ChatGPT: Use Case and Assessment Practices, MOST Workshop for San Diego Mesa College, Webinar (November 30th, 2023)
The Math of SET, AMATYC Annual Conference, Breakout Session (November 10th, 2023)
Teaching Statistics Students About Accessibility, AMATYC Annual Conference, Breakout Session (November 9th, 2023)
Sparking Curiosity through Course Design, AMATYC Annual Conference, Breakout Session (November 9th, 2023)
Canvas Quizzes 101, MOST Workshop for San Diego Mesa College, Webinar (October 24th, 2023)
Making the Case for (and Supporting) Equitable Online Courses, Strengthening Student Success Conference for RP Group, Breakout Session (October 11th, 2023)
Building Formative Assessment into Your Canvas Pages, Online Summit for San Diego Community College District, Webinar (October 10th, 2023)
Transitioning to Zero Textbook Costs: A Faculty Panel, FLEX Week for San Diego Community College District, Panel (August 16th, 2023)
The Best of Both: Hybrid Course Design, MOST Fall for All for San Diego Mesa College, Presentation (August 16th, 2023)
Level Up Your Canvas Pages with Accessible HTML, MOST Fall for All for San Diego Mesa College, Presentation (August 16th, 2023)
Getting the MOST out of the CVC-OEI rubric with Cohorts, Online Teaching Conference, Breakout Session (June 22nd, 2023)
Introducing Mesa’s Online Success Team, Online Teaching Conference, Breakout Session (June 21st, 2023)
Moving STEM Courses Online, Online Teaching Conference, Pre-Conference Workshop (June 21st, 2023)
Teaching Statistics Students about Accessibility, U.S. Conference on Teaching Statistics (USCOTS), Poster (June 3rd, 2023)
Communicating to Connect with ALL Students, U.S. Conference on Teaching Statistics (USCOTS), Keynote (June 3rd, 2023)
Equitable Grading, The Summer Institute for AFT 1931, Workshop (May 31st, 2023)
AI Panel Discussion, Triple D for San Diego Mesa College, Panel (May 9th, 2023)
Assessing Outcomes, Outcomes Summit for San Diego Mesa College, Webinar (April 21st, 2023)
Leveraging Video for Instruction and Assessment in Math, Going the Distance with Video Webinar Series for @ONE, Webinar (March 17th, 2023)
Common misconceptions about switching to OER: Are you ready to ditch the textbook?, OER Week for San Diego Community College District, Webinar (March 7th, 2023)
Introducing H5P + Faculty Panel, OER Week for San Diego Community College District, Webinar (March 6th, 2023)
Students First! Accessibility for STEM, Students First! Webinar Series for @ONE, Webinar (March 3rd, 2023)
Time Saving and Productivity Tips in Canvas, Catalyst Teaching Conference for San Diego Mesa College, Workshop (January 24th, 2023)
Communicating with Grades, Catalyst Teaching Conference for San Diego Mesa College, Workshop (January 23rd, 2023)
2022
2022
Getting Students Excited for Statistics, AMATYC Virtual Conference, Webinar (December 2nd, 2022)
Making an Ungrading Checklist, FLEX Workshop for San Diego Miramar College, Webinar (December 1st, 2022)
Making an Ungrading Checklist, FLEX Workshop for San Diego Miramar College, Webinar (November 29th, 2022)
Getting Students Excited for Statistics, AMATYC Annual Conference, Breakout Session (November 19th, 2022)
Renewable Assignments, AMATYC Annual Conference, IGNITE Presentation (November 18th, 2022)
Alternative Grading Practices Panel, AMATYC Annual Conference, Breakout Session (November 17th, 2022)
Syllabus Redesign Workshop, MOST Fall for All for San Diego Mesa College, Workshop (August 17th, 2022)
eCOTS Closing Session, electronic Conference on Teaching Statistics (eCOTS), 5-minute takeaway (May 26th, 2022)
Grading for Equity: Reflections and Strategies from the 2021 USCOTS Reading Group, electronic Conference on Teaching Statistics (eCOTS), Breakout Session (May 25th, 2022)
Syllabus Design & Active Learning 101, Strong Workforce Institute for San Diego Mesa College, Workshop (May 6th, 2022)
Grading for Equity Panel, Iowa Association of Teacher Educators, Panel (April 21st, 2022)
Equitable Teaching Tips, Catalyst Teaching Conference for San Diego Mesa College, Presentation (January 2022)
2021
2021
Quick and Easy Activities for Class, AMATYC Annual Conference, IGNITE Presentation (October 29th, 2021)
Authentic and Alternative Assessments for the Intro Stats Course, ASA/AMATYC Joint Webinar, Webinar (August 4th, 2021)
Effecting Change, Curriculum Equity & Excellence Review for San Diego Mesa College, Webinar (July 28th, 2021)
Desmos Working Session, The Summer Institute (TSI) for AFT 1931, Workshop (June 4th, 2021)
Another Tech Tool!? Introducing Desmos, The Summer Institute (TSI) for AFT 1931, Lightning Talk (June 3rd, 2021)
Getting Mid-Semester Feedback from Students, Teaching Tree for San Diego Mesa College, Webinar (March 12th, 2021)
SDCCD Math Faculty Panel, OER Week for San Diego Community College District, Panel (March 4th, 2021)
Providing Grade Transparency and Accuracy to Students, Teaching Tree for San Diego Mesa College, Workshop (February 26th, 2021)
Doing the Desmos(t): Engaging Students in the Learning Process with Desmos, Catalyst Teaching Conference at San Diego Mesa College, Breakout Session (January 26th, 2021)
Digital Whiteboards: Google Jamboard and Slides for Collaborative Student Experiences, Catalyst Teaching Conference at San Diego Mesa College, Breakout Session (January 26th, 2021)
2020
2020
Designing and Implementing Equitable and Rigorous Assessments, Santa Barbara City College, Workshop (August 5th, 2020)
How to Design and Use Equitable Virtual Assessments, Santa Barbara City College, Workshop (July 29th, 2020)
Active Learning, Strong Workforce Institute for San Diego Mesa College, Workshop (June 5th, 2020)
Flipped Classroom, The Summer Institute for AFT 1931, Recording (June 3rd, 2020)
Using Google Slides for Collaboration in a Remote Setting, AMATYC Annual Conference, IGNITE Presentation (November 14th, 2020)
Is Homework Inequitable? Other Ways to Promote Self-Efficacy and Procedural Fluency!, Greater San Diego Math Council Annual Conference, Breakout Session (February 29th, 2020)
2019
2019
Is Homework Inequitable? Other ways to build self-efficacy, AMATYC Annual Conference, Poster Presentation (November 15th, 2019)
Active Learning Basics, Catalyst Teaching Conference for San Diego Mesa College, Breakout Session (January 23rd, 2019)
2018
2018
Culturally Responsive Teaching in Math, Equity Institute for Cuyamaca College, Workshop (November 30th, 2018)
Card Sorts for Statistics, AP Statistics Best Practices Night for AP Statistics Reading, IGNITE Presentation (June 16th, 2018)
I was doing stuff before 2018... but I think we've covered that I love talking with folks about anything related to teaching.
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