Workshops on Effective Teaching

Facilitated by Laura Stoutenburg

Our ears and brains and hearts need to learn to listen to new ways of pronouncing English. They can do it! With a focus on how accents work, the impact of attitudes on accent comprehension, and the ways that different cultures engage in small talk and group work, this session will leave you with new knowledge and new skills for effective communication in the global classroom.

Facilitated by Sara Kafashan

This teaching basics workshop includes a) a brief introduction to relevant accessibility laws, practices, and guidelines for teaching in Ontario, b) a chance to select and match the best teaching practices for increased accessibility, c) an opportunity to discuss some scenarios with colleagues, and d) a debrief in which outstanding questions and suggestions for accessible teaching are shared. 

Facilitated by Ada Sharpe and Lauren Spring

This teaching basics workshop includes a) a brief introduction to common classroom management challenges b) evidence-informed suggestions and innovations to start the semester off on the right foot, taking into account the importance of creating an inclusive classroom community c) a discussion about how novice vs expert faculty tend to respond to classroom management challenges d) an opportunity to apply knowledge to a case study where participants can practice preventing and responding to classroom management incidents that may arise.

Facilitated by Glenn Wagner

This teaching basics workshop includes a) a brief introduction to lesson planning and the variables that can impact delivery in-person, b) a chance to match and assess sample in-person lesson plans components and set up/exit requirements to align with learning outcomes, a chance to select and assess lesson plan components matched with set/up requirements and learning outcomes c) an opportunity to create a draft part of a lesson plan for your next class and get feedback from a peer, d) a debrief in which outstanding questions and suggestions for effective in-person classes are shared.

Facilitated by Marcia Chaudet

Join this workshop to consider the various facets of your role as an asynchronous online teacher. Discuss ideas for “being present” asynchronously to support students throughout the semester. Learn where to locate additional information and supports for delivering and supporting students in your asynchronous course.

Facilitated by Adrienne Vanthuyne

This teaching basics workshop includes a) a brief introduction to managing group work and the variables that can impact student success, b) a chance to match and assess effective group work components and requirements c) an opportunity to draft set of checkpoints for setting up a group assignment and discuss with a peer, d) a debrief in which outstanding questions and suggestions for effective group work practices are shared.​

Facilitated by David Baidoo-Anu, Monsurat Raji and Ada Sharpe

This teaching basics workshop includes a) a brief introduction to aspects of marking submitted work such as short answer questions and written assignments using a pre-set rubric, b) a chance to match and assess steps to marking a complete class set of submissions c) an opportunity to practice marking a short answer using a rubric and and discuss with a peer, d) a debrief in which outstanding questions and suggestions for effective marking processes are shared

Facilitated by David Baidoo-Anu

Are you new to using rubrics? Come learn what a rubric is, how a rubric appears in eConestoga and how you can set about marking a set of assignments.

Facilitated by Laura Stoutenburg, Glenn Wagner and Sara Kafashan

This teaching basics workshop includes a) a brief introduction to lesson planning and the variables that can impact online synchronous classes, b) a chance to match and assess sample synchronous lesson plans components and set up/exit requirements to align with learning outcomes, c) an opportunity to draft part of a lesson plan for your next class and discuss with a peer, d) a debrief in which outstanding questions and suggestions for effective online synchronous classes are shared.

Facilitated by Adrienne Vanthuyne

This teaching basics workshop includes a) a brief introduction to unique stressors that international students encounter in a North American academic setting, b) a chance to select and match the best teaching practices for international students, c) an opportunity to discuss some scenarios with colleagues, d) a debrief in which outstanding questions and suggestions for teaching international students are shared.

Facilitated by Nasreen Sultana

This teaching basics workshop includes a) a brief description of common features and developmental characteristics of Ontario high school graduates, b) a chance to select and match the effective teaching practices for domestic first-year students, c) an opportunity to discuss realistic classroom scenarios with colleagues, d) a debrief that includes brainstorming strategies for supporting first-year domestic students.

Facilitated by Darren Power, Amy Buesser and Julia Rodricks

This tutorial will provide users with an overview of the Annual Program Reflection system, and explore best practices for each section. This session is ideal for those going into their first APR including Chairs, Coordinators, Faculty, Program Managers and other program team members. Guided by members of the Institutional Quality Management – Program Quality and Review team.

