Faculty Instructional Resources and Support Team (FIRST)

Working to develop new courses or improve existing ones? Think of CALS FIRST.

The Faculty Instructional Resources and Support Team, formerly known as the CALS Center for Online Learning and Technology (COLT), can assist UF/IFAS faculty with course design, course building in Canvas, and course delivery challenges when teaching online, hybrid and flipped courses in UF eLearning and UF/IFAS Extension Online Learning. FIRST offers Course Design and Course Delivery Communities of Practice, as well as consultations and faculty development opportunities. Reserve self-service or facilitated video studios to record lectures, or work with our video team to produce engaging field/lab videos and interactive materials.

Learn more about FIRST services.

CALS Teaching Events

Throughout the year, CALS hosts events to bring together teaching faculty, staff and graduate students to share knowledge, tips, and best practices for the teaching, advising and mentoring. 

• Teaching Enhancement Symposium

  The annual CALS Teaching Enhancement Symposium has been the college's signature teaching and advising event for more than 25 years. Bringing together faculty, staff, and graduate students, the event promotes the exchange of best practices, lessons learned, and teaching scholarship through presentations and workshops. Participants also hear a keynote address during this daylong event held each August.

• Spring Teaching Retreat

  Each spring semester, usually in late February, the college hosts a three-session teaching event focused on current issues facing educators. All attendees take part in the same sessions throughout this half-day event, and the dean provides college updates from the year.

Contact

If you're unsure where to begin, send an email to cals-dean@ufl.edu and we'll be happy to point you in the right direction.