2009-2010 Workshop Series

Page updated on:Tuesday, February 02, 2010

The Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation's workshop series provides teaching support for current University of Toronto faculty.

If you would like to be added to our email events list or if you would like more information about our workshops, please contact Thuy Huynh at thuy.huynh@utoronto.ca or 416-946-5107

Please Note:  For those registered in the Faculty of Engineering's Prospective Professors in Training program (PPIT), if you are interested in attending one of the Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation (as one of your PPIT elective requirements), you must contact Cathy Baillie (cathy.baillie@utoronto.ca; 416-946-3799) prior to registering.  Only selected workshops are open to PPIT participants;this does not include roundtable sessions. Presenters at CTSI workshops will not sign your journals to confirm your attendance; however, you will receive a letter of attendance from the CTSI at the end of the term.  Any questions regarding registration at CTSI events should be directed to Cathy Baillie.

Upcoming Workshops

2009-2010 Workshop Series

Winter

2009-2010 Brown Bag Roundtables

Bring your lunch and participate in a current teaching topic discussion!

Winter topics-TBD

Postponed: Assembling Your Teaching Dossier: Dossier Clinic

Completed Workshops

2009 Back to School Workshop Series

Fall 2009

Winter 2010

2010 Workshop Series
Winter

Dealing with Incivility in the Classroom
Tuesday 23 February 2010, 10am-12pm
Malama Tsimenis, Lecturer, Humanities, UTSC
Location: Robarts Library, 4th Floor, Room 4049

Uncivil student behavior can range from inappropriate comments to passive rudeness, but it undoubtedly has a negative impact on both students and faculty, jeopardizing the learners’ experience and the instructors’ relationship with their students. This workshop will explore effective strategies that faculty can put to use in order to reduce or even eliminate problematic student conduct, without compromising academic rigor and, most importantly, without instructors' having to feel reluctant to challenge the students’ critical thought through the choice of controversial topics that could generate healthy debates and respectful discussions. Explicitly articulating behavioral expectations in the Syllabus, promoting a collaborative and engaging learning environment, developing effective communication skills, allowing students to voice their opinions on the course content through mid-term feedback, seeking peer evaluation, all of these are some of the practical strategies that will be discussed.

Registration is now available

Engaging Learners Through Critical Inquiry
Tuesday 9 March 2010, 10am-12pm
Garfield Gini-Newman, Lecturer, OISE/UT
Location: Robarts Library, 4th Floor, Room 4049

In an information age the challenge for students is no longer accessing information but the ability to assess reliability and credibility and to make sense of the mounts of information available. As Don Tapscott notes in his book "Grown Up Digital" the challenge for educators in the 21st century is to nurture creative, critical and collaborative thinking. In this workshop, participants will explore how they can best engage students in critical inquiry and help build the intellectual tools for quality thought.

Registration is now available

The Art and Science of Instructor Facilitation
Wednesday 24 March 2010, 10:00am-12:00pm
Kerry Knickle, Special Projects and Academic Educator, Standardized Patient Program
Nancy McNaughton, Associate Director, Standardized Patent Program
Location: Robarts Library, 4th Floor, Room 4049

Effective teaching requires strong facilitation skills. In view of learners’ diverse frames of reference, opinions and approaches to common problems, how do we foster shared perspective and productive dialogue with our students and colleagues? This experiential workshop is intended for instructors across disciplines who are interested in enhancing their facilitation skills and learning more about the art and science of large and small group facilitation.

Interactive exercises, feedback and facilitated discussion are designed to encourage participants as they reflect on and practice effective facilitation approaches that optimize the learner experience.  Live simulation will stimulate discussion and shared problem-solving around difficult teaching issues.

Participants will have an opportunity to:

  • Reflect on their current teaching style and approach.
  • Compare and discuss challenging learner issues.
  • Review and model useful facilitation techniques and communication strategies.
  • Facilitate or observe a simulated teaching session to maximize group learning.
  • Actively engage in group problem solving exercises.

Registration is now available

Productive Small Group Learning: Enhancing Learning Experiences in Classroom Instruction
Tuesday 30 March 2010, 9:30am-12:00pm
Carol Rolheiser, Director, Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation
Megan Burnett, Assistant Director, Teaching Assistants' Training Program
Location: Robarts Library, 4th Floor, Room 4049

This interactive session will focus on the role productive small group learning can play in enhancing learning experiences for students in classroom settings. Participants will explore small group instructional strategies that provide variety, meaning, and motivation to learning. The workshop will include discussion regarding the research-based five basic elements of productive small group learning and the outcomes that can be enhanced through the use of this instructional strategy.  Participants will also experience a number of small group structures to use in their own classrooms, analyze a demonstration lesson, explore challenges, and consider applications to personal teaching contexts.

