Teaching Institute Sessions
Better writing through AI: Online writing tools
Dr. Roger Graves, Director of the Writing Across the Curriculum program, will provide an overview of online writing tools and how they can improve student (and faculty!) writing outcomes. We'll consider the sub-components of "writing skill" and then map the various software applications currently available onto those components to identify which applications can help and what areas we need to use human power to develop.
Presentation slides: Better writing through AI: Online writing tools (PDF)
Building your teaching portfolio starting now!
Stephen Brookfield writes in Becoming a Critically Reflective Teacher that there are four lenses instructors need to consider while developing their teaching: personal experience, colleagues' perspectives, theory, and students' learning experience. In this workshop we will discuss these as well as possible formats and forms of evidence you can include in your portfolio in order to demonstrate your beliefs, strengths, accomplishments, and growth as an instructor. Participants will leave with an outline, as well as short- and long-term plans for building their teaching portfolio.
Brookfield, S. D. (2017). Becoming a critically reflective teacher. John Wiley & Sons.
Presenation slides available on CTL's Teaching Dossier resource page
Classroom management
Setting and maintaining boundaries with your students is an important part of teaching. This interactive and practice session will address:
1. What kinds of disruptive and uncivil behaviours can occur in university courses? Why do these behaviours occur?
2. How does the instructor balance being an authority and establishing rapport with adult learners?
3. How do we prevent, dissipate, and manage student disruptions and incivilities quickly and effectively so we can make teaching and learning the focus?
U of A Student Code of Behaviour (PDF)
Creating quality multiple-choice exams: The good, the bad and the ugly
As you get ready for the coming semester, have you thought about how multiple choice exams could be used to improve your teaching AND assess student learning? Come and learn about the distinguishing features of quality multiple choice items and how you can better prepare students for successful outcomes.
Presentation slides: Creating high quality multiple-choice items (PDF)
Dynamic and effective teaching using applied Improvisation
This session is focused on applying improvisation to the traditional delivery of course materials in the university classroom -- working to solve problems in teaching, regardless of the discipline or style of delivery. Areas of exploration will include: 1) methods to foster connections in the classroom, leading to more effective communication; 2) ways to ensure full involvement by the whole group, yielding a more present and direct learning experience; 3) understanding the power of story and empathy as an ongoing approach to making the subject matter relevant and enduring.
Presentation slides: Dynamic and effective teaching using applied improvisation (PDF)
Presentation slides: Applied Improvisation in Teaching (PDF)
eClass question and answer (for those who use eClass beyond the basics)
An open session designed to allow instructors to have their own specific questions concerning eClass answered. Some topics that may be of interest include setting up quizzes and question banks, grading assignments through eClass, advanced use of the gradebook, etc. We look forward to answering your questions!
Enrich your course using technology: A low-barrier guide for technophobes
Educational Developer Graeme Pate will showcase a number of easy-to-use technologies which are easy to implement into your courses. Graeme will discuss effective teaching pedagogies and strategies for implementing these technologies quickly and easily, with the minimum of fuss, and which will encourage students to engage more effectively in their learning.
Free and open teaching materials: When, why, and how
In this session, we will explore OER (open educational resources) and the ways instructors are leveraging and/or creating openly licensed materials to create authentic assignments, engage students as partners, or to customize their course materials in a way that best suits their teaching. In addition, we will share examples of last years' OER Awards projects and information for those interested in the next round of applications.
Free and open teaching materials: When, why, and how (PDF)
Graduate student mentoring
What makes a good graduate mentor? Victoria Ruétalo (Associate Dean, FGSR) will lead a session to help supervisors reflect on and navigate their new role as graduate mentors. She will cover topics such as your responsibility as a supervisor, tips for good mentorship relationships, creating a supportive environment, and dealing with conflict.
Presentation slides: Graduate student mentoring (PDF)
Expectations in supervision (PDF)
Indigenizing and decolonizing your course
Come and join Jennifer Ward, Educational Developer, CTL as we explore ideas, concepts, and strategies for Indigenizing and decolonizing your course(s). We will also unpack an article that uses Indigenous pedagogies and reflect on how we can use these pedagogies in our classrooms. Supporting materials, resources, and examples will be provided. In preparation for the session, I am sharing the attached article entitled Transforming Pedagogies: pre-service reflections on learning and teaching in an Indigenous world by Tanaka et.al. We will be discussing this article and thinking of ways that we can bring the showcased Indigenous pedagogies from the article into our own teaching practice. I have also included a short story called Totem by Thomas King that I use as an accompaniment to the above article. Please read this as well if you have time.
