Planned Contributions for Central Programming
Central Programming work is designed to support a broad range of needs across different fields and disciplines. In the coming year, the MacPherson Institute will continue to support instructors with centralized programming in the core mandate areas. Many of the central programming programs and functions are consistent year after year, however, this work is always evolving and adapting to the needs of McMaster’s teaching and learning community.
In the 2025-26 year, the MacPherson Institute will be working on a number of initiatives to address these needs and a few of these key projects are outlined below.
- Develop, enhance and deliver professional development for teaching offerings (e.g., courses and workshops) for educators
- Support the delivery of EDUCATN courses for the Teaching and Learning Certificates of Completion program
- Revise the approach for New Faculty Orientation
- Support educators via one-on-one teaching and learning consultations
- Support the Institutional Quality Assurance Process (IQAP)
- Continue pilot of the Curriculum Links curriculum mapping tool
- Update cyclical and new program approvals process flowchart
- Create Reviewers Guidance Video Tutorial
- Support the administration and promotion of the Student Partners Program including execution of the annual Community Forum, SaP Network and new Open Educational Resources and Generative AI Student Partner Streams
- Continue supporting and raising the profile of the International Journal for Students as Partners
- Support for two cohorts of Leadership in Teaching and Learning Fellows
- Support MacPherson Institute grant, award and fellowship recipients
- Ongoing support for writing-focused initiatives—including monthly writing days and an annual summer retreat—to support grant recipients and fellows in advancing the dissemination of scholarly work in teaching and learning
- Support various Digital Learning Strategic Framework activities that connect to the MacPherson Institute mandate including the Online Learning Fellows program
- Provide support and training for EdTech Stations
- Support a pilot for peerScholar, a formative peer-assessment tool
- Ongoing consultations and programming related to accessible teaching practice
- Advise on online and blended learning at course and program levels
- Deliver consultations and workshops on generative AI
- Support the integrations and updates for Simple Syllabus (Course Outline Library)
- Administration, maintenance and training for the Course Outline Library
- Administration, maintenance and training for Avenue to Learn
- Support the MacPherson Institute’s tracking and reporting application
- Ongoing support for MacVideo
- Ongoing support for MacPherson Institute studios and classroom technology
Planned Contributions for the Faculties
Every year the MacPherson Institute meets with the deans or associate deans from each of the six faculties, the dean of Graduate Studies, and the director of the Arts & Science program. These meetings are an opportunity to report back on supports and services that have been provided to each of these stakeholders. This activity also presents an opportunity to discuss strategic initiatives within each faculty and program for the year ahead.
In the 2025-26 year, the MacPherson Institute will be working on a number of initiatives to address individual needs and customized support for these faculties and programs. Several of these key projects are outlined below.
- Advising on peer review of teaching processes and teaching awards
- Facilitating an Instructional Skills Workshop for new faculty
- Consulting on potential new graduate and undergraduate programs
- Facilitating workshops on creating and reviewing teaching portfolios
- Advising on quality assurance processes and accessible teaching and learning
- Providing support regarding generative AI to departments and faculty members
- Launching video profiles of instructors who use alternative assessments
- Facilitating an Instructional Skills Workshop for McCall MacBain postdoctoral fellows
- Advising on Level 1 undergraduate curriculum review
- Providing supports for faculty and graduate students concerning the ethical use of AI in teaching and learning
- Advising on the Graduate Excellence in Mentorship and Supervision (GEMS) project
Planned Contributions to the Partnered in Teaching and Learning Strategy
The MacPherson Institute contributes to many initiatives related to teaching and learning at McMaster University. Contributions are primarily made in alignment with McMaster’s Partnered in Teaching and Learning Strategy, while other contributions are made to additional interconnected institutional strategies that align with the MacPherson Institute’s mandate. Key strategic projects planned for May 1, 2025 – April 30, 2026 are outlined below.
- Continue development of specific anti-racist frameworks and supports for IQAP reviews and new program development
- Administer and promote Student Curriculum Consultants program
- Consult and support the development of the Graduate Excellence, Mentorship, and Supervision (GEMS) online modules with the School of Graduate Studies
- Continue to deliver the Educational Development Fellows program
- Continue to support and promote student partnership through the Students as Partners Program and connected activities
- Develop the Accessible Course Design pilot
- Consider re-offering Learning Technologies Symposium (DLSF)
- Complete and release Do-It-Yourself Peer Observation of Teaching Guidebook
- Update Do-It-Yourself Mid-Term Feedback resources/templates for Teaching Refinements
- Continue to deliver the Teaching and Learning Certificates of Completion program
- Design and deliver the Innovations in Education Conference 2025
- Expand the guiding document for the “Use of Third Party Tools” (DLSF)
- Support Open Ed Week and Open Access Week events (DLSF)
- Participate in and support the EdTech Council (DLSF)
- Support the pilot of peerScholar
- Deliver Instructional Skills Workshop for online instruction (DLSF)
- Perform gap analysis and deliver workshop for Blended Learning Learning Catalogue module
- Develop Avenue to Learn PowerBI Dashboards
- Contribute to Video Platform RFP outcomes and implementation
- Continue to support Third Party Vendor integrations with Avenue to Learn
- Continue to support the conceptualization and development of microcredentials through consultations
- Develop, revise and enhance a variety of Learning Catalogue modules