May 2008

Unless otherwise indicated, sessions occur in the Learning and Teaching Centre (LTC) Classroom in the Harry Hickman Building (HHB) Room 128.

If the register buttons are not working, please contact us by email.

Applying for Research Ethics Approval for Instructors Studying Teaching and Learning in their Own Classrooms or Courses
Thursday, May 8, 2008
10:00 AM ~ 11:00 AM, HHB 128
With Eugenie Lam, Human Research Ethics Coordinator, Office of Research Services, University of Victoria
When you are an instructor or teacher whose research project involves your own students as research participants, why is this context unique and what should you know before you begin? This session will introduce ethical considerations in "dual role" instructor-researcher contexts. It will present practical advice on completing the UVic research ethics application by providing examples about: 1) recruiting students and obtaining their consent; 2) including students' assignments, work samples or marks as data; 3) video taping or recording classroom interactions; 4) avoiding research designs that could negatively influence students' learning and performance in the course; 5) timing course start date with applying for UVic research ethics approval. This session will refer to the Guideline for Ethics in Dual Role Research on the Human Research Ethics website http://www.research.uvic.ca/forms/hrec/geidrr.doc

Instructional Technology Group (ITG) ~ Who are millennial learners and how can we help them learn?
Thursday, May 8, 2008
1:00 PM ~ 2:00 PM, HHB 128
With Dr. Valia Spiliotopoulos, Associate Director, Learning and Teaching Centre
There’s been a lot of talk about ‘millennial’ or net generation learners who seem to share certain characteristics, attitudes, and behaviours, and who have certain expectations of university instructors, courses, learning environments and tools. Please join us in our next ITG session for an open discussion on issues, perceptions, or misconceptions about these types of learners, and on the best ways to help them learn. This discussion is open to all members of the university community, with a special invitation to students. For some background information on Net Generation Learners, you can access the following resources from the Educause Learning Initiative site: http://www.educause.edu/NewLearners/5515

Learning and Teaching Development Grants (LTDG) ~ Information Session
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
2:00 PM ~ 3:00 PM, HHB 128
Presenter: Dr. Valia Spiliotopoulos, Associate Director, Learning and Teaching Centre
Do you have a question about how your students are learning in your class that you would like the opportunity to investigate? Is there a teaching and learning idea in your discipline that you have always wanted to explore? Come find out how you can apply for a grant to assist you in achieving your pedagogical goals. We have made some modifications to the grant process this year to make it easier to apply and will share these details with you at the meeting as well as answer any questions you may have.
Open to all those interested in applying for Learning and Teaching Grants in 2008
Link to LTDG Information and Application Forms

Defining and Assessing Learning Outcomes
Thursday, May 22, 2008
12:00 PM ~ 1:30 PM, HHB 128 [Lunch provided]
With Dr. Joe Parsons, Director of Counselling Services
We often assume that if we work hard at teaching, our students will learn. Experience and research has shown that this is not necessarily the case. It is therefore important to ask “How do we know that our students are learning?” and “How do we know that a particular teaching strategy, learning tool, assignment, quiz or exam is helping students achieve desired learning outcomes?” This workshop is designed to help you define learning outcomes and develop assessment strategies. This session may be particularly useful to those who are considering submitting a Learning and Teaching Development Grant.

First Year Course Instructors Council (FYCIC) ~ General Meeting
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
2:30 PM ~ 3:30 PM, HHB 128
With Dr. Ed Ishiguro, Department of Biochemistry & Microbiology
This meeting will be devoted to finalizing plans for a pilot project designed to offer early help (i.e., before the academic drop date) to students who fail the first assignments or examinations in first year courses. The key issues to be discussed include how students will be contacted, what forms of assistance they will be offered, and how their progress will be tracked. This project will be implemented in the 2008-09 academic year.
Open to all interested faculty.
FYCIC Series Information

Problem-Based Learning (PBL)
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
12:00 PM ~ 1:30 PM, HHB 128 [Lunch provided]
With Dr. Jane Gair, Division of Medical Sciences
Problem-based learning (PBL) has become increasingly popular as a learning and teaching strategy in a variety of disciplines because it combines problem-solving, critical thinking, communication and research skills in an interactive group-learning environment. Problem-based learning addresses real-world or simulated problems, cases, or issues which assist students in situations and scenarios that they may face during their internship, practicum, co-op or work experience. This workshop will describe this effective approach in more detail and offer strategies and examples for implementing PBL in your course or program.

Course Redesign Workshop (CRW)
PLEASE NOTE: DATE CHANGED to Monday, August 18, 2008 ~ Friday, August 22, 2008 inclusive
9:00 AM ~ 4:00 PM daily, HHB 128 [Lunch and nutrition breaks provided]
Instructor: Dr. Ed Ishiguro, Department of Biochemistry & Microbiology
The Course Redesign Workshop (CRW) provides a collegial environment and extensive support for instructors to design a new course or to redesign a current course that they feel is not as effective as it could be. Over the five days of the workshop, instructors will examine their course content and identify and explain the intended outcomes of their redesigned—or newly designed—course. They will learn about and make informed choices regarding instructional methods to increase student engagement and learning. Additionally, they will learn to design ways of assessing learning that are congruent with the intended outcomes that they had previously identified. Finally, they will learn about appropriate strategies to build a sense of community in their courses and ways to give and receive feedback so that the course stays on track and students feel supported. As a result of their participation, instructors will be able to apply the design/redesign process to other courses.

Previous participants in this workshop have described the CRW as a “transformative experience” and have expressed a renewed sense of enthusiasm for teaching.

Please note: This workshop is free to all UVic instructors who are accepted into the program, but it has a value of approximately $750 per person. There will be a cancellation fee of $200 for withdrawals with less than three-weeks' notice. For this reason, a FAST account number is required at the time of registration. If you are interested in the CRW, please contact 721-8571 or ltc@uvic.ca.
CRW Information