Fall 2024 Welcome

The 2024-25 academic year is officially underway! The Office of Teaching and Learning (OTL) team warmly welcomes new and returning faculty, instructors, staff, and students. As the semester begins, we're reminded of the fulfilling and impactful work we do together to support and inspire our students.

Our office offers resources, programs, and consultations to support instructors at every stage of their teaching journey. We look forward to working together to create meaningful, engaging, and transformative learning experiences for you and your students. Explore our website or contact us at otl@uoguelph.ca.

Visit our Website Here

Registration Open: Workshops on Designing and Grading Assessments

In collaboration with OpenEd, we are offering three virtual workshops on assessment and grading approaches:

Rethinking Assessments in the Context of AI

Virtually via Zoom on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Join us for a workshop focused on rethinking assessments in the context of GenAI. In this session, attendees will be encouraged to run their current assessments through relevant GenAI tools to understand their capabilities. We will explore small changes to assignments that can encourage the appropriate use of AI and will share their current thinking about modifying their course assessments, with space to share the questions they still have, decisions they are still making, and the potential challenges they anticipate with their assessments. As a group, we will share ideas and work through potential solutions. This interactive workshop will provide a platform to discuss unanswered questions and collaboratively develop strategies for designing effective assessments with GenAI in mind.

Designing and Grading Exams

Virtually via Zoom on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

In this workshop, we’ll discuss strategies for designing effective exams that can assess students’ knowledge and skills at a variety of levels and in different formats, as well as strategies and tools for fair, efficient, and valuable grading and feedback. Participants will learn how to create exams that accurately assess student learning, promote critical thinking, and align with course learning outcomes. We will also discuss effective grading practices, including the use of rubrics, checklists, or scoring guides. This session will provide tips for how to design exams that leverage the use of Gradescope for efficient and consistent instructional team evaluation, including multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and short answer questions. Through activities, examples, and group discussions, attendees will gain practical insights and develop skills to enhance their assessment methods, ensuring they are fair, transparent, and supportive of student learning.

Designing and Grading Student Presentations

Virtually via Zoom on Thursday, October 03, 2024 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

In this workshop, we’ll discuss designing student presentation assignments that align with your course learning outcomes and provide students with opportunities to practice and demonstrate their learning and develop communication skills. We’ll discuss effective strategies for both individual and group presentations. Participants will also learn strategies for assessing presentations, including the development of rubrics, checklists, or scoring guides, and the use of instructor and peer feedback and self-assessment. The discussion of peer feedback will include an overview of PEAR for peer review and group assessment. Through activities, examples, and group discussions, attendees will gain practical insights and develop skills to integrate student presentations into their courses in a way that benefits both students and instructors.

Keep an eye on our newsletter, LinkedIn page, and Events calendar for upcoming sessions and registration information.

Job Posting: Educational Developer

OTL is hiring! We invite applications for an Educational Developer to join our team. Please share with your networks! The application deadline is September 23, 2024. Contact Christie Stewart with questions.

For more Information and to Apply, click here

Want to Author a SoTL Snapshot?

SoTL Snapshots are brief summaries of a single research study on a topic related to the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL). The purpose of SoTL Snapshots is to provide faculty and instructors with evidence-based teaching strategies that can be used in the classroom.

Interested in contributing to OTL's SoTL Snapshot Project? We invite authors to write and publish new SoTL Snapshots to add to our growing collection. Anyone can be an author! We welcome students, educational developers, staff, and instructors from the University of Guelph community and other institutions.

Vist the SoTL Snapshot site to Started

Meet an Educational Developer

Dr. Marsha Hinds Myrie

Educational Developer, Anti-Oppressive and Inclusive Pedagogies

What pathway did you take to your career as an Educational Developer?

I remember teaching my dollies – that was one of my favourite games as a child. When I went to College I did a double major in print and broadcast media and started working in the media but before soon I applied for a teaching job and got it. It was to be a temporary appointment for a term and this year I celebrate my 24th year in teaching and learning. When I was young I wanted to be a teacher and when I grow up, I still want to be a teacher.

What interests you about teaching and learning?

I had a hard time at school. I come from a very middle to upper class family but the home was characterized by sexual abuse and family instability. Although I had all the things that should have made me successful in school – and I was, I was an angry and difficult student. The teachers who literally saved my life were the ones who kept channeling my anger into learning. They gave me extra work, they registered me in opportunities and competitions that kept me busy. I wanted to be that teacher for the difficult students as I was and not only have I built a career in teaching but I pride myself on being safe space for all the strange and difficult and different students just like me. No amount of theory can replace a genuine connection between teacher and learner – that is when the magic happens.

What advice would you give new instructors?

Teaching is heart work. As well as you know your content area, as established as you are as a researcher, teaching is an act of revolutionary love and patience. The primary rule that every teacher in any teaching and learning environment must come to grips with is you literally hold life and hope in your hands – daily.

OTL has joined LinkedIn

Stay connected and informed by following our page for announcements about programming, workshops, resources, SoTL Snapshots, and all things related to Teaching and Learning at the University of Guelph.

For more teaching resources, to chat with an Educational Developer, or to unsubscribe to our newsletter, please visit our website at otl.uoguelph.ca or contact otl@uoguelph.ca.