Foundations of Teaching Program
The purpose of the Foundations of Teaching Program is to provide opportunities for instructors to build a baseline understanding of effective pedagogy based on the University of Alberta’s Framework for Effective Teaching.
With programming for each of the five elements of the framework*, the Foundations of Teaching program provides a variety of opportunities for instructors to discover new teaching pedagogies, reflect on their own practices and identify areas for continuous improvement and growth.
The Foundations of Teaching Program has been created so each talk is independent of the others (although there are some conceptual overlaps). Instructors do not need to commit to all of the talks but can determine which are most relevant to their teaching and pedagogical needs.
*Expertise, Content and Outcomes; Course Design; Instructional Practices; Learning Environment; Reflection, Growth and Leadership
Upcoming Winter 2024 Programming
Foundations of Teaching: Facilitation of Course Delivery
Mar. 12 | 11-11:50 a.m. | Online
Sharing instructor knowledge and skills using methodologies which enthuse, inspire and foster engagement in our students can be challenging. In this Foundations of Teaching talk, participants will engage with eight main aspects of effective teaching practice, providing opportunities for you to strategize how to incorporate them into your own teaching to enthuse, inspire and foster engagement.
Session Guide (printable version)
Session Guide (fillable online version - recommend opening with Adobe Reader)
Past Programming
Foundations of Teaching: Using Technology to Enhance Learning
Mar. 5 | 11-11:50 a.m. | Online
The use of technology to enhance learning is nothing new—after all, at one point in time an abacus was considered new technology! But with the myriad of options available today, how can instructors determine best pedagogy in which technology complements and enhances, not overshadows, effective teaching and learning?
In this Foundations of Teaching: Using Technology to Enhance Learning talk, participants discuss ideas and examples to enhance learning, engage your students and, best of all, are easy to use!
Foundations of Teaching: Creating Supportive and Inclusive Learning Environments
Feb. 27 | 11-11:50 a.m. | Online
A supportive and inclusive learning environment can encourage the participation and involvement of learners as well as validating their unique learning needs. This foundational-level talk on three primary principles of Universal Design for Learning, highlights opportunities for instructors to provide a more supportive and inclusive environment when planning, teaching, assessing and reflecting.
Foundations of Teaching: Developing a Teaching Dossier
Feb. 20 | 11-11:50 a.m. | Online
This Foundations of Teaching talk explores the process of building your evidence of teaching into a formal dossier to document your goals, achievements, and philosophy of instruction. A teaching dossier contains documentation and evidence for the purposes of tenure, promotion, awards, job applications and annual reviews; it provides academic, personal and professional evidence of your teaching process and strategy. As part of the talk, you will have an opportunity to examine some templates you can use to create your own dossier.
Foundations of Teaching: Pedagogies of Learning
Feb. 13 | 11-11:50 a.m. | Online
To ask "How do I teach?", one must answer the question, "How do we learn?" In this Foundations of Teaching: Pedagogies of Learning talk, participants will engage with key learning theories as well as examples of how instructors can take first steps to implement these concepts in their planning, implementation and assessment in their teaching contexts.
Foundations of Teaching: Assessment as, for, of learning
Feb. 6 | 11-11:50 a.m. | Online
Foundations of Teaching: Assessment as, for, of Learning provides participants with an introductory exploration into the concepts of student assessment for learning, student assessment of learning, and student assessment as learning. This talk will explore how to implement these three aspects of student assessment in order to enhance student learning and support effective teaching.
Foundations of Teaching: Learning Outcomes
Jan. 30 | 11-11:50 a.m. | Online
Most faculty recognize the importance of identifying learning goals, but some find determining objectives and outcomes difficult both in concept and in practice. In this Foundations of Teaching: Learning Outcomes talk, participants will learn how to write effective learning outcomes and how to map them to provide focus for both the instructor and the students during lectures and labs. Participants will also learn how mapping these well-written learning outcomes can provide a strong foundation for developing effective assessments.
Foundations of Teaching: Instructional Materials
Jan. 23 | 11-11:50 a.m. | Online
In this Foundations of Teaching: Instructional Materials talk, participants will learn about essential strategies for creating instructional materials that are engaging, accessible, and meaningful for both instructors and students. By implementing a few key strategies, students will find instructional materials that are easier to read and engage with, making them more accessible and sustainable for their learning!
Foundations of Teaching: Course Alignment
Jan. 16 | 11-11:50 a.m. | Online
Are you designing a course for the first time or redesigning a current course? Ensure it runs as smoothly as possible for both you as the instructor and for your students. In this Foundations of Teaching: Course Alignment talk, participants will learn five concepts to align and balance their course and, like a wheel, this will provide a smooth ride for both the instructor and students. By the end of the talk, participants will be able to reflect on how each of these five concepts could be implemented and aligned into their own course.