Intensive Workshops

This intensive developmental workshop is offered in a small group setting (4-5 peers) and is designed to enhance teaching effectiveness. Participants design and deliver three lessons and receive verbal, written, and video feedback from their colleagues who have been learners in the lessons.

Lessons are ten minutes in length and can be either in the area of expertise of the participant or any area of interest. Using an intensive experiential learning approach, participants are provided with information on the theory and practice of teaching adult learners, the selection and writing of useful intended learning outcomes with accompanying lesson plans, techniques for eliciting learner participation, and suggestions for evaluation of learning. Reflection and examination of one’s teaching practices are encouraged.

Each participant must prepare and present three lessons and provide feedback to every member of their small group in a timely fashion to receive their Instructional Skills Workshop certificate.

The Course (re)Design Workshop aims to engage and support academic staff in designing or redesigning a course. The Workshop includes facilitated sessions on course design topics, including constructive alignment, learning outcomes, teaching and learning activities, and assessment; the Workshop also includes dedicated time for individual work and/or peer feedback and/or consultation time. The structure of the Workshop encourages participants to focus on a single course design while developing skills applicable to course design more generally. While the focus of the Workshop is on in-person or blended course design, many of the course design principles discussed will be applicable to other formats. 

Intended Learning Outcomes 

By the end of the CrDW, participants will have designed a constructively aligned, learning-centred, and evidence-informed draft of their course appropriate to their teaching context.

Participants will have: 

• Explained and accounted for the alignment between course and program outcomes. 
• Identified campus resources useful for implementing individual course design features and pedagogies.  
• Networked and shared ideas, challenges, and strategies related to teaching and learning with interdisciplinary peers.
  

Course Format 

The CrDW is designed to be highly supportive, collegial, and collaborative. Each day includes interactive group sessions to explore theories and course design principles, followed by individual, flexible work time and opportunities to give and receive peer feedback. Consultations with teaching and learning support staff are offered daily. Participants will actively engage in the course redesign process throughout the workshop and will have many opportunities to get feedback from their colleagues and the CrDW facilitators. Afternoon consultation sessions may be offered both in person and online.  

Interested instructors may have the opportunity to work with a student partner after completion of the workshop to provide feedback on their course’s development. More information about the Course Consultant Partnership Program is available here. 

Who Can Participate? 

You are eligible to register if you are: 

• Teaching a course during the upcoming academic year 
• Eager to learn more about a scholarly and learner-centred approach to course design; and, 
• Able to commit to the six required days of the Workshop in full.

This in-person workshop provides an opportunity for individual instructors or instructional teams to focus on the enhancement of a new or existing assessment in their course(s). Through peer feedback and guided work time, informed by facilitated sessions on topics such as rubrics and assessing group work, this workshop helps instructors implement meaningful assessments that support student learning. Instructors should come prepared with a new or existing assessment to enhance over the course of the workshop.  

Intended Learning Outcomes 

By the end of the workshops, participants will be able to:  

• Reflect on what you want students to learn through your assessment 
• Engage with recommended practices for assessment  
• Consider feedback on your assessment design 
• Revise an assessment to best measure the knowledge and skills you most want your students to learn  

Course Format 

The ADW is designed to be highly collaborative with a strong focus on peer feedback. Modelled after an Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW), each day includes a feedback cycle in which participants present their assessments and receive verbal and written feedback from peers. In addition, participants will engage in interactive group sessions to explore assessment design principles and theories. Topics for these sessions will be selected based on requests from participants and designed to help instructors in designing their individual assessments. There will be opportunities for individual work and consultations with teaching and learning support staff. Consultants will be selected based on the types of assessments being developed by the participants to ensure a tailored experience for each cohort.