Welcome to the 2007 "Spirit of Inquiry: Developing Critical Thinking, Creativity and Community" Conference!
Concordia University was pleased to partner with McGraw-Hill Ryerson to host the 2007 McGraw-Hill Ryerson National Teaching, Learning and Technology Conference Series in Montréal, on May 14, 15 and 16, 2007.
The conference provided a forum for faculty, students and staff to focus on innovative strategies, new technologies and methodologies to improve and enhance the quality of higher education through the spirit of inquiry.
Conference Theme:
Education can be defined as the enhancement of skills developed from the insights of teachers with the ability to open the minds of students to new avenues. By nurturing the spirit of inquiry, educators guide their students to engage in discourse, research and analysis, with the goal to create a community of creative and critical thinkers. Inquiry-driven education actively engages students in their learning through the investigation and construction of their own understanding.
Sessions provide opportunities to explore innovative approaches as well as best practices in teaching and learning.
Conference Subthemes:
Teaching a Diverse Student Population
The most important challenge in teaching today is our students’ breadth of ability, background experience, motivation, and willingness/availability for learning. How do we design instruction and assessment that is sensitive to this variation?
Suggested topics, but not limited to:
- Pedagogical and curriculum approaches that adapt to the learner
- Student learning contracts
- Creating a safe and respectful learning environment
Student Retention
This theme explores strategies for dealing with student retention and attrition issues. How can we help those students lacking certain skills and sometimes the will to succeed?
Suggested topics, but not limited to:
- Faculty and student initiatives that play a role in student success
- University-wide initiatives that support a positive student experience
- Creating a sense of community in the classroom and across campus
Student Engagement
Participants are invited to examine ways to actively engage students in their learning. What are effective professors doing across the disciplines?
Suggested topics, but not limited to:
- Strategies for helping students take responsibility for their learning
- Peer-evaluation and peer-teaching
- Creating reflective learning assignments
Teaching Online Courses
How can we keep students excited and motivated throughout a distance-learning course? Share your online course strategies that nurture the spirit of inquiry.
Suggested topics, but not limited to:
- Technology-based instructional strategies
- Technologies and strategies that support students to engage in discourse
- Creating inquiry-driven learning materials
Online Teaching Evaluations
Explore innovative ways of administering teaching evaluations. How can we use teaching evaluations for decision-making and improvement?
Suggested topics, but not limited to:
- Moving from paper to online teaching evaluations
- Electronic teaching portfolios
- University-wide initiatives for making teaching evaluations count
Creativity in Higher Education
What excites and motivates professors and students to think outside the box? Participants are invited to share their new and innovative approaches to developing creative thinking.
Suggested topics, but not limited to:
- Building a culture of creativity while engaging students in inquiry
- Designing assessment methods that invite creativity
- Giving feedback on students’ creative work
Fostering Critical Thinking
Participants are invited to examine how to develop critical thinking. How can we help students at different levels of ability to learn how to ask questions, identify needed resources, and explore ways to approach problems?
Suggested topics, but not limited to:
- Problem-based learning and collaborative learning
- Strategies for engaging students in research and analysis
- Creating a learning discourse in and out of the classroom