In this issue:

1. 2023 UW Teaching and Learning Conference
2. Upcoming Workshops and Events 
3. Teaching Award Deadlines 
4. Open Education Week
5. Sustainable Development Solutions Week
6. Online Resources: CTE and SSO
7. CTE Staff: Research and Service

February 2023

2023 UW Teaching and Learning Conference

The keynote speaker for the upcoming 2023 University of Waterloo Teaching and Learning Conference has been announced: Barbara Moktthewenkwe Wall, Professor of Indigenous Environmental Studies and Sciences Program, and Director, PhD Studies, at Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies, Trent University. 

Additionally, the speakers for the always-popular Igniting our Practice have been confirmed: Sanjeev Bedi, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering; and Tamara Maciel, Kinesiology. 

The conference will take place in-person on May 4, with a pre-conference program taking place online on May 3. Registration will open in early February. 

Upcoming Workshops and Events

CTE has dozens of upcoming workshops and events for instructors, new faculty, and graduate students. Here are a few coming up in February, but do check out our complete roster for the Winter term!
 

All Instructors

Supporting Reflection, Experiential Learning, and Journaling with PebblePad.
February 1, 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm (online). In this session, Kelsey Johansen (Recreation and Leisure Studies) will share how the PebblePad workbook supported student learning and peer-to-peer engagement. More information and registration.

Extended Reality Community of Practice: Sharing Ideas and Brainstorming. 
February 8, 11:00 am to 12:00 pm (online). Anyone interested in using Extended Reality technologies for teaching and learning is invited to this session to share ideas, discuss current projects, engage in brainstorming, or simply learn about these rapidly advancing tools! Extended Reality technologies include Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Mixed Reality. More information and registration.
 

New Faculty

Instructional Skills Workshop
February 22, 23, and 24 (in person). This three-day workshop, known as the ISW, is open to all instructors and staff but might be of special interest to new faculty. The ISW is an intensive, collaborative learning model that uses video-recorded micro-teaching and peer feedback sessions to support participants' teaching reflection and growth. Participants in this globally-recognized program receive ISW certification. More information and registration.

Graduate Students

Teaching with Confidence
February 3, 10:00 am to 11:30 am (online). In this workshop, participants will first explore the common causes of lack of confidence and then consider alternative ways of thinking and new strategies to help increase confidence in the classroom. More information and registration.
 

See our complete roster of events and workshops for the Winter Term 

Teaching Award Deadlines

Nominating a TA for a Teaching Award

The Amit & Meena Chakma Awards for Exceptional Teaching by a Student (AETS) are open to all students who have a formal teaching role at Waterloo in recognition of excellence in teaching. Each award consists of approximately $1000 as well as a certificate and acknowledgement at convocation.

The nomination process requires time, so if you haven't yet started, bookmark the deadline for next year (first Friday in February). If you already have the required materials in order, don't forget to submit it before 4:30 pm on Friday, February 3. Consult the AETS page for full details about the process. 

Nominating an Instructor for a Teaching Award

The main criterion of the Distinguished Teacher Award is an instructor's record of excellent teaching over an extended period at Waterloo. A list of previous recipients of the DTA going back to 1976 is available. Consult the DTA page for full details about the process.

The nomination process requires time, so if you haven't yet started, bookmark the deadline for next year (first Friday in February). If you already have the required materials in order, don't forget to submit it before 4:30 pm on Friday, February 3. Consult the AETS page for full details about the process. 

Open Education Week

There's still time to submit a proposal to Waterloo's upcoming Open Education Week! This annual event, scheduled for March 6 to 10, is part of a global initiative and is an opportunity to share and learn about the burgeoning and transformative field of Open Education (OE). At Waterloo, events may include sessions on topics such as OE and copyright, OE and accessibility, OE and extended reality technologies, and more. Details are available at Waterloo's Open Education Week webpage, but do hurry: the deadline for submitting proposals is February 3! (Proposals do not have to be elaborate — simply email a title, session format, and brief descripton to Kathryn Blair. 

Incidentally, Open Education, along with Open Access, are two components of the broader notion of Open Scholarship.

Sustainable Development Solutions Week

Also taking place from March 6 to 10 is Sustainable Development Solutions (SDGs) Week, which aims to raise awareness about SDGs, highlight important work happening across campuses, and spark conversations about opportunities for collaboration. Canada's Sustainable Development Solutions Network was founded by the University of Waterloo. 

Online Resources: CTE and SSO

Additionally, the Student Success Office has developed resources to help instructors develop successful relationships with students (abundant research has shown that student/faculty interaction is a key factor in learning achievement). Check out communicating with students, understanding the international student experience, and other instructor resources. (You'll need to login with your CAS to access these SSO resources.)

CTE Staff: Research and Service

• Vesely, M. (2021). Faculty Association of the University of Waterloo Appreciation Award.
• Wilson, M. (2022). Warren Ober Award for Outstanding Teaching by Graduate Students Within the Faculty of Arts. 

Migration of CTE's Website