Task Force Meeting Updates
Overview of Meeting 1 (January 18th, 2021)
During the first meeting of the task force, the members introduced themselves and provided input and feedback on the roadmap, timeline, and task/objective. The members also provided their ideas in response to the following three prompts:
- What teaching, assessment and course design practices have been used during COVID that we want to continue?
- What specific teaching and learning approaches or models would you like to see more commonly used at U of G post-pandemic (in the next 5 years)?
- What constraints or challenges need to be addressed to continue innovating teaching and learning at U of G?
The committee informally discussed strategies to engage the community throughout the process and potential challenges and constraints that will impact our work.
Next Steps
The brainstormed responses to each of the three questions are being thematized, and themes will be presented back to the task force at our next meeting. To inform the work of the task force, we are preparing summaries of the survey data gathered from students, faculty, and instructors throughout the pandemic, as well as information and resources related to the “post-pandemic university.”
The next Task Force meeting is on Thursday, February 4th, 2021.
Overview of Meeting 2 (February 4th, 2021)
During the second meeting, the following summaries were presented to inform the work of the Task Force:
- Summary of survey data gathered from U of G faculty, instructors, and students during the pandemic related to teaching and learning
- Overview of key themes in current literature and articles on the post-pandemic university
The themes derived from the brainstorming activities in Meeting 1 were presented. Themes were centered around two key areas:
- Teaching and Learning Initiatives or Areas that working groups could pursue (e.g., alternative forms of assessment, experiential and community-engaged teaching and learning)
- Core Principles that should be applied across all teaching and learning initiatives (e.g. ensuring and enhancing accessibility, equity, inclusion, diversity, and decolonization).
Task Force members discussed and provided feedback on both areas, then expressed their preferences for working group initiatives.
Next Steps
Task Force members’ feedback on the Core Principles and Teaching and Learning Initiatives are being reviewed to guide our next steps towards refining the working group areas and how to apply the core principles to our work. Our next steps also include discussing how the working groups will be structured and facilitated, and the scope and expectations for their work.
The next Task Force meeting is on Monday, February 22nd, 2021.
Overview of Meeting 3 (February 22nd, 2021)
The main objective of the third meeting was for the working groups to begin their work. Before the working groups met, we discussed the scope of our work within other teaching and learning initiatives at U of G and provided prompts for the working groups to consider as they move forward. We also discussed principles of change management and innovation, and the key barriers that impact teaching change and innovation, including time and incentives.
Four working groups have been established:
Alternative Forms of Assessment and Evaluation
Cross-Disciplinary and Transdisciplinary Teaching and Learning
Experiential and Community-Engaged Teaching and Learning
Supporting Diverse Learning Environments
The working groups met to discuss their goals and objectives, desired future state, and their expectations and group processes.
Next Steps
The four working groups will continue discussing their desired future state, goals, and objectives. Working groups will also discuss what other expertise is needed in their groups.
The next Task Force meeting is on Thursday, March 11th, 2021.
Overview of Meeting 4 (March 11th, 2021)
The main objective of the fourth meeting was for the four working groups to continue their work. Before the working groups met, we discussed strategies to engage with the U of G community to share our progress and recommendations. We also brainstormed creative formats to share the working group recommendations, discussing different methods of communication and types of outputs directed at specific audiences, including administrators, instructors, and students.
Next Steps
The four working groups will continue their work. Two working groups will provide an update at the next meeting to share their ideas and gather input from the other task force members.
The next Task Force meeting is on Wednesday, March 24th, 2021.
Overview of Meeting 5 (March 24th, 2021)
During the fifth meeting, two of the working groups gave presentations to discuss their progress and gather feedback from the Task Force. The two groups who presented were the Alternative Forms of Assessment group and the Supporting Diverse Learning Environments group. As a whole group, we also discussed strategies to communicate and engage with the community, including facilitating sessions at the upcoming Teaching and Learning Innovations (TLI) Conference in May. A slide deck for general communication about the Task Force was provided for members to modify and share with their colleagues. A downloadable copy of the slides is available below. Working groups were also given time to meet to continue their work.
Next Steps
The four working groups will continue their work. The other two working groups will provide an update at the next meeting to share their ideas and gather input from the other task force members.
The next Task Force meeting is on Monday, April 12th, 2021.
Overview of Meeting 6 (April 12th, 2021)
During the sixth meeting, two of the working groups gave presentations to discuss their progress and gather feedback from the Task Force. The two groups who presented were the Experiential and Community Engaged Teaching and Learning group and the Cross-disciplinary and Transdisciplinary Teaching and Learning group. Working groups were also given time to meet to continue their work.
Next Steps
The four working groups will continue their work. During the next meeting, all working groups will share their ideas for outputs and their plans for a session at the upcoming Teaching and Learning Innovations (TLI) Conference.
The next Task Force meeting is on Thursday, April 29th, 2021.
Overview of Meeting 7 (April 29th, 2021)
During the seventh meeting, all working groups provided updates about their proposed outputs. Indira Naidoo-Harris gave a presentation to the task force about integrating principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in each of the working group areas. Working groups were also given time to meet to continue their work.
Each working group will be presenting a session at the 2021 TLI Conference, happening between May 4-13. Groups will be sharing their ideas and proposals, engaging in discussions about key issues and questions in their working group areas, and seeking feedback on their proposed outputs.
Next Steps
The four working groups will continue to work on their outputs as we approach the end of this Task Force in early June.
The next Task Force meeting is on Tuesday, May 18th, 2021.
Overview of Meeting 8 (May 18th, 2021)
During the eighth meeting, all working groups shared their experiences and feedback related to their sessions at the Teaching and Learning Innovations conference. We discussed various strategies for sharing the working group outputs and the importance of identifying who will continue the work after this Task Force ends in June. Working groups were also given time to meet to continue their work.
Next Steps
The four working groups will continue to work on their outputs as we approach our final Task Force meeting on June 8th, 2021.
Overview of Meeting 9 (June 8th, 2021)
During the ninth and final meeting of the Task Force, each working group shared their goals, outputs, and recommendations. As a group, we shared our reflections and feedback about what went well, what could have gone better, what we hope to see one year from now ,and what areas of teaching innovation still need to be explored. We talked about next steps with the outputs that each working group will submit, and hopeful plans to come together in one year to evaluate our progress and success.
Next Steps
Each working group will submit their final outputs, which will be shared via the Provost’s Task Force on Pedagogical Innovation website and in other spaces as appropriate. A slide deck for general communication purposes will also be posted to this website.