Have you met…Christopher?

Christopher Laursen

Would you tell us a bit about where you are from, Christopher?

I grew up near Miquelon Lakes in the heart of the Beaver Hills - known as amiskwicay in nêhiyawêwin (the Cree language). My heart is in many places. I’ve worked and studied, first as a journalist, then a historian, in British Columbia, Ontario, Indonesia, and North Carolina - with many world travels. This informs my pedagogical approaches, which are grounded in interconnectedness. 

I value the diverse yet shared minds and experiences we hold together. And I honour the crucial role of teaching and learning in understanding past generations and making this a better place for present and future generations. That’s truly where I’m coming from, and why my work here at the U of A is so meaningful.

What draws you to working in the area of curriculum innovation? 

The word “innovation” is often overused, but let’s reconsider what it means. The word’s Latin roots are about change, renewal, and restoration. In curriculum, innovation means continuously improving our academic programs: fine-tuning what works while integrating what students genuinely need. Innovation invites us to experiment, yet the outcome must be evidenced by what works. 

There are so many meaningful ways to innovate and renew. I'm partnering with colleagues across the U of A campuses who are innovating on many fronts. Key examples include true reconciliation as per our Indigenous Strategic Plan, AI fluency, creating a sense of belonging, and work-integrated learning.

How do you approach your work at the University of Alberta specifically?

I view my role as creating a hub, maintained through regular conversation with curriculum leads across colleges, the Programs Office, and Indigenous Programming and Research, as well as Access, Community, and Belonging. My goal is to provide structured support and referrals that bridge these areas. 

By connecting folks who are less familiar with curriculum development with experienced peers, we create a space for fresh, interdisciplinary ideas. It’s an exciting, integrated approach to ensuring our programs are supported by the best collective thinking. We're calling it the Curriculum Collaboratory.

What will success look like to you a year down the road?

A year from now, success means that anyone tasked with curriculum development, renewal, or review can easily access peer-powered gatherings and step-by-step resources. 

Our campus already has amazing people doing this work. Real cross-campus partnerships are already emerging from my first few months here, and I’ll be sharing our progress through a monthly Curriculum Collaboratory feature in our CTL newsletter, Pedagogically Speaking.

To move this forward, I invite anyone working on curriculum to reach out via Curriculum Planning: Getting the Support You Need. Understanding where you are in your process allows me to provide tailored support and invite you into the Curriculum Collaboratory. Success is seeing this community grow and finding that, together, our efforts have made curriculum work feel supported, manageable, and inspiring.