About
INSPIRE | Connect | Partner
Redefining Exceptional Teaching
At the CTL, exceptional teaching cannot exist without the inclusion of Indigenous voices and the critical examination of colonial structures. We are committed to decolonizing our practices by interrogating the Eurocentric biases in curriculum design and assessment. Simultaneously, we are dedicated to Indigenizing the academy by validating and weaving Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing into our teaching frameworks. We support instructors and leaders not just in adding content, but in shifting paradigms.
Supporting Teaching and Learning at the University of Alberta
At the University of Alberta, we aim to prepare graduates who can drive change, think critically, and lead in emerging fields (Shape: A Strategic Plan of Impact). The Centre for Teaching and Learning supports this mission by strengthening teaching and learning through collaboration across the university. As the university’s centre for teaching expertise, CTL leads professional development and advances research-informed, inclusive approaches that support exceptional teaching and meaningful student learning experiences while advancing the university’s strategic priorities and core commitments.
How We Work
Our team is committed to helping instructors achieve their teaching goals and supporting the university in advancing its teaching and learning priorities. People are at the centre of our work, and we create space for reflection, creativity, and connection. We focus our work through three areas:
Inspire: We work as thought partners with instructors, clarifying teaching goals, exploring possibilities, and making evidence-informed choices. We bring broad pedagogical expertise, practical tools, and programming that strengthen teaching practice and support meaningful, engaging learning experiences across disciplines.
Connect: We bring educators into conversation across disciplines, creating spaces where instructors, staff, and academic leaders share what they are learning, explore new approaches, and learn from one another’s experiences and expertise. We facilitate peer-to-peer learning and build relationships that sustain teaching and learning across campus.
Partner: We collaborate with faculty, staff, and university units to co-create initiatives that support instructors, enhance student learning, and advance a culture of teaching and learning at the U of A. Through campus partnerships, committee and governance work, we connect teaching expertise to policy and strategic priorities that strengthen a shared culture of teaching.
CTL’s work is grounded in the University of Alberta’s Framework for Effective Teaching, a research-informed model that defines effective teaching approaches. Our programming, consultations, and resources help educators bring this framework to life, fostering a culture of continuous growth and reflective practice. Guided by this foundation, we embrace key principles that shape our teaching and learning approach.
-
Embracing an expansive view of exceptional teaching: We recognize and value diverse contexts, experiences, and disciplinary approaches, understanding that teaching excellence takes many forms.
-
Learning through experience: Effective learning happens through hands-on, relevant experiences.
-
Commitment to truth and reconciliation: We recognize the impacts of colonialism and are dedicated to advancing Indigenous perspectives, knowledge systems, and pedagogies in our teaching and learning practices.
-
Access, community and belonging: We strive to create programming that reflects diverse identities and provides meaningful opportunities to engage and contribute. We advance equity, diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility in all aspects of our work and embed anti-colonial approaches that foster an environment of belonging for all.
-
Learning as a social process: We value lived experiences, foster teaching communities, and facilitate peer-to-peer learning.
-
Challenging perspectives: Growth emerges when we question assumptions. Our programming fosters self-reflection and encourages continuous learning.