Registration is now available

Delivering Effective Verbal Feedback to Students
Thursday 1 April 2010, 10am-12pm
Zubin Austin, Associate Professor at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy.
Diana Tabak, Associate Director of the Standardized Patient Program, Faculty of Medicine.
Location: Robarts Library, 4th Floor, Room 4049

Creating student engagement involves significant interaction and verbal communication.  Many students prefer to learn from verbal feedback from instructors rather than written comments.  In this workshop, we will examine methods for delivering effective verbal feedback to students to facilitate professional and personal development.

Registration is now available

Completed Workshops

2009 Back To School Workshop Series

What's Your Style?:  Using Learning Styles Theory to Improve Teaching
17 August 2009, 10am-12pm
Zubin Austin, Associate Professor, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy
Location: Robarts Library, 4th Floor, Room 4049

This interactive session will introduce participants to learning styles theory and the ways in which it can be used to improve the quality of teaching and learning.  Participants will have an opportunity to reflect upon their own teaching and learning styles and will complete activities to illustrate the importance of mixed teaching methods in the classroom or clinical setting. 

First Class, First Impressions
19 August 2009, 10am-12pm
Nick Mount, Associate Professor, Department of English, University of Toronto
Clare Hasenkampf, Associate Professor, Biological Sciences, UTSC
Location: Robarts Library, 4th Floor, Room 4049

A seminar on preparing and teaching first classes: administrative advice, the oddities of UofT culture (i.e. things I wish someone had told me), organizing a first class, pedagogical suggestions. The seminar will include some tips by two experienced faculty members from the University of Toronto as well as provide an opportunity for new and experienced teachers to talk about the many ways to launch a term, before actually doing so.

A Field Guide to the U of T: Navigating the Institution
24 August 2009, 1pm-3pm
Gage Averill, Vice-Principal, Academic and Dean, University of Toronto Mississauga
Location: Robarts Library, 4th Floor, Room 4049

The University of Toronto is a dizzyingly complex institution.  This session provides a “Cook’s Tour” of the institution, its constituent parts, its governance, its bewildering acronyms, budgets, and institutional culture for new faculty members. The mantra is a simple one: master the environment in which you work.

Educational Technologies to Support Your Teaching
25 August 2009, 10am-12pm
Cathy Baillie, Programs Coordinator, Office of Teaching Advancement
Ryan Green, Courseware Support Specialist, Centre for Teaching Support and Innovation
Saira Mall, Courseware Support Specialist, Centre for Teaching Support and Innovation
Location: Robarts Library, 4th Floor, Room 4049

Technology in the classroom has a wide range of uses from administrative to creative learning experiences. This integration has many benefits, and may also pose some challenges. In this interactive session participants will be encouraged to share their experiences using technology, participate in activities that will help identify appropriate and achievable uses of technology to enhance learning and teaching in your course, and be introduced to uses of technology at the University of Toronto such as Turnitin.com and Blackboard.

Syllabus Design Clinic: Making the Syllabus Work for You and Your Students
26 August 2009, 10am-12pm
Megan Burnett, Assistant Director, Teaching Assistants' Training Program
Pamela Gravestock, Associate Director, Office of Teaching Advancement
Location: Robarts Library, 4th Floor, Room 4049

The course syllabus is the primary means of communicating course objectives and instructor expectations. A well-crafted syllabus ensures that students understand the essential requirements for participating and succeeding in the course.

In this session, participants will evaluate sample course syllabi and identify the components of a clear and meaningful syllabus. They will also learn how syllabi can help to guide student learning and serve as an effective course management tool.  Attendees will receive useful take-away resources and guidelines that will help them prepare or revise their own documents.  We encourage participants to bring copies of their own syllabi for review and discussion.

The Polished Presentation
27 August 2009, 10am-12pm
Melanie Novis, Instructor
Location: Robarts Library, 4th Floor, Room 4049

Enhance your classroom performance by learning the techniques of professional presentation. This interactive 2 hour workshop will help you become more effective when communicating and presenting your lectures. The  workshop will cover the critical success factors of presentation, impromptu speaking, mastering questions and using powerpoint with impact. You will emerge with techniques and methods to speak with confidence and clarity.

