Spring Perspectives on Teaching Conference

Spring Perspectives on Teaching 2023:
Wednesday, May 10 from 9:00AM to 4:00PM

Keynote session:

We Have What We Need: A Practical Guide for Decolonizing Our Work at Western
Heather Campbell, Western Libraries, Western University

After recent Spring and Fall Perspectives on Teaching Conferences, attendees asked for practical ways to apply equity, accessibility, decolonization, and Indigenization ideas to their work. This year's keynote session is a direct response to those requests: Heather Campbell, a member of Western Libraries and the Centre for Teaching and Learning, will share a framework that guides teams through different 'phases' of decolonization.

But Heather will also acknowledge that decolonization feels difficult, and sometimes impossible, and that we will confront many barriers in doing the work. We live and work in systems that push us to do more -always do more ­-which are systems that harm us, too.

So, this session is an invitation to gather in community. We may 'have what we need' to start decolonizing our work, but we must do it together -no one person is responsible for decolonizing Western. Heather will share stories from her team's ongoing decolonization journey and describe how each, in their own way, play an essential role in the work. During this session, participants will explore their relationship with 'productivity' and will use the guide to reflect on where they, too, can contribute to the shared work of decolonization -and where they need the help of our team.

Concurrent a.m. Sessions:

Indigenous Learning Bundles Community of Practice: Panel Discussion
Facilitated by Candace Brunette-Debassige (Education) & Sara Mai Chitty (Indigenous Initiatives)

Designing Flexible Assessments that Support Inclusivity and Learning
Facilitated by Ken Meadows (CTL)
Panelists include Nicole Campbell (Integrated Medical Science), Kim Solga (English and Writing Studies) &
Katelyn Wood (Kinesiology)

Taking the Plunge into Teaching Innovation: Graduate Student Panel
Facilitated by Lisa Aikman (CTL)

Concurrent p.m. Sessions 1:

Preparing Students to Address Complex Real-World Problems through Interdisciplinary Collaborative Teaching
Facilitated by David Sandomierski (Law) & Kim Solga (English and Writing Studies)

Learners as Creators: An Introduction to Open Pedagogy
Facilitated by Emily Carlisle-Johnston (Western Libraries) & Heather Campbell (Western Libraries)

Did They Get It? Using CATs to Engage Students and Instructors in the Learning Process
Facilitated by Muneer Huda (CTL) & Chris Ryan (CTL)

Concurrent p.m. Sessions 2:

Learner-Centered Syllabus Clinic
Facilitated by Lisa Aikman (CTL)

Critiquing Your Course Reading List
Facilitated by Lea Sansom (Western Libraries)

Designing a Course Communication Plan to Enhance Student Learning and Engagement
Facilitated by Instructional Designers (CTL)

Conference Information

Audience

This event is open to all; however, it is designed with instructors in mind.

What to Expect

Offered twice a year, Perspectives on Teaching is a conference designed to showcase teaching innovations at Western, and introduce instructors to best practices in student-centered instruction which can enhance the student experience.

Faculty members are invited to present innovative teaching approaches or research on their teaching during Spring Perspectives each year.