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November 2025
Registration Open: Assessment Design Institute: Meaningful AI Integration to Support Learning
Join us for the Assessment Design Institute: Meaningful AI Integration to Support Learning (December 15–16). This hands-on institute takes place virtually over two days, and invites instructors to explore how generative AI can be thoughtfully integrated into course assessments to support deeper learning, foster critical thinking, and build students’ AI literacy. Day 1 focuses on experimenting with AI tools and redesigning a current assessment to align with course outcomes, support student learning, and develop AI literacy, including reconsidering grading and feedback practices. Day 2 emphasizes collaborative refinement of assessments, strategies for transparent communication with students about AI, and leaving with a draft revised assignment and grading approach, plus a network of peers exploring AI in assessment. The Assessment Design Institute is open to any faculty, instructors, staff, postdocs, and graduate students who are redesigning an assessment from the University of Guelph, Guelph-Humber, and Ridgetown campuses. Registration closes December 9, 2025. Space is limited to 40 participants.
Call for Proposals: Teaching and Learning Innovations Conference
At the University of Guelph’s 37th Teaching and Learning Innovations Conference, we will come together to explore the theme of Conditions for Learning and its influence on how we teach, learn, and work together. On Thursday, May 21st, we will connect in person at the University Centre for speakers, interactive sessions, and presentations. On Friday, May 22nd, we will connect synchronously online with a different set of interactive sessions and presentations. The Call for Proposals is now open! We invite all faculty, sessionals, instructors, staff, educational developers, and students (graduate and undergraduate) to submit a proposal for the 2026 Teaching and Learning Innovations Conference. For details about the conference theme, session formats, and proposal submission requirements, please visit the 2026 TLI Conference website (linked below). Proposals are due Friday, January 16th, 2026 (end of day, 5:00 pm). Registration details will be available in early March 2026.
Registration Open: Winter Book Club, Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI
Co-facilitated by Erin Aspenlieder of OTL and Melanie Parlette-Stewart of the McLaughlin Library, the winter book club explores Ethan Mollick’s book Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI. The book club will make space for conversations about AI use in teaching and learning. The book explores multiple ways to engage with AI (as co-worker, co-teacher, and coach) and considers existing and future impacts on teaching and learning (among other areas). While the book skews towards the optimistic, this book club will be a space for all perspectives and will encourage and invite constructive dialogue and respectful disagreement. The book also assumes no prior knowledge of AI but offers a grounding knowledge before moving quickly toward application. Which is to say: you do not need to be an AI enthusiast or expert to participate. Over three meetings and with an in-person meeting group and a virtual meeting group, we aim to get you thinking and talking. Join us January 21, February 25 and March 25.
Registration Open: Panel Discussion on Using AI for Grading and FeedbackIn many parts of the University community artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how we teach and learn; in some spaces AI is, will, or could be changing how we grade and give feedback. This panel discussion creates a space for an open conversation about the opportunities and challenges of using AI for grading and feedback. Panelists include instructors and students from across the University of Guelph who have a range of perspectives and experiences. Moderated by the Associate Vice-Provost, Academic, Byron Sheldrick the session will include discussion among the panelists as well as time for questions and discussion among the attendees. The goal of the conversation is to listen, reflect, and begin a dialogue about what AI could mean for grading, feedback and assessment at the University of Guelph, University of Guelph-Humber and Ridgetown.
Registration Open: AI in Teaching and Learning Community of Practice
The AI in Teaching and Learning Community of Practice (CoP) is open to all of the University of Guelph, University of Guelph-Humber and Ridgetown Campus communities. The CoP includes a monthly opportunity to engage with peers on a topic in AI in teaching and learning across a range of perspectives, disciplines, and experience levels. While meetings are held in person, there is also a lively MS Team that shares resources, questions/answers and discussions.
Registration Open: Open Education Community of Practice
The Open Education Community of Practice is a forum for folks across the University of Guelph, University of Guelph-Humber, and Ridgetown Campus to learn, share strategies, ideas, advice, and collaborate, while building community around the use, advocacy, and advancement of open education and pedagogy, open educational resources (OERs), and affordable course content on campus. Faculty, instructors, staff, and students are welcome to attend, regardless of your existing level of knowledge about open education and OER. Co-led by the McLaughlin Library and the Office of Teaching & Learning, meetings begin with a kick-off introduction to Open Education in January. In February, we will explore what Open Education has looked like at the University of Guelph and discuss what we want it to be, with later meeting topics chosen based on group interests. Topics may include:
This community of practice will provide a collaborative learning environment, with presentations and discussion among colleagues.
Registration Open: Get Ready for the Semester Workshops
Join us for the Get Ready for the Semester Workshop Series, taking place January 6-22, 2026. The following workshops are open to all faculty, instructors, staff, post docs, graduate students, and teaching assistants from the University of Guelph, University of Guelph-Humber, and Ridgetown Campus:
The following additional workshops are designed for Teaching Assistants, but open to anyone who is interested:
Retirement Announcement: Janet Wolstenholme
After 23 remarkable years of service, Janet Wolstenholme is retiring from the University of Guelph at the end of this year. Janet's impact on teaching and learning at Guelph has been profound and far-reaching. Janet's journey at Guelph began in September 2001, working on curriculum development for the University of Guelph-Humber. She joined what is now OTL in 2007, where she has shaped the professional development landscape for faculty and graduate students across the University community. Her achievements are impressive: co-creating and leading the Educational Leadership in Teaching Excellence (EnLITE) program and securing its international accreditation with the Staff and Educational Development Association (SEDA) in the UK; serving as Chair and Co-Chair of our Teaching and Learning Innovations Conference for over 15 years; and developing countless workshops and communities of practice that have transformed teaching at Guelph. She's brought inspiring keynote speakers like Stephen Brookfield and James Zull to campus, supported faculty in achieving OCUFA and 3M National Teaching Fellowships, and created courses in the First Year Seminar Program, including "What is Art in the 21st Century?" - a course particularly close to her heart. What stands out most about Janet's work is the personal attention she brings to every consultation, workshop, and interaction. Her unique combination of rigorous educational expertise and creative thinking, rooted in her background as an artis, has made her an invaluable colleague and mentor to so many. As Janet returns to her artistic passions in encaustic art, jewelry-making, and photography, we celebrate her tremendous contributions to our community. Please join us for a retirement drop-in coffee to celebrate Janet on December 3rd between 10:30-11:30 in Day Hall. No registration is required.
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