March 2023 OTL AnnouncementsAnnouncing the U of G Teaching and Learning Network Members The University of Guelph's Office of the Provost and Associate Vice-President (Academic) has announced the members of the University of Guelph Teaching and Learning Network. This initiative will enhance teaching and learning on our campuses and promote teaching and learning innovations. The Network will coordinate the exchange of ideas and resources, coordinate communication and marketing of teaching and learning events and resources, collaborate on projects, and build educational leadership capacity. It includes representatives from the Colleges, campuses, units, a graduate student, and an undergraduate student. For a list of the Network members and the full announcement, please visit our announcement page. Inquire Call for Applications Now Open The Inquire Certificate in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) is designed for U of G faculty, instructors and staff who are interested in conducting research on teaching and learning. This 16-month program includes a 3-day in-person kick-off session on May 23rd, 24th, and 29th. Applications for the 2023 – 2024 Inquire cohort are now being accepted. For more information, and to apply check out the Inquire website. Reminder: 2023/24 AVPA SoTL Grant Call for Proposals Due March 24th, 2023 The goal of the AVPA Grant for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) is to encourage and support scholarship that informs and enhances learning experiences, teaching practices, and educational development within and across disciplines by providing financial support for research projects. The AVPA SoTL Grant competition considers submissions designed to support any aspect of SoTL. Please submit your completed proposal via email to the AVPA’s office no later than 4:00pm March 24th, 2023, using the downloadable proposal and budget templates available on the OTL website. We welcome and look forward to new AVPA SoTL Grant applicants. AI in the Spotlight at UofGAs universities grapple with advancing artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT, and its impact on teaching and assessment, several upcoming sessions at U of G will help instructors think through this complex topic.
OTL Book Club: Registration OpenSpring 2023 Book Club Registration– What Inclusive Instructors Do: Principles and Practices for Excellence in College Teaching Beginning April 6th, the Office of Teaching and Learning will host a book club to discuss What Inclusive Instructors Do: Principles and Practices for Excellence in College Teaching (Addy et al., 2021). Book club discussions are open to all University of Guelph faculty and instructional staff (including sessionals). The book club is always welcoming new members. Register here. Featured Teaching Resource Our Spring book club selection author, Tracie Addy, recently co-authored a protocol to assess the use of inclusive teaching strategies. This validated classroom observation tool is designed to provide instructors with feedback about their use of observable inclusive teaching strategies. The article provides a comprehensive list of observable inclusive teaching strategies, with scenarios and videos illustrating these strategies in action (see pp. 83 – 39). Inclusive teaching strategies assessed in the protocol include: using diverse examples, making real-world connections to the material, calling on students by name, and using language that encourages a growth mindset. Check out the article for inspiration on making your teaching more inclusive. Focus on Universal Design for LearningUniversal Design Tools, Part 1 In addition to Universal Design for Learning that we have been reviewing over the past several issues of the newsletter, additional tools have been developed to minimize barriers and maximize learning. Universal Instructional Design (UID) focuses on ensuring education is accessible to the greatest number of students, ideally all of them. Principles underlying UID include:
A 2004 study showed that U of G students “reported greater academic self-efficacy and more positive emotions" in courses that implemented the practices. This UID Quick-Start Implementation Checklist (2004) shows how tangible changes in course design, delivery, materials and tools, and environments make courses more accessible. Two decades later, UID implementation remains a practical means to make courses more inclusive. Our educational developer Christopher Laursen can help you review universal design principles to enhance your courses. You can reach him at laursenc@uoguelph.ca Newsletter NewsJoin the OTL Newsletter Mailing List Since its inception in 2021, the OTL Teaching & Learning Digest has been distributed through central administration via Chairs, Deans, and Administrative Assistants. We are pleased to share that UofG faculty, staff, and students can now subscribe directly to our newsletter to make sure you don’t miss it. Share Your Feedback about the OTL Teaching & Learning Digest We are seeking feedback from the UofG community about the OTL Teaching & Learning Digest, our monthly OTL newsletter. Please complete this short survey to share your thoughts to help us make the newsletter as useful as possible. For more teaching resources or to chat with an Educational Developer, visit our website at otl.uoguelph.ca or contact otl@uoguelph.ca.
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