Facilitated by Ada Sharpe

Essays, multiple choice quizzes, and exams are standards of assessment, but other options exist in designing assessment tasks. Are you interested in infusing some creativity in your assessment design? Join this workshop to share ideas and explore possibilities to energize and innovate your assessments. We will explore alternatives to traditional assessments that support student learning with an emphasis on choice, creativity, and originality.

Facilitated by Darren Power,Amy Buesser and Julia Rodricks

This tutorial will focus on Annual Program Reflection (APR) Action Plan best practices, including using the SMART goals framework. This session is ideal for all users of the APR system including Chairs, Coordinators, Faculty, Program Managers and other program team members. Guided by members of the Institutional Quality Management – Program Quality and Review team.

Facilitated by Nasreen Sultana

This is a beginner workshop for the new teachers to help them to start to implement lesson planning and active learning strategies in their teaching.

Facilitated by Ada Sharpe and David Baidoo-Anu

This workshop invites you to explore the potential for assumptions and biases to negatively impact grading practices.  We will reflect on our own experiences, as well as look to the literature to support self-awareness.  We will discuss proven practices in grading and assessment design that can work to mitigate challenges.  Let’s come together to explore how we can begin to understand and reduce the impact of bias on our grading practices. 

Facilitated by Elan Paulson

This workshop invites faculty to consider how to make sense of their current thinking about generative AI (genAI) and teaching using a four-stage framework (Maloney, 2023). Join to reflect and share with colleagues how your feelings and experiences with genAI are reshaping your thoughts on the educator role. Let’s explore ways to find restoration, information, and inspiration as we face the year ahead.

Facilitated by Evelyn Schmidt

With Office365, you can support and track group-based assessments! This hands-on workshop will provide you with the skills and experience you need to have students creating and sharing documents, collaborating on projects, and actively co-constructing learning as they demonstrate it to you. We will experiment with how to use the OneDrive to plan group projects using shared documents and calendars. We will test out adding comments to provide feedback and tracking individual student contributions to group products. Finally, we will determine where students may encounter issues, and create strategies to help manage group work in the digital environment.

Facilitated by Laura Stoutenburg and Mihaela Simion

So you have been asked to develop a course! Join a Curriculum Consultant and a Teaching and Learning consultant to explore the necessary elements for a great course. The session will introduce course learning outcomes as well as the overall role of the course outline and its relationship to program standards. Considerations for planning lessons, assessments, and rubrics that other faculty can follow will be explored.

Facilitated by Evelyn Schmidt

Did you know you can record video presentations directly in PowerPoint? This workshop will explore PowerPoint’s built in video features, demonstrate how to integrate these into your presentations, and review how your final videos can be exported or shared.

Facilitated by Marcia Chaudet, Tyler Pollard and Amber West

During this workshop, we will explore strategies for preparing the model course shell to equip faculty for successful teaching in their upcoming term. Our discussions will revolve around intentional course shell design and the utilization of tools aimed at fostering consistency and creating engaging learning environments for students. Additionally, we will examine teaching approaches that enable faculty members to personalize their section shell while upholding course outcomes.

Facilitated by Jesslyn Wilkinson

Dive into creating learning materials with the help of genAI. Learn how to effectively prompt generative AI chatbots to produce exemplar documents, graphics, and other text based materials that match your teaching or course development goals. This hands-on session with Microsoft Copilot will guide participants through the process of developing course materials that not only engage but also challenge students to think critically and creatively. Elevate your course content with AI and leave a lasting impact on your students’ learning journey.

Facilitated by Marcia Chaudet

It is possible to create a learning community within an online synchronous environment to encourage active participation, persistence and learning success. With the support of online learning tools, you can set the tone for cooperative active learning. Come to this workshop to explore how we can build a strong teaching and learning relationship with our students in a synchronous online setting.

Facilitated by Evelyn Schmidt

This session will get you started creating graphics using Adobe Express, a versatile, cloud-based design tool. Through demonstration and practice, you will gain the skills to create simple graphics using Adobe Express, and consider scenarios where it would be advantageous to make your own visuals for teaching and learning contexts. You will also explore how Firefly, Adobe’s generative AI tool built into Express, can help create novel images through the use of effective prompts. To attend this workshop you will need to request access to the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite through IT Services.

