- N E W S L E T T E R -
December 2019
On behalf of the Centre for Teaching Excellence we wish you a happy, healthy, and restful holiday.

Laura MacKay, Director CTE

2 Spaces left in the December ISW
We have two spaces remaining in the December instructional Skills Workshop. The workshop counts as a 3-credit course in the Provincial Instructor Diploma program.
The workshops runs Monday-Wednesday Dec 16-18 8:30-4:30pm. Email the CTE to register.
New Year, New Ideas, New Colleagues
&
Teaching Tech-Celerator
January 3, 2020 LB322
If you are new to teaching at Capilano or are looking for ideas to get your classes off to a great start, sign up for the New Year, New Ideas, New Colleagues event Friday, January 3, 2020 in LB 322.

New Year, New Ideas, New Colleagues: 9:30 a.m. to Noon, Friday, January 3 in LB 322
  • Activities for the First Week of Classes and Beyond
  • Introduction to E-Learn and the Faculty Evaluation Process

Teaching Tech-Celerator: 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m., January 3 in LB 322
*Please bring your laptop to this session.
  • E-Learn: Design, Gradebook, Assignments, Forums
  • E-portfolios
  • MS Teams

Sign up for either or both of these sessions now!
New on ConnectED: The Poster Project!
Have you ever wondered what might be an alternative to the traditional research paper as the major end-of term assignment?

A few years ago, Derek Murray, CapU History Instructor, asked himself this question. In this recent article on ConnnectED , he shares his experience with Making Student Research Accessible: Using Academic Poster Presentations in an introductory level history course.

ConnectED is a space for faculty to share ideas around teaching and learning. Contact us to learn more!
Workshops Spring 2020

We are excited to offer a variety of workshops and events for Spring 2020.
Please sign up now!

ISW Instructional Skills Workshop

Option 1: December 16, 17 and 18, 2019 (2 spots available)
Option 2: 3 Fridays: January 24, 31 and February 7, 2020
Option 3: February 18, 19 and 20, 2020
Option 4: April 28, 29 and 30, 2020

8:30 am – 4:30 pm Maple 101/102
*Schedule will be slightly changed in accordance with the number of participants.

The Instructional Skills Workshop is an internationally recognized program designed to enhance teaching effectiveness of both new and experienced educators. The ISW is an intensive 24-hour peer-based experiential workshop grounded in learning-centered instruction.

Limited to 12 participants.

CTE Book Club

Our book choice is A Mind Spread out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott, a Tuscarora writer from Six Nations of the Grand River. This book tackles issues of racism, oppression, and trauma and poses key questions regarding the treatment of Indigenous peoples.

David Geary will co-faciliate the book club, which will be held on the following Tuesdays from 1:00 - 2:20 p.m. at the CTE, Fir 402A:

  • Tuesday, January 14 and 28
  • Tuesday, February 11 and 25 
  • Tuesday, March 10 and 24

Mark these dates in your calendar and sign up now!
The first 5 participants who commit to attending all six book club meetings will receive a free copy of the book.
Faculty Learning Community: Teaching Underprepared Students

Dr. Mary Giovannetti will be facilitating a faculty learning community on the critically important topic of teaching underprepared students. Expect to experience a comfortable, confidential, collaborative learning environment that fosters innovative as well as universal teaching and learning approaches to support both students and faculty.

The FLC will be held on seven Fridays from 1 - 3 p.m. in the CTE (Fir 402) during the Spring 2020 semester. Sign up now and enter these dates in your calendar!

FLC Dates:
Friday, January 17 and 31
Friday, February 14 and 28
Friday, March 13 and 27
Friday, April 3
Active Learning Online

Tuesday, February 18 – Tuesday, March 3, 2020     
2 weeks online


This two-week workshop is developed specifically for CapU faculty interested in complementing or rethinking a course with active learning activities online. The course emphasizes the value of collaboration with peers online, and models active learning examples in order to facilitate understanding and reflection of the online learner experience. Participants will draw upon existing teaching experience as they experiment with a practical learning activity of their own choice online and gain feedback from peers.
LIBERATING STRUCTURES – PRACTICE GROUP

Come practice and experience the power of Liberating Structures in a safe and welcoming peer environment. The practice group meets monthly and all faculty are welcome to drop in!

Last Thursday of the month at 1:00 – 2:30 pm in LB145.
January 30, 2020
February 27, 2020
March 26, 2020
Teaching Eportfolio Workshop

January 22, 2020
1:30-3:00pm
BR126

Have some great teaching ideas that you would like to preserve in an eportfolio? December is the time to plan your New Year’s resolution to build that Teaching eportfolio. CTE is running a 90 minute Teaching eportfolio workshop on January 22, 2020. In short lightning rounds you will get to explore: how to curate content, hacks on self-refection, and where to look for evidence of your teaching successes. There will also be a walk-through demo of Wordpress so be sure to bring your laptop.  
Teaching Triangles  

Kick-off: 
Thursday, January 23, 2020
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
FR402A

Teaching Triangles is a low-commitment, non-evaluative program, which provides faculty with an opportunity to gain inspiration and new insights for their own teaching.

Three faculty members in each “teaching triangle” agree to visit each other’s classes over the course of a semester and then meet to discuss what they’ve learned from their observations and reflections.

Building on our success from the fall, we also invite faculty to join a Teaching Triangles Online! This option is available to anyone, who teaches an online or mixed mode class this Spring.
Reconnect Reflect Recharge

Our first " Reconnect! Reflect! Recharge! event took place in early November and was so successful that the CTE is hosting a Spring 2020 Reconnect, Reflect, Recharge meet-up on

February 27, 2020 from 11:30 - 12:50 at the CTE.

You will have the opportunity to connect/reconnect with colleagues from other disciplines, reflect on your teaching experiences at Capilano, and recharge after midterms, while enjoying delicious food and interactive activities.

This event is open to all faculty and limited to the first 25 people who sign up, so sign up now!
Thank you for everybody who came to the event!

Upcoming Teaching & Learning Events
May 4 - 8, 2020
Capilano University *more details to come

May 11, 2020 – May 13, 2020 all-day
The Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront
1133 W Hastings St., Vancouver, BC V6E 3T3

CENTRE FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE | CONNECT, INNOVATE, INSPIRE
The Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE) fosters excellence, innovation, and collaboration in teaching and learning by supporting faculty and staff through programming, mentoring, professional development opportunities, and research on effective teaching.