P.D. for Teaching
Professional Development in Teaching activities support all of McMaster’s educators (TAs, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, instructors, faculty, and staff) as they strive to enhance their teaching and provide a positive student learning experience.
The MacPherson Institute designs and delivers a broad range of programming for educators throughout their careers from first-time teaching assistants to those preparing for teaching awards. Our goal is to provide flexible teaching development activities that are relevant to instructors at different career stages and with unique disciplinary contexts.
Key Statistics
Approximately 38% of all full-time faculty members reached from May 1, 2022 - April 30, 2023*
*372 of 975 total full-time faculty members engaged in meaningful pedagogical discussions or activities during this period (includes consultations, workshops, events, Avenue and IQAP support.) Please note: this number is an estimate based on current tracking capabilities.
94% of New Faculty (hired in summer and fall 2022) were contacted**
**31 individual new faculty members were contacted across all Faculties
Information Box Group
495 Consultations, Meetings and Workshops were delivered to educators across all Faculties, Arts & Science and Campus Partners***
***Educators is intended to include, but is not limited to, community partners, faculty, graduate students, librarians, post-doctoral fellows, sessional instructors, staff, teaching assistants, and undergraduate students who are involved in teaching in some capacity.
Curriculum Development activities focus on enhancing student learning experiences through academic program reviews and new program development. These supports are grounded in a philosophical approach that values student-centeredness and evidence-informed decision-making.
Departments have access to support for the development and refinement of program learning outcomes, curriculum mapping, administration of site visits, coordination of the Student Curriculum Consultants program and guidance on the Quality Assurance and institutional curriculum approvals processes. Support can also be provided to programs as they implement areas of improvement or enhancement identified during the Quality Assurance process.
Institutional Quality Assurance Process Overview
Graduate and Undergraduate Programs were reviewed in 2023 and are pending final approval of Final Assessment Reports
Graduate and Undergraduate Cyclical Review site visits during the 2024 winter/spring term
Graduate and Undergraduate Programs are currently developing their Self-Study report and will be reviewed in 2025
Accomplishments
Inclusive Teaching and Learning Resources
- In response to discussions with students and instructors at McMaster, the MacPherson Institute and the Equity and Inclusion Office launched a new resource to help foster more inclusive approaches in the classroom.
- The new Inclusive Teaching and Learning Resources website offers a variety of resources, links and tools that instructors can use to support building inclusive teaching and learning spaces.
- Resources on the webpage are categorized into four themes of inclusive practice: anti-racist pedagogies, decolonization, accessibility and assessment and grading.
Additional Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) Supports
- Program Review Self-Study Guidebook reformatted into an e-book for improved accessibility and updated with prompts for EDIA considerations
- Conducted an institutional scan to understand the needs of faculty members related to decolonizing classrooms and curriculum
- Continued to partner with Student Accessibility Services regarding essential learning requirements for Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and Public Service Employment Act (PSEA)
- A new session titled “IQAP and EDIA: Sharing Experiences and Best Practices” was added to the cyclical program review lunchtime information sessions
Curriculum Development Supports
- Piloted “Curriculum Links,” a new curriculum mapping tool, which offers expanded curriculum mapping capabilities for programs. Full integration of the tool is planned for 2024-25
- Expanded the acclaimed Student Curriculum Consultants program
- Supported the development of the new Leadership and Civic Studies program proposal, also known as Wilson College, and assisted with the site visit in November 2023 (approved by Quality Council to commence)
Digital Pedagogy activities connect the teaching and learning community at McMaster to approaches and skills to help transform teaching using digital methods, tools and media with a goal of accessible and engaging student learning experiences.
The MacPherson Institute provides pedagogical training, guidance and expertise in online, blended and open learning design, as well as the integration and use of educational technologies. Instructors can also seek advice on the pedagogical use of institutionally supported educational technology tools, Open Educational Resources and tech-enabled teaching and learning grants.
MacVideo Usage (May 2023 – April 2024)
Ed Tech Tools
The MacPherson Institute provides pedagogical training on a variety of educational technology tools that are supported through provincial funding.
Total H5P Studio User Accounts
New Participants in Learning to Teach Online Course
Accomplishments
EdTech Stations & Studios
In 2023, the MacPherson Institute launched 3 new EdTech Stations to support the development of teaching and learning content. Instructors can use these spaces to develop learning modules, create video and audio content, explore virtual and augmented reality tools, design web-based content and much more. These private rooms are equipped with a variety of design software and educational technology hardware to make production easy and accessible.
