November 2012

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

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Quick Guide to Student FAST
Thursday, November 1, 2012
1:00 PM ~ 2:30 PM, HHB 128
Facilitator: Nadia Munro, Training Coordinator, Student Systems Support Services Office of the Registrar Division of Student Affairs, University of Victoria
Need help getting reports or lists of students in your program areas? Wish you could find lists of students who have convocated or who have applied to graduate? Wish you could see historical records of GRADED class lists to compare course grades from year to year? Are you an instructor who needs help with grading your classes or importing large class grades from an existing Excel document? Get help with these commonly asked questions and many other features of the FAST Student Reporting system with Nadia Munro. Taught in an informal and easy to understand format.

Need a hand with any of your Student-Based Systems? Contact Nadia Munro to set up a tutorial to walk you through any feature that you are less familiar with or just think there may be a better way to approach. Sessions are booked for groups or one-on-one.

2012 Gilian Sherwin Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching
Nomination Deadline: Friday, November 2, 2012
Nominations are being accepted for the 2012 Gilian Sherwin Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching. Sessional Lecturers, Lab Instructors and Senior Lab Instructors are eligible for this award, which includes a $2,000 cash prize. Since the award was introduced by the Alumni Association in 1989, photo portraits of all recipients have been permanently displayed in the main stairway of the Mearns Centre for Learning/McPherson Library as a lasting tribute to the recipients’ expertise.

This award is presented annually at the Teaching Awards Celebration held during Alumni Week (which is the first full week of February). The date of the event is Tuesday, February 5, 2013.

The completed nomination dossiers should be received by the Alumni Relations office, located in Alumni House at the Ian Stewart Complex, 3964 Gordon Head Road, Room #262, no later than 4:30 PM on Friday, November 2, 2012.

For more information please see the Alumni Relations website.

2012 Harry Hickman Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching
Nomination Deadline: Friday, November 2, 2012
The UVic Alumni Association is seeking well-considered nominations for its prestigious 2012 Harry Hickman Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching. Regular Faculty (including Senior Instructors), Artists-in-Residence, and Librarians are eligible for this award, which includes a $2,000 cash prize. Since the award was introduced by the Alumni Association in 1989, photo portraits of all recipients have been permanently displayed in the main stairway of the Mearns Centre for Learning/McPherson Library as a lasting tribute to the recipients’ expertise.

This year’s award presentation will be made at the annual Teaching Awards Celebration held during Alumni Week (which is the first full week of February). The date of the event is Tuesday, February 5, 2013. (Because of the 50th Anniversary, this year’s presentation date has been moved from its usual November date).

The completed nomination dossiers should be received by the Alumni Relations office, located in Alumni House at the Ian Stewart Complex, 3964 Gordon Head Road, Room #262, no later than 4:30 PM on Friday, November 2, 2012.

For more information please see the Alumni Relations website.

Teaching Effectively Across Diversities
Monday, November 5, 2012
10:00 AM ~ 12:00 PM, HHB 128
Facilitator: Jin-Sun Yoon, Child and Youth Care
There has never been a time that Canada has been so diverse, and it is only just beginning to show in the university classroom at UVic. How prepared are you to ensure your curriculum and teaching style is inclusive and effective? How can you provide a high level of engagement and reduce the potential for inadvertently discriminating against a student? In this highly interactive workshop, we will identify issues and practical strategies that will maximize teaching effectiveness working with a multitude of diversities in the classroom or in an online class.

Carlin in the Classroom - What Can We Learn from George Carlin and Ben Bernanke as Public Speakers? [TA ProD series]
Monday, November 5, 2012
1:30 PM ~ 3:00 PM, HHB 128
Facilitator: Peter Bell, Economics
Public speaking is part of teaching. A good teacher carefully balances the pace and type of information offered to keep students engaged with their learning. It is possible for a teacher to improve his or her speaking skills, specifically the use of his or her body and voice.To foster this development, the workshop leads teachers through exercises where they practice delivering a monologue in comparison to an expert. In one case, the monologue is humorous and the expert is famous comedian, George Carlin. In the other case, the monologue is technical and the expert is central banker, Ben Bernanke. By using these two monologues, participants will refine their use of voice and body when presenting different types of information.
TA/Graduate Student Workshops

