Focus on events
The Centre for Teaching and Learning’s (CTL) “Focus On” events are a series of engaging half-day or full-day synchronous and/or asynchronous experiences comprising workshops, interactive sessions, ed tech demos, keynote speakers, vendor booths, delicious treats and much more!
Purposes and benefits
The “Focus On” events are tailored to:
- Connect a community of educators dedicated to excellence in teaching.
- Provide a platform for faculty to share innovative strategies.
- Explore new pedagogical approaches.
- Collaborate on enhancing student learning experiences.
Participants gain valuable insights into effective teaching practices and leave with practical tools to apply in their classrooms. These experiences support educators in their roles as designers, researchers, inclusive practitioners, changemakers, digital navigators, collaborators, reflectors, and mentors.
Annual events and schedule
The CTL proudly hosts 6 to 8 “Focus On” events each year, including the premier event, “Focus on Teaching,” held every May.
Our planned “Focus On” events for 2024-2025 are as below:
Focus on Ed Tech
TBD
Focus on Changemaking Day
In today’s rapidly evolving world, the role of educators and those supporting students on their educational journey extends beyond traditional teaching methods and support mechanisms. We are at the forefront of shaping not just knowledge but the future of our communities and the world.
That’s why we are inviting you to attend our upcoming Focus on Changemaking (FoCH) event—an opportunity to explore the evolving dynamics of education and how we can make an impactful difference.
- Date: 20 November 2024
- Time: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Mode: Online
Why should you attend?
In a time where the role of education is shifting and the role of educators and staff is changing, we’ll explore what changemaking is (demystified!), why it matters and how you can do it! FoCH will help you:
- Identify how you are already supporting changemaking.
- Discover ways to equip students with skills they need for the workforce and community, including empathy, teamwork, leadership and critical thinking to practice changemaking.
- Explore how to innovate and incorporate changemaking into your curriculum.
- Align your practices with institutional goals around innovation, changemaking, and social responsibility.
- Connect with like-minded educators to share ideas, passions and strategies for creating meaningful change and find some spark in your work!
What are we offering?
On November 20th, we will offer three 1.5-hour virtual sessions that explore educational innovation and changemaking across three different stages of our changemaking journey:
Listen to Charmaine Lyn and explore keys to changemaking. Listen to Charmaine Lyn, Coach + Critical Friend for equity-focused leaders and organizations, share her changemaking journey and, afterwards, through facilitated activities, explore keys to changemaking. This session offers insights into how educators can adapt and innovate for the future of education. It will help you see where you are already practicing changemaking and supporting your students in building skills that will enable them to do the same.
Hear from peers willing to share their approaches and tools to educating with a changemaking lens. Learn practical strategies for embedding changemaking into your curriculum. From project-based learning to community partnerships and from teaching and learning activities to assessments that support the development of changemaking skills and mindsets, this session equips you with tools to transform ideas into action.
Reflect on the broader systemic shifts in education and explore how we can collectively transform the learning experience to foster not only academic success but also societal impact. Participate in this facilitated discussion to determine how we can best pave a way forward in changemaking education.
Join any or all these sessions with one link for the full day. Refresh with 15-minute interludes between sessions. With each session lasting just 1.5 hours and delivered virtually, it’s easy to participate from wherever you are.
After you’ve registered, we will forward you a calendar hold (from 8:45 am to 2 pm) and an agenda closer to the event. Don’t miss the opportunity to sharpen your skills, gain new insights, share your gifts and help shape the future of education.
Hear the stories of changemaking
Thanks to our amazing educator peers who are planning to share their stories about how designing with a changemaking lens has impacted their experience and the experience of their students. Join us online to hear these Change Talks from 10:45 am to 12:15 pm. Bring your lunch or a snack and be inspired by the creative ideas of our peers!
Focus on UDL Day
Focus on UDL Day, presented by Georgian College’s Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) and Accessibility teams, is a vibrant event aimed at enhancing educational practices through Universal Design for Learning (UDL). The day features a student panel sharing personal perspectives, a practical UDL workshop to refine your teaching approach, and GÜD Talks where experts discuss their UDL journeys, obstacles, and creative solutions.
This is a valuable opportunity to collaborate with fellow educators and learn new strategies for fostering inclusive and effective learning environments. Join us to connect with educators and professionals committed to creating inclusive and accessible learning environments.
Focus on Academic Integrity Day
Focus on Academic Integrity Day, hosted by the Centre for Teaching and Learning at Georgian College, celebrates the International Day of Action for Academic Integrity. This event aims to foster a culture of honesty, trust, and responsibility in academic practices.
Join us for a day of engaging workshops, thought-provoking discussions, and collaborative activities designed to elevate the importance of academic integrity within our community. Participants will hear from keynote speakers who are leaders in promoting ethical scholarship, as well as from students sharing their perspectives on the value of integrity in their educational journeys.
Interactive sessions will provide practical strategies for encouraging academic honesty and navigating challenges in maintaining integrity. This is an essential opportunity to connect with faculty, staff, and students dedicated to cultivating a respectful and trustworthy learning environment.
Focus on Teaching Conference
Each year, the Focus on Teaching Conference brings together our Georgian community to share practices, experiences and insights about learning and teaching. Faculty and students continue to work together to explore new learning and venture into amazing futures.
We’re excited to support and inspire our community of teachers and celebrate as we recognize all the ways we work together, create and share knowledge, and connect learning inside and outside the classroom.
Focus on Engagement Day
Focus on Engagement Day, hosted by the Centre for Teaching and Learning, is an online event designed to enhance your teaching practice by showcasing innovative methods for engaging students in various learning environments.
The event features a keynote speaker on student engagement, interactive sessions with colleagues, and GED talks from peers. This is a prime opportunity to connect with other faculty and staff dedicated to improving student learning and success.
Highlights of recent events
Focus on Academic Integrity Day 2024
Focus on UDL Day 2024
Focus on Teaching Conference 2024
Focus on Maajiishkaadaa 2024