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Ontario Tech acknowledges the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.

We are thankful to be welcome on these lands in friendship. The lands we are situated on are covered by the Williams Treaties and are the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation, including Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi. These lands remain home to many Indigenous nations and peoples.

We acknowledge this land out of respect for the Indigenous nations who have cared for Turtle Island, also called North America, from before the arrival of settler peoples until this day. Most importantly, we acknowledge that the history of these lands has been tainted by poor treatment and a lack of friendship with the First Nations who call them home.

This history is something we are all affected by because we are all treaty people in Canada. We all have a shared history to reflect on, and each of us is affected by this history in different ways. Our past defines our present, but if we move forward as friends and allies, then it does not have to define our future.

Learn more about Indigenous Education and Cultural Services

Fall 2023 Workshops

TLC Workshops are supported by the Teaching and Learning Centre's Educational Developers and offer participants a variety of programs based on their teaching and learning interests and needs. While targeting primarily members of the University-community engaged in teaching-related practices, other members of Ontario Tech may enroll in our workshops as part of their professional development.

For all workshop-related questions, contact the Teaching and Learning Centre (TLC) via email: teachingandlearning@ontariotechu.ca


Please note that some workshop sessions this semester will be offered twice. You only need to register for one of these sessions, as the workshop content will be the same.

Register for TLC Workshops

Artful Education: Mastering Design and Accessibility for Impactful Presentations

  • Making More Beautiful Slides - September 21

    Kevin Johnson and Sarah Stokes

    Are you looking to transform your slides into beautiful works of visual communication? This practical workshop will explore the art of designing visually stunning and impactful slides that captivate your audience and elevate your presentations to new heights.

  • Graphic Design Hacks for Education - September 28

    Sarah Stokes and Miranda Varricchio

    In today's digital age, visual communication plays a pivotal role in engaging learners and conveying information effectively. In this dynamic workshop, we will delve into the world of graphic design and discover valuable techniques and strategies that can be applied to enhance educational materials, presentations, and visual communication in the field of education.

  • Alt-Text as Poetry: A Framework for Creating Accessible Images - October 26

    Kevin Johnson and Rebecca Maynard

    Writing good alternative text (alt text) is a critical component of accessible design, but would you believe that it can also be fun? You will! In this workshop, we will use the Alt Text as Poetry framework (Coklyat & Finnegan, 2020) to practice crafting alt text that is functional, but also evocative and engaging.

Beyond Grading: Assessing Authentically to Support Learning

Designing Teaching and Learning Experiences

  • Instructional Design for Classroom Teaching - September 14 and November 9

    Sarah Stokes

    Instructional design plays a crucial role in developing courses that foster deep learning, interactivity, and student success. In this session, we will delve into the world of instructional design and explore how to leverage the advanced features and functionalities of the Canvas learning management system to create highly effective and engaging courses.

  • Introduction to Open Education - October 5 and November 23

    Sarah Stokes

    Learn about the Open Education movement and where it fits in with teaching and learning at Ontario Tech. We will cover the basics of Open Educational Resources (OER) and Practices (OEP), and how you can include both in your courses.

  • Start with the End in Mind: Crafting Effective Learning Outcomes - November 9

    Susan Forbes and Miranda Varricchio

    Learn to design courses with a clear destination, aligning content and assessments to drive student success. This workshop will explore strategies to create measurable and effective learning outcomes.

Harnessing the Power of Ed Tech

Removing Barriers: Embracing Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

Unlock Your Canvas Superpowers: Canvas for Power Users

  • Designing Interactive Home Pages - September 7

    Sarah Stokes and Miranda Varricchio 

    Welcome your students to your course with an informative, interactive and creative homepage! This workshop will provide a step-by-step guide to setting up, customizing and beautifying your course home page. We'll provide a few examples and tips along the way!

  • Leveraging Communication Tools in Canvas - September 7

    Kevin Johnson

    Clear and effective communication is vital for fostering engagement, supporting student success, and building a sense of community in online learning environments. In this workshop, we will explore the diverse communication tools available within the Canvas learning management system and discover strategies for effectively utilizing them to enhance communication and collaboration in your courses.

  • Creating Effective Assessments in Canvas - September 14

    Kevin Johnson and Lidya Salim

    Are you leveraging Canvas tools to effectively assess learning? This workshop will show you how to design meaningful quizzes, assignments, and discussions in Canvas. We’ll also provide tips and tricks to help you streamline the grading process!

How to Access TLC Workshops: 

You will receive calendar invitations with links to your chosen workshops after completing the registration form.

Workshops are 50 minutes in length and are delivered online via Google Meet at the listed dates and times, unless otherwise indicated.