**NEW SERIES**
This series is designed to support faculty in designing, facilitating, and assessing effective teamwork and group learning experiences for students. Participants will explore foundational concepts in collaborative learning, examine evidence-informed practices, and develop practical strategies to foster meaningful, inclusive, and academically rigorous group work in their courses.
What to Expect
Workshops will typically be scheduled for 60 to 120 minutes, allowing time for presentation, reflection, discussion, and hands-on application of key concepts. Every workshop is designed to allow flexibility in participation.
Upcoming Sessions
Rethinking Group Work: Facilitating Meaningful Student Collaboration
September 15, 2026, 1:00-2:30 p.m. (in-person)
Many instructors value collaborative learning but struggle with how to assess it fairly. This session focuses on designing transparent and effective assessment practices that support student engagement, academic integrity, and meaningful contributions. Participants will explore strategies for balancing individual and group evaluation, aligning assessment with learning outcomes, and supporting academic integrity. The session will introduce tools such as peer and self-assessment to promote accountability and reflect meaningful contributions. Faculty will leave with practical approaches to creating equitable assessment practices for group work.
EDIDA Considerations for Collaborative Work
October 16, 2026, 1:00-2:00 p.m. (in-person)
For some students, group work is an opportunity; for others, it can be a source of exclusion, marginalization, or additional barriers. This session invites participants to consider how collaborative learning can be designed to support a broader range of student experiences and strengths. This session focuses on integrating equity, diversity, inclusion, decolonization, and accessibility (EDIDA) principles into collaborative learning design. Participants will examine how power dynamics, identity, and systemic barriers can shape group interactions and outcomes. The session will highlight strategies for creating inclusive group structures, supporting diverse participation, and reducing barriers to engagement. Faculty will reflect on their own practices and identify ways to foster more equitable and supportive collaborative learning environments.
Assessing Collaborative Work
November 10, 2026, 1:00-2:00 p.m. (in-person)
Many instructors value collaborative learning but struggle with how to assess it fairly. This session focuses on designing transparent and effective assessment practices that support student engagement, academic integrity, and meaningful contributions. Participants will explore strategies for balancing individual and group evaluation, aligning assessment with learning outcomes, and supporting academic integrity. The session will introduce tools such as peer and self-assessment to promote accountability and reflect meaningful contributions. Faculty will leave with practical approaches to creating equitable assessment practices for group work.
Audience
Western instructors, librarians, archivists, post doctoral scholars, and staff involved in teaching activities, course design, or supporting learners at Western.
