Lunch Seminars

by Jelle Boumans

We kick this academic year off with a lunch seminar that focuses on two key topics: promoting constructive feedback from students and alternative methods to generate student feedback, led by Jelle Boumans (lecturer Political Communication and Journalism). This is a nice opportunity to gain insights and learn about tools that you can apply directly in your classrooms, all while enjoying a sandwich and drink provided by TLC-FMG.

by Andreas Schuck

Join us for an engaging lunch seminar, led by Andreas Schuck (associate professor in Political Communication & Journalism), where we’ll focus on strengthening student resilience in our teaching practices. This is an excellent opportunity to gain insights that you can apply directly in your classrooms. We will cover two key topics:

• The role of personal resources in building (PhD) student’s well-being

• Fostering student’s resilience 

by André Chielie

What should you do in case of an emergency during your lecture or tutorial meeting? And what exactly is expected of you in such a situation? This short training will give you clear answers and practical tools for anyone involved in teaching or support at FMG. What you’ll learn in this session:

• How to respons quickly and effectively to emergencies in the classroom 

• What your role and responsibilities are when it comes to safety

• The 10 most common first aid situations, and how to deal with them

By Jacqui Edwards & Koen van Elsen

This lunch session aims to help equip university educators with practical knowledge and skills to start integrating AI into their classroom activities. The session will cover innovative and advanced learning activities that utilize AI, focusing on encouraging effective learning. The session will provide practical examples and research insights into the impact of AI on education as well as opportunities for discussion and sharing.

Learning goals:

• Get to know effective examples of innovative/advanced learning activities with AI in class
• Discuss practical strategies for implementing and making effective use of AI in class
• Be aware of current research in the field on the integration of AI in the classroom

by Ivana Bušljeta Banks 

This lunch seminar explores what faculty AI literacy means for teachers today, drawing on academic research and the EU AI Act while inviting participants to “take the pulse” of their own needs. Rather than focusing on students, the session encourages teachers to reflect on the knowledge, skills, and confidence they consider essential for navigating AI in their professional practice.

by Coyan Tromp

During this lunch seminar, we will explore the conditions required for blended learning to function effectively, with a particular focus on finding the right balance between flexibility and structure in course design. Our guest speaker is assistant professor Coyan Tromp and curriculum developer at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies of the University of Amsterdam. Drawing on her research-based insights, she will discuss how we as teachers can design blended learning environments that genuinely support student learning. She emphasizes that blended designs can only succeed when students engage not only with the flexibility it offers but also with the structure it provides. A precondition that has become increasingly challenging amid declining attendance.

By Jacqui Edwards & Koen van Elsen

This lunch session introduces educators to the next level of working with UvA AI Chat through persona-based chatbot design. Participants will learn how to build and customize AI personas that can reliably perform specific tasks, support classroom activities, or simulate expert roles. The session will discuss different types of chatbots (task, discussion, and information retrieval bots), design principles, common pitfalls, and live examples of how personas can enhance teaching, learning, and research workflows.

Learning goals:

• Understand what standard prompts and personas are, how they differ from basic GenAI use, and when each is appropriate
• Explain why well-designed personas are valuable, and distinguish between the main types (task, discussion, information retrieval)
• Know the design strategy for a simple persona, including using AI “cheat codes” to accelerate development
• Recognize pitfalls and limitations in persona design and know how to avoid them
• Evaluate how and by whom personas can be created and used (individually, co-created, made by students), and clarify the difference between personal and classroom use

by Corine Dijk

During this lunch seminar, we will explore what educators can do within their teaching practices to help reduce loneliness among students. Our guest speaker is Corine Dijk, Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology, who conducts research on social, emotional, and collective loneliness in young people. Her work highlights how loneliness develops, why students are particularly vulnerable, and how the educational environment can influence their sense of connection. Through her research and experience, she offers a valuable perspective on how we as teachers can actively foster connection and enhance students’ sense of belonging.