Facilitated by Evelyn Schmidt

Enhance teaching presence in your courses by including an effective welcome video. Practice using some of the functionality of video creation tools and practice creating a video. Learn how to change the permissions structure of the video, to allow it to be viewed in any course you post it to.

Facilitated by David MacLennan

When we relate content within the context of a real, or realistic situation, content can resonate more with students. In this workshop participants are asked to think about a concept they have to teach and a situation where it might be found in the work environment. Participants will examine some examples of anecdotes, identify key attributes and, using a framework, develop a “situation” into a relatable anecdote. Time will be given to work on, share, and critique their anecdotes; leave with a better understanding – and a “story” to tell.

Facilitated by Monsurat Raji and David Baidoo-Anu

Are you looking to create the best assessment experience possible for your students? Designing supportive, engaging and authentic assessments for students is a critical component of curriculum design. Join this workshop to learn more about the important considerations for assessment development across a semester, including how best to ensure cultural relevance, adequate scaffolding, formative feedback and meaningful practice opportunities are built directly into your course design

Facilitated by Ada Sharpe and Nathan Gardi

A good rubric or marking scheme can make all the difference for you and your students. Consider the possible impact on marking efficiency, fairness and consistency, and feedback for learners that a well-designed grading tool can offer. Join us to learn about key components of rubric and marking scheme design and how to incorporate these tools seamlessly into your eConestoga course shell.

Facilitated by Launa Gauthier

In this introductory workshop, participants will explore the fundamental principles of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) also known as teaching and learning research. We’ll examine the overall process for developing an impactful SoTL research project. Participants will learn how to transform their teaching-related inquiries into researchable questions and envision a project that helps them explore improvements and impacts on student learning in classrooms. Participants will also be introduced to some of the key ethical considerations of SoTL research.

Facilitated by Evelyn Schmidt

This workshop introduces a variety of tools that enable students to share feedback and responses with the instructor and larger group. The tools explored include Zoom polls, Mentimeter question slides, and Padlet as a backchanneling tool. What sets this workshop apart is its focus on exploring means of gathering real-time assessment of learning and confidence from students in all modes of delivery.

Facilitated by Kathryn Brillinger

There are 7 aspects to your use of your voice that the human brain assesses within seconds. Come examine these, practice a few broadcasting techniques, and practice delivering the first lines you will use as you introduce a topic to your students.

Facilitated by Marcia Chaudet

Join us for an explorative workshop where you will learn how to craft and organize your lesson materials to align with the BOPPPS framework. We will discuss practical tips and techniques for creating engaging slides and organizing supplementary materials to enhance student learning and participation. Leave with actionable insights to optimize your weekly lesson delivery and foster a more engaging classroom environment.

Facilitated by Evelyn Schmidt

This workshop is designed for those who have already added Panopto to a course and have videos in their account. Come explore some of the advanced features Panopto can offer, including smart chapters, editing captions, interactive quizzes, and more!

Facilitated by Evelyn Schmidt

Looking for ways to boost participation and engagement in your courses? Welcome to this interactive, introductory level webinar about Mentimeter! Hosted by the Mentimeter team in collaboration with Teaching and Learning, this session will go through the basics of Mentimeter and walk you through using this interactive polling tool in any teaching mode. These dynamic questions will help increase interaction in your course and create engagement in your bridges, pre or post assessments. In this session, you will learn how to set up and use Mentimeter for in-person, synchronous or asynchronous classes. Leave with some new ideas, a template slide deck you can adapt to your own needs, and access to your Conestoga provided, fully licensed Mentimeter account! 

Facilitated by Evelyn Schmidt

This session will get you started using Padlet, a versatile and simple teaching and learning tool. Try out Padlets designed for collaborating, organizing and discussing. Learn to embed and link in your courses, and leave with several examples to build from.

Facilitated by Monsurat Raji ,David Baidoo-Anu and Ada Sharpe

This rubric basics workshop includes a) a brief introduction to rubric design, including criteria, level descriptors, and appearance in eConestoga, b) a chance to apply rubrics to provide learner assessment and feedback, c) an opportunity to discuss grade creep and good rubric use in single and multi-section courses, d) a debrief in which outstanding questions and suggestions are shared.

