GSW’s HAIL Teaching Showcase brings together faculty and staff for innovative pedagogy

First annual event features handout and poster sessions alongside an immersive history role-playing workshop, inspiring cross-disciplinary teaching innovation.

AMERICUS, Ga. (April 7, 2026) — On April 3, 2026, Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) hosted the HAIL Teaching Showcase, a full-day event organized by HAIL (High-Impact Approach to Integrative Learning) director Paul Dahlgren, Ph.D., and assistant directors Jennifer Ryer, Ph.D., and Annie Laurie Nichols. Running from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the showcase drew 48 participants — faculty and staff from across disciplines — for a rich program of idea-sharing, collegial dialogue and hands-on pedagogy.

The morning program, hosted by the James E. Carter Library, opened with coffee, pastries and welcoming remarks before moving into two structured presentation formats. In the Handout Session, 28 presenters each prepared a one-page summary of a class activity or assignment. Seated in an open circle, presenters shared their materials and engaged in direct conversation with colleagues who came to learn more — a format designed for informal, high-density knowledge exchange.

The Poster Session followed, showcasing the work of eight presenters in a traditional academic format. Each poster focused on projects in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), research about how to improve classroom approaches. Participants circulated among the displays and engaged in focused discussions about research, pedagogy and classroom practice.

A brainstorming lunch from noon to 1:00 p.m. gave attendees time to continue conversations across departmental lines and begin translating the morning’s ideas into plans for their own classrooms.

Reacting to the Past Workshop

The afternoon session featured a three-and-a-half-hour Reacting to the Past workshop led by Dahlgren. Thirteen participants took part in this immersive, role-playing game system in which each player is assigned a historical figure complete with individual values, goals and alignments. Participants must research their character’s context, write and deliver speeches and compose essays in order to navigate the scenario effectively.

Reacting to the Past is widely recognized for its ability to drive deep student engagement. With more than a hundred historical scenarios available, the system gives instructors considerable flexibility. The workshop gave GSW faculty a firsthand experience of the pedagogy.

Impact on Teaching and Learning

Attendees highlighted cross-disciplinary exposure as one of the showcase’s greatest strengths, with many noting that seeing what colleagues in other fields were doing gave them a fresh perspective on their own practice. "This event gave me the opportunity to see what faculty in the other colleges are up to in their classrooms,” said Assistant Professor of Communication Elizabeth Shiller, Ph.D.

The event also proved a practical source of inspiration for upcoming courses. Participants reported that it helped them generate new ideas, expand their creative repertoire, and plan more engaging classroom experiences. “I plan to incorporate some of the classroom activities from the handout session into my fall classes,” Shiller elaborated. Forty-five percent of attendees agreed, noting in a survey about the event that they learned activities that they will use to incorporate real-life examples and help students connect course material to their own lives.

Perhaps most significantly, attendees pointed to the potential for deeper student engagement and stronger classroom trust. In the event survey, half of respondents mentioned that learning from their colleagues helped them get ideas to strengthen student engagement and trust. The HAIL Teaching Showcase reflects Georgia Southwestern’s commitment to faculty development and integrative, student-centered learning. By creating space for instructors to learn from one another across disciplines, HAIL continues to strengthen the university’s culture of pedagogical innovation and focus on student success.

“It was immensely exciting to the level of engagement from across campus. Over one third of GSW faculty gave up a portion of their time to present or attend this event and I think that speaks to the dedication and love of teaching here,” said Dahlgren.

About HAIL

HAIL — High-Impact Approach to Integrative Learning — is a Georgia Southwestern State University initiative dedicated to promoting evidence-based, high-impact teaching practices across all academic disciplines.