The Art and Craft of Teaching the Large Class [Teaching Tips Series #4]
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
9:30 AM ~ 11:30 AM, HHB 128
Facilitator: Dr. Marty Wall, Department of Educational Psychology & Leadership Studies, and the Learning and Teaching Centre
The large class is not merely a larger version of a small class; it presents its own unique challenges and opportunities. Teaching a large class effectively requires the application of a number of skills, but at some point such teaching truly becomes an art. What is the nature of this transition and how can it be achieved? The workshop will explore this issue from the perspective of my own experience in teaching classes with enrollments exceeding 2,000 students.
Teaching Tips Series Information

Helpful Tips for Reviewing Graduate Applications
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
1:30 PM ~ 3:00 PM
Facilitator: Nadia Munro, Training Coordinator, Student Systems Support Services Office of the Registrar Division of Student Affairs, University of Victoria
Are you a faculty member who needs to review Graduate student program applications? Wanting to find the best way to view the application documents and see them from anywhere, anytime rather than be tied to your desk? Nadia will demonstrate how to access the online Graduate Application imaging system (BDMS) where graduate documents have been scanned and uploaded and will show you how to view the documents without having to access the Banner system. This means you are free to review your applications at your convenience and from wherever you may find yourself!

Need a hand with any of your Student-Based Systems? Contact Nadia Munro to set up a tutorial to walk you through any feature that you are less familiar with or just think there may be a better way to approach. Sessions are booked for groups or one-on-one.
THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN CANCELLED. IT MAY BE RESCHEDULED FOR THE SPRING.

2012 Andy Farquharson Teaching Excellence Award
Nomination Deadline: Thursday, November 8, 2012
Up to three awards will be given out annually and the presentation will be made at a recognition event held in February of each year.
The nomination form and further information can be found on the Faculty of Graduate Studies website – Latest News & Events

Adjusting to a New Cultural and Academic Life: How to Shape this Transition into a Positive Experience [TA ProD]
Thursday, November 8, 2012
9:30 AM ~ 11:30 AM, HHB 128
Facilitator: Areli Valencia, Faculty of Law
Starting a degree in a different cultural and academic environment is generally an exciting and enriching experience, but it can also be a challenging one. This interactive workshop is especially designed for international students to explore their expectations, worries and to provide them with some valuable tips and tools on how to succeed in a Canadian academic environment. We will cover a range of topics including breaking the language barrier, getting familiarized with the English writing style, classroom etiquette and participation, and balancing your academic and personal well-being.
TA/Graduate Student Workshops

Living in a Material World: Learning About Textile Production in Ice Age Europe [Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Series]
Thursday, November 8, 2012 [Brown Bag Lunch]
12:00 PM ~ 1:00 PM, HHB 128
Facilitator: April Nowell, Department of Anthropology
Professors of archaeology, geology, astronomy and evolutionary biology are united in their desire to help their students connect with an impossibly remote past. The question is: how can we effectively teach about a world that our students can no longer directly observe and experience?  In this presentation, I discuss the development of a hands-on lab that allowed my students to explore Ice Age textile production and dyeing as a vehicle for addressing issues of larger anthropological and evolutionary significance in a way not possible through traditional instructional means.
SoTL Series Information

Powerful Learning Environments: Switching the Focus from Teaching to Learning [Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Series], [Guest Speaker Series] and [Student Learning Series]
Thursday, November 8, 2012
1:30 PM ~ -3:30 PM, HHB 128
Facilitator: Lin Norton, Emeritus professor of pedagogical research, Liverpool Hope University, England
Lin is a UK National Teaching Fellow and, until her retirement in 2010, was Dean of Learning and Teaching at Hope. She describes herself as a ‘practitioner’ researcher’ and has always been interested in applying understandings from both the SoTL literature and her own research to improve the student learning experience.

In this workshop, Lin will introduce the concept of a powerful learning environment (PLE) and consider in a general discussion whether it has value in switching our focus from what we teach to how students learn. Participants will then be invited to try out one of a selection of pedagogical tools designed to put some of the PLE characteristics into practice and report back their reactions.
SoTL Series Information
Guest Speaker Series Information
Student Learning Series Information

Percentage Grading Workshop, Phase 2
Friday, November 9, 2012
10:30 AM ~ 12:00 PM
Facilitators: Dr. Joe Parsons, Learning and Teaching Centre; Dr. Marty Wall, Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies, and the Learning and Teaching Centre; and Dr. Katy Mateer, Associate VP, Academic Planning
This session will focus on the transition to a percentage grading system at UVic. Come and learn about Phase 2 of the process.
THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

