Lunch Seminars
Make the most out of your lunch break: join us for a one hour lunch seminar every third Tuesday of the month! While enjoying a sandwich and a drink (arranged by us) you can listen to a fellow teacher sharing their didactical / educational expertise, so that you will not only leave with a full stomach, but also with expanded knowledge and/or practical tips and tricks.
For the full schedule and registration see below.
Current Lunch Seminar
Affective Learning in Higher Education
15-09-2026 | 12:00 – 13:00 | REC C0.03
By Jasper ter Schegget
During this lunch seminar, Jasper ter Schegget will introduce affective learning and together we will explore what it can mean for university teaching. While higher education often emphasizes cognitive learning, affective learning is part of every learning process, often implicitly. Many of the qualities we hope students develop also involve attitudes, values, emotions, motivation, and how they relate to themselves and others. In that sense, affective learning aligns closely with the UvA’s ambition to help students think independently and creatively, engage with diverse perspectives, and contribute responsibly to complex societal challenges.
The session combines a short introduction with practical examples and an experiential element. Participants will reflect on how affective learning already appears in their own teaching and where it could be made more explicit.
Jasper will also introduce the Empowered Minds project at the University of Amsterdam, which aims to bring cognitive and affective learning more into balance across courses, curricula and teacher development. He will present the Transition Makers Toolbox, which builds on the Inner Development Guide and can help individual teachers take a first step in working with affective learning.
Upcoming Lunch Seminars
20-10-2026 | 12:00 – 13:00 | REC C0.03
By Ivar Kolvoort
AI is changing how students learn — sometimes for the better, sometimes not. In this lunch talk, we will explore how genAI shapes learning processes and cognition more generally. We’ll look at relevant theories of cognition to frame the challenge of AI in education and we will discuss recent empirical research on using AI in higher education. This talk will help you see when AI supports learning, when it undermines it, and how we can steer students toward using AI in ways that actually build their skills.
17-11-2026 | 12:00 – 13:00 | REC C0.03
The subject treated during this lunch seminar will be announced shortly.
15-12-2026 | 12:00 – 13:00 | REC C0.03
By Koen van Elsen
This lunch talk aims to educate participants on the use of artifacts within UvA AI Chat. By the end of the session, educators will understand what artifacts are and how to use them effectively within UvA AI Chat. The session will cover basic to expert progression, provide practical examples, and include a roadmap of upcoming UvA AI Chat features.
Past Lunch Seminars
Creating Connection in the Classroom: How Teachers Can Help Combat Student Loneliness
23-06-2026 | Corine Dijk
During this lunch seminar, we 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.
Personas: Advanced chatbot building in UvA AI Chat and how to use them for education
19-05-2026 | Morten Strømme
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
ShareStats: The Open Statistics Itembank in ANS and Canvas
21-04-2026 | Sharon Klinkenberg
This lunch seminar introduces ShareStats, an open-source itembank for statistics education. Participants will learn how to search for questions and integrate them into ANS or Canvas for exams or formative quizzes.
The session also demonstrates how to download and compile multiple items using the R exams package.
Designing Blended Learning That Works: Finding the Right Balance in Your Teaching
17-03-2026 | Coyan Tromp
During this lunch seminar by Coyan Tromp, 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.
For more information about Blended learning, check out our own TLC ‘What is Blended Learning’ site!
Faculty AI literacy
17-02-2026 | 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.
AI in the classroom: An overview of AI learning activities in the classroom including what works and what does not
20-01-2026 | 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
Quick Response, Calm Reaction: BHV Basics for Teachers in the Classroom
18-11-2025 | 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
Strengthening Student Resilience: From Theory to Classroom Practice
21-10-2025 | 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
Mastering Student Feedback: Practical Strategies for Teachers
23-09-2025 | 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.