Resources: Indigenizing and Decolonizing your course Teaching Institute (PDF)
Introduction to eClass (the basics)
Learn about the University of Alberta's learning management system, eClass! Using eClass effectively will make the lives of you and your students easier. Walk out with a clear understanding of how to set up your course, take in assignments and quizzes, utilize the gradebook, and many more valuable resources that eClass can provide you with.
Library services for new faculty: Libraries, your new best friend!
The University of Alberta Libraries would like to welcome you! Help make the most of your and your students' research time! This session will introduce you to the UAL's collections, teaching and research support services, website, as well as useful tips and tricks to get you on your way.
Presentation slides: Library services for new faculty: Libraries, your new best friend! (PDF)
Navigating the UofA assessment policies
Assessment at the University of Alberta is primarily guided by two documents: (1) the Assessment and Grading Policy of the University of Alberta policies and procedures (UAPPOL), and (2) the University of Alberta Calendar. In this session, Ellen Watson will explain the main points of these assessment policies and procedures required by the University of Alberta when grading students and discuss how these may apply to your upcoming courses.
Assessing Participation (PDF)
Assessment Policies at the U of A (PDF)
Defining Assessment and Evaluation (PDF)
Recognizing and rewarding excellent teaching: yes it's hard and yes it can be done
Universities continue to struggle with recognising and rewarding excellent teaching, despite over 30 years of exhortations that we should. All universities want their students to have a successful and positive learning experience. Fewer universities consider that rewarding and recognising teaching is critical to achieving this. But how and what to recognise and reward is just as critical. What is excellent teaching and how can universities build a culture to achieve and sustain it?
Redefining student success (and wellness)
The University structure is inherently stressful. A demanding workload, pressure to succeed, and increased competition for coveted opportunities can leave students feeling overwhelmed and isolated. Professors are often the face of the University for students and, as such, bear the brunt of their stress. By redefining what student success looks like, we can work to reduce some common stressors for students and make the classroom a more enjoyable place for everyone.
Active Learning - Creating Excitement in the Classroom - Handout (PDF)
Presentation slides: Redefining Student Success (PDF)
Reducing Classroom Alienation (PDF)
Scholarly and evidence-based teaching: The risks and rewards
In this session, Associate Director Neil Haave will discuss the benefits of considering the pedagogical literature when designing our learning environments. We will also consider how to respond when our best efforts are resisted by students.
Presentation slides: Scholarly and evidence-based teaching: The risks and rewards (PDF)
Summer library refresher for the well-seasoned faculty
The University of Alberta Libraries are here to support you and your students throughout the upcoming academic year! During this session you will be offered a refresher to seasoned faculty members on the UAL's teaching and research support services, and website. New online resources and collections will be featured as well as useful tips and tricks.
Presentation slides: Summer library refresher 2019 (PDF)
The effective, happy, successful academic
The demands on academic settings and those working in them continue to rise. Publishing, funding, engagement, and mentorship - social media, mass media, leadership, and teaching - the demands on academics increase, diversify, and evolve. Concurrently: jobs, resources, and institutional / research funding are becoming more scarce. More needs to be done better with less and by fewer academics.
In this interactive workshop, engage with and harness the best and latest thinking, research, and approaches to help support you and your workplace be effective in the new realities of the modern academic workplace. Consider how you can meet the diverse demands of the changing academic workplace and take your career, research, and teaching to the next level amidst this complex and demanding context. Develop and consolidate your knowledge, skills, and strategies to meet the challenge of becoming, being and staying effective, successful, and happy.
Teaching and tenure panel
It is important for faculty to understand the expectations of faculty by the Faculty Evaluation Committee (also known as FEC) which can vary from department to department. Panellists will address how FECs view teaching when it comes time to evaluate applications for tenure. Each of our panellists has experience being a member of their respective FEC and will discuss how they understand the relationship between tenure and teaching at the University of Alberta.
The ripple effect: When you start to share teaching experiences…
Associate Professor Mélanie Méthot (Augustana) will present what happened (and continues to happen) when one shares teaching experiences in formal and informal venues. Participants should come out of the session with concrete ideas to impact their students, their peers and administration.
Presentation slides: The ripple effect: When you start to share teaching experiences (PDF)
What to expect in your first year of teaching
The good news is that more is known about university teaching and learning than at any time in history. New university instructors (both tenure track and contract) tend to approach their first year of university teaching in many of the same ways. To learn more about what commonly works (and what doesn't tend to work) as a new instructor, join us at this session. Interested in learning more about today's university students and how they frequently approach undergraduate studies? The second part of this session shares ideas and trends from current research on the expectations of university students.
Dividing attention in the classroom reduces exam performance (PDF)
Student perceptions of themselves as consumers of higher education (PDF)
The student as consumer approach in higher education and its effects on academic performance (PDF)
Presentation slides: What to expect in your first year of University teaching (PDF)