- In February 2024 the MacPherson Institute hosted 50+ attendees at the EdTech Open House.
- 140+ sessions have been booked to use the EdTech Stations and Studios in 2023-2024.
Open Educational Resources (OER)
Open Education Week
Hosted by Open Education Global (OEG), Open Education Week is an annual, week-long event that aims to raise awareness, showcase initiatives and highlight open education efforts in teaching and learning worldwide. Open Education Week provides instructors, practitioners and students with an opportunity to gain an understanding of open educational practices (OEP) and be inspired by the wealth of open educational resources (OER) being developed by the local and global communities.
- McMaster University Libraries and the MacPherson Institute collaborated to deliver 8 events to nearly 100 attendees.
OER Grant Program
14 faculty, instructional assistants and staff received grants to support 9 projects to foster the creation of free online textbooks and other openly licensed digital education materials in 2023-2024. The OER Grant program, supported by the Office of the Provost, McMaster Libraries, McMaster Students Union and the MacPherson Insititute, provides successful applicants with funding to create or adapt and customize OERs, enabling new pedagogical approaches and cost savings for students.
- Since 2020, grant-supported projects have saved students over $600,000 in text book costs. In 2023-2024 the program was expanded to offer $60,000 annually for 3 years.
Accessibility Programming
Over the past year, the MacPherson Institute has provided a variety of resources and workshops focused on enhancing accessibility practices in course design and delivery.
- In 2023-2024, 69 educators have participated in the 5-part workshop series on topics including Universal Design for Learning, accessible document creation and remediation, accessible assessment development and additional customized workshops for various faculties and departments.
Additional Accomplishments
- Supported the launch of McMaster’s first Digital Learning Strategy in collaboration with the Vice-Provost, Teaching and Learning, University Technology Services, and McMaster Libraries.
- Developed an incentivized Online Learning Fellows program aimed at supporting faculty in their design of quality online and blended courses. The first cohort will begin learning in Spring/Summer 2024.
- Delivered two new online workshops: one on computational text analysis with Jason Brodeur and one on creating digital exhibits.
- Completed Video Streaming Content Platform Review in collaboration with University Technology Services, Campus Classroom Technologies and other campus partners.
The MacPherson Institute supports, administers and provides training for a number of Learning Technologies tools including McMaster University’s Learning Management System: Avenue to Learn. Learning Technologies continue to play an important role in the student experience as instructors adapt to hybrid learning environments and leverage media in their classrooms both in-person and online.
The MacPherson Institute provides pedagogical training on a variety of educational technology tools that are institutionally supported.
Accomplishments
Course Outline Library Project Launch
In the fall of 2023, the Course Outline Library was launched to support a streamlined and simplified creation and archiving process for undergraduate course outlines across all Faculties.
The MacPherson Institute has helped with the implementation of the tool which included building custom templates to address unique use-cases in faculties and departments, providing a variety of training opportunities and designing resources to assist with onboarding to the platform.
- 30% of undergraduate course outlines were published using the tool
- 11 training events were delivered to 160+ participants
- 300+ support tickets answered
MacPherson Institute Classroom Renovation Project
In 2023, the MacPherson Institute classroom space was updated to meet the standards set for McMaster classrooms elsewhere on campus.
Updates include:
- New 85” inch wall-mounted digital display screens
- New audio system including hand-held, lavaliere and podium microphones
- New camera system to support hybrid and online learning environments
- Touch screen central control system to control all room technology
Learning Management System
- Support was provided for the review of the institutional Learning Management System. The results indicated there was no desire to change suppliers.
- External chat service options were explored and it was determined that the solution would not meet support standards. Exploration of alternative methods to support faculty, staff and students continues as new technologies like ChatGPT evolve.
- Integrations in Avenue to Learn continue to be reviewed while institutional policies for data governance, data retention and security are developed.
Scholarly Teaching activities enhance teaching and learning by supporting, generating, disseminating, promoting and recognizing research that has the capacity to inform educational initiatives and student learning.
The MacPherson Institute’s research successes over the past five years are attributed to the rapid uptake of the Student Partners Program; successful support for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) capacity through grant funding, workshops, communities of practice, conferences and individual consultations; development of research programs focused on key areas of teaching and learning practice including equity and inclusion in higher education and student-faculty partnership; contributions to educational development in international contexts; and, the establishment of research collaborations and networks that support local and international research and practice more broadly.
Students as Partners Community Forum
In 2024, the MacPherson Institute planned and executed the Students as Partners Community Forum pilot event. The initiative brought together students and educators who have created, planned to create or have participated in student partnership programs within and beyond McMaster. The pilot events ran on May 28 and June 26, 2024.