Videos, Clickers and the Classroom Experience [Instructional Technology (IT) Series] and [Student Learning Series]
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
2:45 PM ~ 4:15 PM, HHB 128
Facilitator: Jason Siefken, Department of Mathematics & Statistics
In the summer of 2012, Math 100 tried something fairly different from the lecture-based class format, the exclusive format of all previous UVic math courses. Following the strategy first introduced by Eric Mazur, instead of the lecturer giving the formulae/going over examples,etc., during class, the students were assigned to watch videos which covered this information. Class time was spent on answering difficult concept questions via clickers and peer discussion. This presentation will give an overview of how this class operated, the outcomes from the perspective of students and instructor, and details on the logistics for anyone wishing to try this style of class themselves. In particular, the (surprisingly easy) process of creating, posting, making playlists of videos and the technology required will be explained.
Instructional Technology (IT) Series
Student Learning Series

Guest Lecturing: Effective Planning and Design [TA ProD]
Thursday, November 15, 2012 [Brown Bag Lunch]
11:00 AM ~ 1:00 PM, HHB 128
Facilitator: Areli Valencia, Faculty of Law
While exploring the pathway to your academic career, the more experience you get prior to finishing your graduate degree, the better. Guest lecturing provides you with a unique opportunity to share and promote your knowledge, at the same time as gaining valuable teaching experience in diverse learning environments. In this workshop, we will discuss how to effectively plan and design a guest lecture that appropriately fits into the learning outcomes of the course and meets students’ expectations. Participants as asked to bring a course syllabus that they plan or would like to guest lecture for in the future.
TA/Graduate Student Workshops

Indigenous Knowledge Epistemology & Pedagogy as Education Scholarship
Monday, November 19, 2012
10:00 AM ~ 11:30 AM, HHB 128
Facilitator: Jacquie Green, School of Social Work
It is necessary to teach Indigenous education within mainstream institutes in a transformative approach. This means that rather than lecturing, writing and analysis, that students experience Indigenous knowledge through storying, visiting landscapes and participating in the documentation of history through the art of building canoes, learning how to create regalia, formulating their own histories through understanding their own identities, histories and places. The intent for students to learn their own histories and identities is to illustrate that our history within the Canadian state is multifaceted. We all come from diverse backgrounds, experiences and places. This approach alleviates tensions in understanding colonialism and brings the focus of Indigenous knowledge to a collective rather than an individual experience.

Conflict with an 'Entitled Student': How to Proceed?
Monday, November 19, 2012
12:30 PM ~ 2:30 PM, HHB 128
Facilitators: Stayc Voll, Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies; and Bethany Coulthard, Department of Geography
Student entitlement, when students feel they are entitled to higher grades or more flexibility in a course, increasingly invades our interactions with students. In this workshop, you will learn how to recognize when you are in, or moving toward, conflict with a student as a result of their feelings of entitlement. Effective means of preparing for, dealing with, and turning conflicts into learning opportunities for the student will be explored. The focus will be on developing a teaching pedagogy that will provide a go-to framework for making decisions when facing an 'entitled student.

Marnie Swanson International Commons Grand Opening
Monday, November 19, 2012
4:00 PM ~ 5:00 PM, International Commons, Mearns Centre for Learning, McPherson Library
5:00 PM ~ 6:00 PM, Bob Wright Centre Lobby
Everyone Welcome!
Invitation

A Profile of Students in Calculus I at UVic [Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Series]
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 [Brown Bag Lunch]
11:30 AM ~ 12:30 PM, HHB 128
Facilitators: Lorraine Dame and Gary MacGillivray, Department of Mathematics & Statistics
Undergraduate first-year calculus is required by most science and engineering programs.  In this presentation, we will use data gathered between 2008 and 2011 to paint a picture of the students in Calculus I (Math 100) by addressing the following questions: What proportion of students are eligible to take Calculus I immediately after high school? What are the high school grades for the population of students who complete Calculus I? How prepared are these students according to our diagnostic test, and how does preparation relate to success? How can we identify students that are at risk of failure?  How do students needing review get it? What are the study habits of students in Calculus I? How often do they engage with departmental supports? What is student achievement in the various Calculus I course components? How satisfied are students with the support offered, and with their own performance?  What can educators do to address these issues?
SoTL Series Information

Field-based Courses: How to Teach More Effectively Outside of the Classroom [TA ProD Series]
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
12:30 PM to 2:00 PM, HHB 128
Facilitator: Bethany Coulthard, Department of Geography
Whether a multi-day excursion or an afternoon trip, field-based courses present particular challenges for instructors and TAs. We will discuss how to establish appropriate teaching objectives for field-based courses, how to handle interpersonal challenges when traveling and/or living with students, and how to be both prepared in advance (safety and logistics) and flexible when inevitable hurdles arise outside of the classroom. Come prepared to share you own experiences and have a candid conversation about field teaching!
TA/Graduate Student Workshops

