Academic new year 2024!
Happy academic new year! We’re so pleased to be part of the start of another academic year at Memorial University. It’s wonderful to see activity increasing on our campuses as faculty and instructors plan for their courses, students return to classrooms and labs, and staff work to support teaching and learning.
We at the Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL) are proud of the essential role we play in making each year a successful one. We hope this information in our semester-start FAQ, found below, provides a helpful overview of the many services and supports CITL is proud to offer to Memorial University’s instructors, leadership, students and staff.
In addition, to stay current on CITL resources, programs and other developments, please watch your Brightspace announcements and follow us on LinkedIn for updates. We’re excited to be working together for better learning this academic year – we know it will be a great one.
FAQ: Start of the academic year
I’m looking for resources on course development/online exams/using Brightspace/etc. Where do I start?
In addition to our services and supports, CITL offers a wealth of resources for students, faculty, instructors, staff members and academic leaders. Our Featured Resources page highlights timely and self-paced resources we’ve identified as key to our academic community for the academic year. In addition, our updated service guide for instructors provides a quick overview of how we can help.
To go deeper, visit our Technology Resources and Instructional Resources sub-sites. You’ll find documents and pages organized by topic and designed to support you in every aspect of teaching and learning, including planning, creating, teaching and assessing learning and integrating learning technologies into teaching practice.
How can I effectively incorporate teaching and learning technology into my courses?
Our CITL experts can demonstrate how tech can have a positive impact on learning experiences in any environment (classroom, online, blended). Contact Classroom Support to learn how to use classroom tech or access portable media carts or equipment rentals across campus. For more info about video, audio and multimedia production, reach out to our Media Services team. And staff in our Support Centre and Teaching and Learning Exchange (TLX) are available to talk about the use of Brightspace and other learning technologies to reach teaching and learning goals.
Suddenly, artificial intelligence is everywhere! What do I (and my students) need to know?
The abilities and availability of AI-based tools are changing at lightning speed – it is hard to keep up! It’s essential for our academic community to be aware of what these tools are and how they are used – and of how to talk about AI with students and each other.
CITL has developed resources, shared on our Featured Resources page, to help you understand this issue and put smart policies in place for your courses. To further explore the impact of generative AI on teaching and learning in higher education, reach out to the Generative AI and Teaching Community of Practice.
I want to broaden my teaching practice. Where can I find professional development opportunities and resources?
CITL offers a variety of resources and workshops focused on professional development in teaching and learning. Our Fall 2024 Instructor Series and Learning Technology Series of webinars launch this month, and registration is now open. Recordings of past sessions are available on our YouTube page, where you’ll also find videos highlighting the great sessions held during this year’s Teaching and Learning Conference in May. Stay tuned for an update on the 2025 Teaching and Learning Conference, to come later this fall!
How can I best support my students during this academic year?
The Academic Success Centre offers resources and services to support students in teaching, including learning technology support, study spaces, events and workshops. The Writing Centre – celebrating its 40th anniversary this year! – provides writing support for undergraduate and graduate students in any subject, discipline, program or faculty. Get in touch with them to learn more about referring students for their services, integrating the Writing Centre into course syllabi and requesting visits and presentations.
CITL also highlights resources for students among our Featured Resources, and our Student Resources sub-site includes guides on using learning technologies like Brightspace, Online Rooms and Webex. And graduate students are invited to enroll in CITL’s new self-paced course on developing your teaching dossier and join the Graduate Student Teaching Community of Practice.