International Journal for Students as Partners
The International Journal for Students as Partners (IJSaP) is a journal about learning and teaching together in higher education. IJSaP explores new perspectives, practices, and policies regarding how students and staff are working in partnership to enhance learning and teaching in higher education. Shared responsibility for teaching and learning is the underlying premise of students as partners, and IJSaP is produced using a student-staff partnership approach.
Manuscripts Published
Faculty Reviewers
Student Reviewers
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Downloads
Abstract Views
Accomplishments
- Grants and Awards criteria and processes were revised to include more specific considerations for EDIA
- Expanded support programming for grant recipients including invitations to participate in Monthly Writing Days, Summer Writing Retreat, and the Innovations in Education Conference.
- Launched the first Students as Partners Community Forum in May and June 2024 to share knowledge and expand networks of those interested or participating in student partnership.
In order to cultivate an environment where learning deeply matters and teaching is valued and recognized by the collective McMaster community, it is important for us to celebrate teaching and learning at McMaster through a variety of forms. Over the past year, the MacPherson Institute has led and contributed to a number of activities to enhance the appreciation for teaching at McMaster.
Innovations in Education Conference
In 2022 the MacPherson Institute hosted the Innovations in Education Conference at McMaster University on December 8 and 9. Programming for the conference explored the Past, Present and Future of Teaching and Learning. Attendees participated in a variety of hybrid sessions to unpack how teaching has changed in the last 50 years, how it has stayed the same, and what we have lost and gained in the process. Two conference streams were available: Learning Technology and Research on Teaching and Learning.
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Total Presentations
Paper Presentations
Poster Presentations
Workshops
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Panel Discussions
Innovations in Education Website Views
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Sandbox Sessions
Teaching and Learning Month
Educators, faculty members, instructors and staff from across McMaster University have the opportunity to participate in professional development and celebrations of teaching as a professional practice. Teaching and Learning Month is an opportunity for many campus contributors to share teaching and learning events and programming during the month of May. The MacPherson Institute supports this initiative by coordinating and promoting these many events across different units into a month-long event series.
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Total Events in May 2022
Events Offered by the MacPherson Institute
Events Offered by Campus Partners
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Attendees
Teaching and Learning Month Website Views
Grant & Award Recipients
The MacPherson Institute recognizes and celebrates teaching and learning through a variety of awards and grant opportunities.
In partnership with the President’s Office, the MacPherson Institute supports the President’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Teaching and Learning.
Award Winners 2022
- Sheila Harms, Faculty of Health Sciences
- Krista Howarth, Faculty of Science
- Amin Reza Rajabzadeh, Faculty of Engineering
- Sarah Symons, Faculty of Science
- Vanessa Watts, Faculty of Social Sciences
The MacPherson Institute awards Leadership in Teaching and Learning Fellowships each year to faculty champions who act as leaders and mentors to advance improvement in teaching and learning and to enhance student learning experiences. The award for fellows is up to $15,000 over two years.
Fellows 2022
- Sharonna Greenberg, Faculty of Science
- Chad Harvey, Faculty of Science
- Seshasai Srinvasan, Faculty of Engineering
- Sandra VanderKaay, Faculty of Health Sciences
Fellows 2021
- Rashid Abu-Ghazalah, Faculty of Engineering
- Sarah Wojkowski, Faculty of Health Sciences
- Jennifer Nash, Faculty of Health Sciences
- Chris Sinding, Faculty of Social Sciences
The MacPherson Institute supports the Petro-Canada-McMaster Young Innovator Award each year. This award builds on the connection between research and teaching by engaging undergraduate students in research to enhance the learning environment and recognizes an innovative scholar within the first eight years of their research career.
Award Winner 2022
- Selina Mudavanhu, Faculty of Humanities
In partnership with the University Library, the MacPherson Institute supports the Open Education Resources Grant program.
Grant Recipients 2021-2022*
- Konstantinos Apostolou and Amin Rajabzadeh, Faculty of Engineering
- Mirna Carranza, Faculty of Social Sciences
- David Feinberg, Faculty of Science
- Chad Harvey, Faculty of Science
- Ali Hashemi, Faculty of Science
- Anne Holbrook, Faculty of Health Sciences
- Miroslav Lovric, Faculty of Science
- Antonio Paez, Faculty of Science
*Time period July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022
In partnership with the Office of the Vice Provost (Teaching and Learning), the MacPherson Institute contributes funding and support for the implementation of the Partnered in Teaching and Learning Strategy.