Encouraging Participation in a Large Science Class
Thursday, November 22, 2012
10:00 AM ~ 12:00 PM, HHB 128
Facilitators: Taryn Klarner, Exercise Science, Physical & Health Education; and Ed Ishiguro, Biochemistry & Microbiology
The main method of teaching used in science classes is the transmission of knowledge involving a one-way flow of information from the teacher, where a large quantity of factual information is imparted to the students. While this approach is best suited to classes with greater than 40 participants, it allows for little creativity, is not suited to all learners and intelligences, and is simply not a very exciting or interactive way of learning.
This seminar focuses on strategies for encouraging participation and active involvement in a large science class. Discover strategies on incorporating Clickers to probe surface and deep-level learning. Learn about using Twitter in class to increase questioning, and out of class to keep the conversations flowing. Lastly, learn how to encourage students to be ‘Science Investigators,’ debunking misconceptions often found in print and digital media.

5 Ways to Use Video in the Classroom
Thursday, November 22, 2012 [Brown Bag Lunch]
12:30 PM ~ 2:00 PM, HHB 128
Facilitator: Jamie Kemp, Department of History of Art
Today, over half of all web traffic is dedicated to streaming online video, and over 48 hours of content is uploaded to YouTube every minute. This workshop is a rapid-fire introduction to some of the varied ways you can use video in the classroom (beyond sitting your students in front of a DVD). We'll discuss lecture capture, the flipped classroom, student video assignments, curating free videos into learning resources, and using digital media for collaborative teaching.

Advanced Research and Writing, Part II: Developing your paper [TWC Workshop]
Thursday, November 22, 2012, 1:00 PM ~ 2:20 PM, Library Room 129
~ OR ~
Friday, November 23, 2012, 3:30 PM ~ 4:50 PM, Library Room 129
Facilitators: The Writing Centre (TWC) Staff
You have a fairly clear idea for a paper and have done some research. Now you need to develop the paper into a strong piece of research-based writing. This workshop will help you refine and focus your topic and plan out your paper.

Please go here to register. If you are having problems using our online booking system to register for workshops, watch this tutorial: How to Register for The Writing Centre Workshops
Once a workshop is full, you can add your name to the waitlist by sending an email to TWCdir@uvic.ca. Please include your name plus the title and date of the workshop you would like to be waitlisted for.
Please note that you cannot register for a workshop through email.
TWC Workshop Information

Teaching in a Computer Lab – Challenges and Opportunities
Friday, November 23, 2012
10:00 AM ~ 11:30 AM, Human and Social Development Building, A160 Computer Lab
Facilitator: Jes Bassi, School of Health Information Science
The lab component of many disciplines is taught in a computer lab. This learning setting presents some challenges but also allows for innovative teaching strategies different from the traditional lecture. In this workshop, participants will learn about the challenges and possibilities of teaching in a computer lab, leaving with ideas to implement in their specific labs.

Incorporating Sound in the Classroom
Thursday, November 29, 2012
10:00 AM ~ 11:30 PM, HHB 128
Facilitator: Emmanuel Ortega, School of Music
Are you curious about how to include sound and music into your classroom? Auditory learners usually learn by listening to detailed explanations, while kinesthetic learners with hands-on experience. Listening carefully to concept’s meanings and relationships is a great way to learn but making sound and music can greatly benefit students’ learning process. Both, auditory and kinesthetic learners will enhance their learning experience. In this session, you will learn how to incorporate sound and music into your teaching, create some sound pieces, and share your auditory ideas with peers from other disciplines.

Optimizing the Multiple-Choice Test Item [Teaching Tips Series #5]
Thursday, November 29, 2012
1:00 PM ~ 3:00 PM, HHB 128
Facilitator: Dr. Marty Wall, Department of Educational Psychology & Leadership Studies, and the Learning and Teaching Centre
Multiple-choice tests appear deceptively simple to prepare but are arguably among the most difficult to produce well. What features of student learning do such tests really discriminate? We will re-examine various pre- and post-test criteria that can be used to assess and improve the quality of individual multiple-choice test items that one designs for in-class clicker sessions as well as for tests. These criteria include the format of the question stem, the cognitive level of the item, and the discriminability of the item as a predictor of overall performance. Multiple-choice testing might not always be an optimal instrument for assessing student learning, but when used it should follow best practices. It does make a difference.
Teaching Tips Series Information

December 2012 Events