Reading Group
The Spark of Learning Graduate Student Reading Group
Do you want to create an engaging learning environment for your students? Wondering what roles emotions play in such a classroom? In The Spark of Learning, author and educator Sarah Rose Cavanagh demonstrates how emotions influence cognition and offers practical strategies for educators to harness emotional dynamics in order to enhance teaching effectiveness.
Cavanagh is this year's Summit keynote speaker, and this reading group will meet to discuss her book ahead of her visit on Wednesday, April 30. The last session will take place on the day of the Summit and we will be joined by none other than the author herself!
To prepare for this group, read The Spark of Learning: Energizing the College Classroom with the Science of Emotion, available through the UVA Library. Participants will receive a hard copy of the book at the first meeting. By registering, you agree to commit to attending all three sessions.
| DATE | MATERIAL |
| Tuesday, April 15, CTE Library | Meeting 1: Read Part 1 |
| Tuesday, April 22, CTE Library | Meeting 2: Read Part 2 |
| Wednesday, April 30, Newcomb Hall, Room TBD | Meeting 3: Meet the author Sarah Rose Cavanagh! Plus, discuss lingering questions from the book and takeaways from her keynote presentation |
Pressed for time? You can instead listen to this 30-minute podcast episode (or read the transcript): Teaching in Higher Ed, “Episode 135: The Spark of Learning, with Sarah Rose Cavanagh.”
Event Details
- When:
- Tuesday, April 15, 2025, 2:00 PM–3:30 PM
- Tuesday, April 22, 2025, 2:00 PM–3:30 PM
- Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 2:10 PM–3:30 PM
- Where: Various locations
- Format: In-Person
- Audience: Graduate Students, Postdocs
Questions about the event?
Contact cte-uva@virginia.edu.
