Workshop Archive

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.

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.

Engage with a variety of alternative grading methods such as contract grading, mastery grading, and ungrading. Learn about their practical implications in a variety of educational contexts and discuss the benefits and challenges for both instructors and students alike.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an inclusive approach to education that aims to meet the diverse needs of all learners. In this workshop, we will explore how to effectively implement UDL principles within the Canvas learning management system to foster a more inclusive and engaging learning environment.

Backward design is a learner-centred design model that starts with the end in mind. In this session, we will discuss the importance of and means to ensure alignment of learning outcomes, assessment, and instruction.

Ensuring that your documents are accessible is not just a legal requirement but a crucial step toward fostering inclusivity and reaching a diverse audience. In this session, we will explore strategies for creating accessible content. Participants will also learn to effectively employ accessibility checkers to identify and rectify potential issues.

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!

Academic curriculum, content, and the broader university system exist in a historical context of subjugation and control.

The process of decolonization has the potential to disrupt colonial ideologies including the superiority of Western thought. In this workshop, we will examine colonialism in education as well as strategies for decolonizing your syllabus. All disciplines are welcome!

Open educational practices (OEP) can help you increase student engagement, effort, and agency. Discover how you can democratize your classroom with OEP, and contribute to a more open and equitable educational landscape.

In this hands-on workshop, participants will develop authentic assessments that align with course objectives to promote deeper student engagement. Bring a syllabus and an open mind to reconsider what counts as evidence of learning.

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!

It is becoming increasingly difficult to detect the use of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) in student works. Using detection tools has been shown to be unreliable and is capable of both over- and under-detecting use. Explore human-based strategies for detection, learn how to communicate the risks students may face by using popular tools that have incorporated GAI as part of their process, and begin a collegial discussion about some ways to discourage the use of GAI through the redesign of our assessments.

When it comes to presentations, you don’t need to choose between accessibility and beautiful slides! Elevate your presentation materials with this workshop on crafting clear and visually appealing slides. Learn the importance of accessibility and how to implement design principles to create engaging materials suitable for any audience.

Student engagement is a key component of the instructional process, but it can be challenging in large classes. Join us as we discuss meaningful ways to promote and enhance student engagement in large classroom settings. Whether you are delivering in person, synchronously, or building an asynchronous online course, this workshop will provide tips, tricks, and strategies, as well as the opportunity to connect with others and share what has worked through personal experiences.

Whether you're teaching online, in-person, or a mix of both, this session will equip you with the tools you need to design engaging and effective learning experiences. Join us as we explore teaching strategies for hybrid, blended, and in-person classrooms.

Hybrid and hybrid-flexible approaches are becoming more commonplace - are you ready? If you haven’t taken the leap yet, or are searching for ways to improve inclusivity, foster engagement, and optimize learning in your hybrid or hybrid-flexible course, this is for you! In this seminar educators will be equipped with insights and strategies they need to thrive in these dynamic environments.

Join our engaging workshop for an exploration of H5P, a powerful tool that transforms traditional learning into dynamic and interactive experiences. Discover how to create captivating content, from quizzes to interactive presentations, and revolutionize your teaching approach with this innovative platform.

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.

Need some practical tips on how to package and deliver course content using smart and engaging multimedia tools? Attend this workshop to gain insights on how to effectively combine different media (such as text, audio, images, video, etc.) to enhance the learning experience.

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.

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.

Assessment is an important component of the learning process, and it should reflect the complexity and diversity of students' skills and knowledge. This workshop will explore a range of assessment strategies that go beyond traditional multiple-choice exams, allowing you to assess student learning in more authentic and meaningful ways.

Incorporating a variety of media assets into your courses can encourage student engagement and enhance the overall earning experience. In this workshop, strategies and tools for locating, remixing, and creating open resources to support engaging visual design will be explored.

An effective presentation is not only about your content - how you utilize and deliver it can make all the difference. This workshop will explore practical methods to gain and maintain the attention of your audience as you present, both in person and online.

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.

Incorporating technology into the classroom can be an overwhelming task. How do you effectively select technology to support intended learning outcomes? This workshop highlights key principles that can guide your tech integration.

A trauma-informed approach to teaching takes into account students’ experiences and how their engagement in learning may be impacted by trauma. In this session we will discuss how our instruction can support students in these particularly trying times.