February 12, 2026 – 11:00–11:45 a.m.
Location: This is an online event. Register to receive the Zoom link and calendar invitation.
Intended Audience: Faculty, Instructors, Graduate Student Instructors, Academic Support Staff
In the first workshop of a three-part RTL series amplifying the Finding Space podcast (Episodes 4–6), participants will engage with themes from Episode 4. My Dream for Berkeley: Student Success Without Lowering Standards. A central focus of the workshop will be Flextensions, an assignment extension management tool currently being piloted at UC Berkeley that helps instructors offer flexibility while saving time. Instructors can link bCourses assignments (including Gradescope) and enrollments to the platform, and course staff can manage extension requests either manually or through an automated approval system.
Joined by Willa Chan, lead for the Flextensions pilot, along with Lisa Yan and Michael Ball, faculty contributers who helped to create Flextensions, this session will explore equitable grading and instructional practices that support student success while maintaining academic rigor. The workshop also draws on insights shared by Dan Garcia, who discusses using Flextensions in his course in the accompanying podcast episode.
This workshop builds on the accompanying 25–35 minute podcast episode, highlighting key takeaways and offering actionable strategies for proactively designing flexible, inclusive instruction—particularly in ways that better support disabled students.
We encourage you to listen to the episode before the workshop—it’ll help you get the most out of our time together. Instructors interested in participating in the Flextensions pilot can learn more and complete the interest form
See all parts of the Finding Space workshop series: Part II, Part III
This session will run for 30 minutes, with an additional 15 minutes reserved for questions.
➡️Register for this session and other Spring events(link is external)⬅️ Tip: You can select this workshop and any others you wish to attend in a single submission.
Registrants will be sent a Zoom link and bCal invite as the workshop date draws near.
***Registration for this session will close one hour before the session***
This event is part of the "Building Inclusive Classrooms" learning path. Be sure to check out this learning path and explore its other components!
Facilitators:
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Tracie Allen, M.A., is the Access & Innovation Strategist at the Center for Teaching & Learning. She holds a M.A. in Leading for Education Organizations - Leading Change for Student Success in Higher Education. She has over 24 years of experience working in online education. Her expertise focuses on psychological safety, accessibility, strategic planning, fostering inclusive learning environments, and broad educational leadership encompassing organizational theory and social justice. |