Facilitated by Sara Kafashan

What motivates students to attend remote classes, whether live or asynchronous? What’s the difference between gaining students’ attention and earning their engagement? What are the signs and reasons for student disengagement? In this workshop, we will explore these questions and discuss strategies to promote engagement, build community, and ultimately support the retention of students who are continuously adapting to the realities of learning remotely.

Facilitated by Jesslyn Wilkinson

This workshop is designed to enhance how educators plan their lessons. Participants will explore using Microsoft Copilot to streamline lesson planning and create dynamic, engaging activities. Discover techniques for prompting Copilot to generate lesson bridges, pre-assessments, participatory activities, and post-assessment ideas that align with the BOPPPS lesson planning model and Conestoga’s educational standards. In this practical session, you will learn to use Copilot to design and revise lesson plans with variety and interest.

Facilitated by David MacLennan

Students come with a variety of learning preferences, needs and backgrounds. This workshop will explore information and practical strategies to help you reach the wide variety of students in your class.

Facilitated by Darren Power,Amy Buesser, and Julia Rodricks

This tutorial will explore best practices for each section of the Annual Program Reflection (APR) system, and provide examples of how to structure APR Meetings. This session is ideal for all users of the APR system including Chairs, Coordinators, Faculty, Program Managers and other program team members. Guided by members of the Institutional Quality Management – Program Quality and Review team.

Facilitated by Marcia Chaudet

In this workshop, we will explore effective approaches you can take when teaching hybrid courses. We will discuss how to best represent your teaching practices in this blended learning environment and share practical strategies to ensure student engagement. Whether you are a seasoned professor or new to hybrid instruction, join us to enhance your teaching toolkit and create supportive learning environments.

Facilitated by Cory Scurr and Carla Mangahis

In this workshop, participants will receive an overview of Conestoga’s Academic Integrity policies and procedures. We’ll explore how to communicate to students when misconduct is suspected and how to file an incident using the Employee Portal. Finally, we’ll review best practices and some available resources.

Facilitated by Lauren Spring

In this workshop we will define practical wisdom and trace its evolution from Ancient Greece to your classroom and the work world today. Through analyzing specific examples of practical wisdom in action in industry we will paint a clearer picture of how and when it aligns with course learning outcomes. We’ll identify strategies for incorporating practical wisdom learning opportunities into your lesson plans so that graduating students will be better equipped to navigate their way through complex workplace situations.

Facilitated by Monsurat Raji , David Baidoo-Anu and Ada Sharpe

Did you know that eConestoga now provides an Assessment Analysis feature that can help you reflect on assessment items as well as your teaching and feedback strategies related to assessments? Join this workshop to learn more about three assessment analysis features visible only to faculty. Together, we will explore how you can use these to reflect on reliability and validity and adjust your assessment practices.

Facilitated by Lauren Spring

Whether intentional or not, hateful actions and words harm and exclude valuable members of our community. What should faculty do when a racist or hateful comment is made in their classroom? In this workshop, we will discuss practical examples of how faculty can respond swiftly and appropriately to racism and hate that may show up in teaching contexts.

Facilitated by Monsurat Raji

GenAI is shifting approaches to academic integrity through assessment. Are you interested in critical conversations around the convergence of GenAI, assessment, and academic integrity in the classroom? In this workshop, we will discuss the values of rethinking academic integrity in assessments and share ideas for putting these values into practice to help build a culture of academic integrity in the classroom.

Facilitated by Monsurat Raji

In this workshop, we will focus on approaches to scaffolding student learning in preparation for an assessment. We will explore what current research tells us about the benefits of scaffolding and collaboratively apply a model for its use. The session will also provide space to reflect on challenges and opportunities in implementing a scaffolded approach.

Facilitated by Shermeen Khan and Erik Brener

You got an accommodation letter, and you’re sweating bullets. Will you be sued? Do you know what to do next? What if you mess up? What do accommodations mean for your work, anyway? Come to this workshop to learn about your obligations in the accommodation process, and get your questions directly answered by staff in Accessible Learning—your allies in the accommodation landscape!

