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You can elevate your teaching by creating more inclusive learning environments for your students. This workshop will equip you with the knowledge to leverage Assistive Technologies (ATs) as dynamic pedagogical tools for enabling communication of your course materials through multiple modes (written, spoken, visuals, audio, etc). You'll learn to recommend ATs to students, enhancing their reception of content and reading materials.

The Assistive Technologist from the Accessibility & Accommodations office will demonstrate the two text-to-speech software programs offered to all at the ß÷ßäÉçÇø, Kurzweil and Read&Write. The team lead of Assistive Technology and Alternate Format will then show you how document compatibility with ATs can be assessed and resolved with format conversion. 

Join us to make your courses more accessible and effective for every student.

Learning outcomes:

1. Explore the features of the Kurzweil and Read&Write applications, including ways to recommend them to students

2. Identify the measures for assessing the accessibility of a digital document and how to resolve inaccessibility issues

This interactive workshop provides actionable strategies to adapt your assignments for an AI-informed world while ensuring your assignments are robust, relevant, and reflective of student learning in your course. 

We'll dive into the impact of AI on assessment design and equip you with methods to cultivate critical thinking and genuine engagement through AI-informed assignment practices. 

Before you abandon your assignments in response to AI, invest an hour in this workshop! Let's adapt in the age of AI.

Learning outcomes:

1. Define how generative AI tools are commonly reshaping student engagement and traditional assessment approaches

2. Craft or redesign an assignment that proactively addresses AI, either by integrating AI awareness or mitigating its misuse, all while preserving your intended learning outcomes

Ever wondered how to incorporate experiential learning into your course? Join us for a 90 minute workshop introducing instructors to the principles of experiential learning (EL). Find out about practical tools and examples for integrating EL into diverse courses within a research intensive university, including how to:

• differentiate EL from active learning 

• identify resources and supports for EL

• explore ways to adapt course assignments and integrate reflective practice

Learning outcomes:

1. Describe how experiential learning (EL) can enhance student engagement by connecting theory to practice

2. Identify practical strategies to incorporate EL activities into their course

3. Explore resources that support the development, implementation, and assessment of EL

If you’re feeling the challenge of engaging students in your large classes or teaching a large class for the first time, CTL can help. This in-person workshop provides you with practical, active learning strategies to boost interaction in any large in-person classroom. You'll actively participate in these strategies and gain immediately actionable strategies, such as:

• Collaborative Voting: Engage students, by using technology, and have them vote on examples to unpack, assignment topics, questions to prioritize, or approaches to case scenarios.

• Storytelling for Connection: Learn to weave brief personal stories or student anecdotes into your content delivery to build community and enhance understanding.

• Active Reflection & Peer Teaching: Use structured content organization, small group discussions and Think Pair Share activities to engage students throughout lectures.

Learning outcomes:

1. Strategize about the challenges of implementing active learning in large classrooms

2. Share active learning strategies used as part of their teaching practice

Ever wondered how to incorporate experiential learning into your course? Join us for a 90 minute in-person workshop introducing instructors to the principles of experiential learning (EL). Find out about practical tools and examples for integrating EL into diverse courses within a research intensive university, including how to:

• differentiate EL from active learning 

• identify resources and supports for EL

• explore ways to adapt course assignments and integrate reflective practice

Learning outcomes:

1. Describe how experiential learning (EL) can enhance student engagement by connecting theory to practice

2. Identify practical strategies to incorporate EL activities into their course

3. Explore resources that support the development, implementation, and assessment of EL

1. Explain the value of end-of-semester SPOT surveys for both instructors and students.

2. Identify at least two strategies for increasing student response rates on SPOT surveys.

3. Outline key messages to help students provide more specific and actionable feedback.

Curious about creating interactive, open, and accessible learning materials for your courses? The ß÷ßäÉçÇø Library provides free access to Pressbooks, a powerful platform for developing open textbooks and other (OERs). With Pressbooks Results, student scores from H5P activities are sent directly to your Canvas gradebook for an easy integration of interactive learning into your course.

In this 20-minute webinar, co-hosted by CTL and the Library, you’ll see a live demo of Pressbooks at the U of A and learn how Pressbooks Results connects with Canvas. You’ll also hear practical ideas for incorporating these tools into your teaching—whether to enhance existing materials or to create something new.

Stay for an additional 25-minute Q&A to discuss Pressbooks in more depth. Can’t wait for the session? Browse the list of

Learning outcomes:

1. Evaluate how Pressbooks and Pressbooks Results can support the design of interactive and open learning materials in your courses

2. Identify practical strategies for integrating Pressbooks and H5P activities into Canvas to enhance student engagement and assessment