Understanding and Supporting Students
28 August 2009, 10am-12pm
Deanne Fisher, Director, Office of Student Life,
Cheryl Shook, Registrar, Woodsworth College
Lucy Fromowitz, Assistant Vice-President, Student Life
Location: Robarts Library, 4th Floor, Room 4049

Enhance your ability to deal effectively with student issues as they arise by learning more about undergraduate students and the network of supports available to them. A trio of experienced administrative staff will lead you through the demographics of our student population, the support system for students at U of T, and the steps to follow in typical situations that arise in the classroom. The emphasis here is on enhancing your capacity to create a positive learning environment by understanding student needs and referring students who need help to the appropriate resource.

Assembling Your Teaching Dossier: Dossier Clinic
Postponed
Charly Bank, Department of Geology, University of Toronto
Megan Burnett, Assistant Director, TATP
Location: Robarts Library, 4th Floor, Room 4049

NB: The primary mandate of the Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation's workshop series is to provide teaching support for current UofT instructors. While we normally welcome graduate students to most of our events, at times due to high demand or a particular workshop focus, we must restrict attendance to current UofT faculty members, CLTAs and sessional instructors. At present, this event is not open to graduate students or PPIT participants.

Building on the overview of teaching dossiers provided in the May 6th workshop, “Getting Started”, this session will give faculty members the chance to “put it all together”. Participants will have the hands-on opportunity to literally assemble their own dossiers and receive feedback on their Statements of Teaching Philosophy.

Working in small groups with input from CTSI facilitators, participants will choose some of the evidence to be included in their dossiers and will review drafts of the Statements of Teaching Philosophy begun in the workshop on May 6th. PLEASE NOTE: While it will be helpful to have attended the May 6th session, participation in that workshop is not necessary to enroll in the September 4th clinic.

Participants in this session are asked to come prepared with the following:

  • a draft of a Statement of Teaching Philosophy (maximum length: 1 - 2 pages, single-spaced; minimum length: a short paragraph or a few bullet points) - PLEASE BRING 3 COPIES OF YOUR STATEMENT
  • representative course syllabi from University of Toronto courses taught in the past (choosing which courses to highlight will be discussed in the May 6th workshop)
    - include syllabi for new courses that have been developed, if possible
    - include syllabus for a core course that was significantly redeveloped, if possible
  • sample teaching materials from University of Toronto courses taught in the past (this may include any sample examinations, tests, quizzes, study handouts, explanatory handouts, visual aids, or assignments prepared for past courses)
  • course evaluations

PLEASE NOTE: The teaching dossier clinic is both practical and highly interactive. The point of the clinic is twofold: to work with one’s own documents and practice making judgments about what constitutes evidence of effective teaching, but also, to provide feedback to colleagues about their dossier materials. Out of fairness and respect to all clinic participants, we discourage registrants from simply observing other colleagues assembling their dossiers without bringing materials of their own.

So You Suspect An Academic Offence. What Next?
28 September 2009, 12pm-1:30pm
J.J. Berry Smith, Professor of Cell & Systems Biology & Vice Dean, Students, School of Graduate Studies
Location: Robarts Library, 4th Floor, CTSI Boardroom

Discovering that one of your students appears to have cheated is an inevitable but always unwelcome part of teaching. The sense of personal affront adds to the dismay at being faced with a seemingly arduous and mysterious process to deal with it. At this roundtable, Professor Berry Smith will help guide you through that process and the good reasons for its existence, as well as discuss ways to minimize the opportunity and motivation to cheat.

Building Collaborative Partnerships to Address Disability Related Barriers to Academic Success  
6 October 2009, 12pm-1:30pm
Tanya Lewis, Director of Academic Skills and Accessibility Services
Location: Robarts Library, 4th Floor, CTSI Boardroom

What are the respective roles of faculty, students and Accessibility Services in the accommodation process? How do you think about accommodation in relation to academic standards? How can your classroom be a welcoming environment? Bring your questions to this facilitated discussion.

Responding to Students’ Written Work
16 October 2009, 10am-12pm
J. Barbara Rose, Senior Lecturer, Woodsworth College
Michael Lapointe, Instructor, Woodsworth College
Location: Robarts Library, 4th Floor, Room 4049

J. Barbara Rose will offer practical advice using best practices (with a focus on the humanities) in responding to written assignments to contribute to students’ learning in your course, and will show samples to inspire you.  Issues will include communicating your expectations without imposing your ideas, deterring plagiarism, and designing for constructive evaluation.