Facilitated by Monsurat Raji

Given the socio-economic, educational and cultural diversity among students at Conestoga, this workshop is designed to equip you with the knowledge and strategies necessary to implement socio-culturally responsive assessment practices in your classrooms. We will explore how assessments can be tailored to meet the diverse needs of students and will discuss ways to identify and address potential biases in assessment design and grading practices to promote equity and fostering a more effective learning experience for all students.

Facilitated by Laura Stoutenburg

In this workshop, participants will receive an overview of intercultural teaching strategies and frameworks to support teaching international students. We will discuss the application of these strategies to a) getting to know international student learning needs, b) building a sense of belonging in a diverse classroom community, and c) ensuring materials are presented with an intercultural communication lens. We will examine and consider several teaching and learning scenarios through an intercultural and inclusive lens.

Facilitated by Nasreen Sultana

In this workshop, we will use an intercultural lens to examine common classroom management challenges and consider practical tips for overcoming them. We will discuss strategies for circumventing potential attendance issues from day one; identify the 3 golden rules for successful classroom management (and how to uphold them!) while maintaining a positive and inclusive learning environment; and review the role that thoughtfully- designed active learning activities can play in keeping students engaged and on task.

Facilitated by David Baidoo-Anu

One of the biggest challenges for international students is understanding the expectations of the various types of non-test assignments and also how testing occurs in outcomes-based learning. Faculty may struggle to mark work submitted in English that does not meet their expectations and may also struggle with their own biases. This workshop helps faculty with scaffolding for student success and marking effectively.

Facilitated by Marcia Chaudet

This workshop takes a practical look at the digital experiences of international learners and compares this to the digital environments of their courses. We will discuss possible strategies to accommodate learners, including the intersections of technology with culturally accessible and inclusive teaching practices. We will identify several apps, practices, and strategies that can support meaningful participation in learning exercises and aid your course delivery.

Facilitated by Elan Paulson

We will explore the new “Generative AI Toolkit” developed by Library Services, which provides students with information about key AI issues, including academic integrity, copyright, accessibility, and more. Together, we’ll reflect on how we can integrate relevant sections into our teaching activities and assessment information, as well as ways to encourage students to use the Generative AI toolkit on their own to further their learning.

Facilitated by Glenn Wagner

Make inquiry the heart of your interactive lessons with effective questions. In this workshop, we will discuss how to ensure your questions suit course outcomes and what kinds of questions prompt student answers. Together, we will create an easy-to-apply checklist for the questions we ask in class. We will also explore better alternatives to asking students if they “have any questions.”

Facilitated by Launa Gauthier

In this workshop, participants will be guided through the step-by-step process of developing a SoTL project. We’ll discuss research questions, research design, data collection methods, and practical strategies for overcoming common challenges. By the end of this session, participants will have the start of an outline for their own SoTL project and identify individual needs for resources and supports to help them to implement it.

Facilitated by Elan Paulson

This interactive workshop will explore using AI in the classroom in two ways to foster critical thinking in your students. You’ll get hands-on experience in creating in-class tasks to check the quality of AI outputs and refine prompts for better outputs. You’ll leave with practical methods to incorporate AI into your teaching and boost your students’ critical thinking.

Facilitated by Sara Kafashan

In this workshop, faculty will explore hidden bias and how it can show up in the post-secondary classroom. We will discuss examples of when faculty may experience bias from students, and how bias can show up in our own teaching. Come explore the topic of hidden bias and gain practical strategies to mitigate the impact of implicit bias on teaching. 

Facilitated by Glenn Wagner

All students arrive to your class with their gifts and challenges as learners.  In this workshop, we will focus on the challenges of teaching students who are ‘neuro-diverse’, meaning that they engage and learn differently than ‘neuro-typical’ students.  Expect to learn about the different characteristics of neurodiversity, the strengths and challenges neurodiverse students bring to your class, and how to engage neurodiverse students to maximize their full potential. 

Facilitated by Cory Scurr and Carla Mangahis

This course will provide a high-level overview of using, understanding and interpreting Turnitin and its various features on eConestoga. During the two-hour workshop, participants will learn the best practice to set up Turnitin on their course shell, examine examples of similarity scores and understand the new AI detector

Facilitated by Evelyn Schmidt

This hands-on workshop introduces you to the Zoom Whiteboard tool. It demonstrates its functions and explores examples of strategies for incorporating the tool in whole-group collaboration as well as small student group settings.