Michael Lapointe will briefly describe the various innovative models of communication integration from the Engineering Communication Program that assists students with their written and oral skills.   Methods and tools of student evaluation, especially rubrics will be examined.

Building your Teaching Team: Working Effectively with TAs
11 November 2009, 2pm-4pm
Megan Burnett, Assistant Director, TATP
Andy Dicks, Senior Lecturer, Department of Chemistry
Location: Robarts Library, 4th Floor, Room 4049

Teaching assistants are an invaluable part of the teaching community at any university. They are on the "front lines" of postsecondary teaching. As such, they deserve the support and encouragement of their Course Supervisors, and deserve to be sufficiently prepared for their instructional role. This workshop will outline the benefits of modeling effective teaching practice for TAs--including course planning and lesson planning, time management, communicating with students and giving effective feedback--and will take you through the steps necessary to prepare them for teaching duties at U of T. Participants will be invited to share their own ideas for supporting TAs and raise any concerns or questions they may have surrounding TA development. Strategies for how to effectively manage and supervise a team of TAs will also be provided.

Are There Any Questions?
17 November 2009, 10am-12pm
Charly Bank, Lecturer, Department of Geology
Location: Robarts Library, 4th Floor, Room 4049

Questions activate higher-order cognitive skills. Research is driven by questions, student assessment of learning is based on questions. Questions can make a classroom interactive, yet asking good questions is challenging, and provoking students to come up with their own questions can be daunting. In this session we will:

  • discuss different functions of questions,
  • assess characteristics of good questions (and good questioners),
  • simulate techniques which help us to incorporate questions into our lessons,
  • review how we can encourage questions from students, and
  • create meaningful exam questions, including multiple choice.

Doctoral Supervision: Pleasures and Pitfalls
Monday 18 January 2010, 2pm-4pm
Paul Stevens, Professor and Canada Research Chair, Department of English
Location: Robarts Library, Room 4049

One of the most personally and professionally enriching experiences  for a university teacher is supervising doctoral students-that is, watching people take an idea (which they believe in, often with passion) and run with it, and trying to help them do that in the best way possible. This session will examine the pleasures, but also the  pitfalls, of the supervisory role, focusing on the responsibilities (ethical as well as intellectual) of the supervisor.

The Seminar as an Active Learning Environment
Monday 25 January 2010, 2pm-4pm
Nicholas Terpstra, Professor, Department of History
Location: Robarts Library, Room 4049

This workshop will consider a variety of ways by which seminars can move beyond the simple presentation of reading reports and become more interactive and enjoyable learning experiences.  

The Building Blocks of Effective Lesson Planning and Design
Tuesday 2 February 2010, 10am-12pm
Carol Rolheiser, Director, Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation
Location: Robarts Library, 4th Floor, Room 4049

The goal of lesson design is to sequence and organize a lesson, or series of lessons, so that instructors can maximize student engagement in the learning experiences, and optimize achievement. By exploring the components of effective lesson planning we can also enhance teaching effectiveness and satisfaction.

This workshop will provide a forum for discussing the building blocks of effective lesson planning and approaches to lesson design. Time will be provided for sharing approaches, strategies, and templates for developing solid lessons. Ideas and resources will be presented, while also maximizing participant discussion regarding successful lesson planning strategies and challenging issues.

Discussion will explore questions such as:

• What are key components or building blocks of a lesson plan?
• How does current research inform how we think about the components of an effective plan?
• Where do you start with planning?
• What considerations guide your thinking?
• What lesson planning successes have you experienced?
• What lesson planning challenges have you faced?

2009 Brown Bag Rountables

Preparing a Nomination Dossier for the President’s Teaching Award
24 November 2009, 12pm-1:30pm
Cathy Baillie, Programs Coordinator, Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation
Pam Gravestock, Associate Director, Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation
Location: Robarts Library, 4th Floor, CTSI Boardroom

The Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation provides support to UofT instructors throughout the application process for various teaching awards. In this roundtable session, Pam Gravestock and Cathy Baillie will provide a brief overview of the nomination process for the University of Toronto’s President’s Teaching Award and will offer advice and suggestions regarding the assembly of the nomination dossier. (Sample winning nominations will be available for participants to review.)