Past Events

How the Social Sciences and Humanities are Helping Re-imagine Universities in the
Digital Age.

Dr. Chad Gaffield, President of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada,
Sept. 17, 2012.

Universities are among the few institutions that can trace their history to the middle ages. One key reason is their ability to adapt their form and content to changing internal and external forces. This ability is currently being tested by new insights into pedagogy, new approaches to advancing knowledge and understanding about the past and present, and new relationships with the larger society. Each of these developments is being enabled, accelerated and influenced by digital technologies, digital content and digital literacies. If judged by public discussion in societies around the world, the current result is both promising and worrisome, both inspiring and threatening. This lecture will briefly describe the profound changes now underway on campuses across Canada and will suggest how innovative approaches in the social sciences and humanities hold significant promise for the successful re-imagining of universities in the Digital Age.

Chad Gaffield has taught at McGill University, the University of Victoria, and the University of Ottawa, where he held a University Research Chair and was the founding director of the Institute of Canadian Studies. He is a former president of the Canadian Historical Association and the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences. Dr. Gaffield has won many awards for his teaching, research, and innovative theories and methods related to computer-based, interdisciplinary, and multi-institutional collaboration. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, he received the society’s J.B. Tyrrell Historical Medal in 2004 for his outstanding contribution to the study of Canada.  In 2007, the Canadian Association of University Teachers presented him with its Distinguished Academic Award in recognition of excellence in teaching, research and service to the community. The University of Ottawa named him Researcher of Year in 1995 and Professor of the Year in 2002—only the second time that a professor has been chosen for both awards. Dr. Gaffield’s other honours include the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2003, an honorary doctorate from Thompson Rivers University in 2007, and the Prix de la francophonie de l'Ontario in 2008. In 2011, he was the inaugural winner of the Antonio Zampolli Prize, awarded by the Alliance of Digital Humanities Organizations to recognize a single outstanding output in the digital humanities by a scholar at any stage in their career. Dr. Gaffield received his B.A. and M.A. from McGill University, and his Ph.D. from the University of Toronto.

Veronica Brown and Dr. Julie Timmermans from the University of Waterloo’s Centre for Teaching Excellence presented two interactive workshops:

Course Design Fundamentals Workshop

In this session, key elements of successful course design, including selecting course content, creating clear learning outcomes, and designing instructional strategies and assessment methods that support the learning outcomes were explored. The focus of the workshop was to ensure alignment among all elements of the course while applying principles related to universal design in order to provide an inclusive learning environment for all students. Participants had the opportunity to begin designing or redesigning a course during the session.

Designing Assessment for Learning Workshop

 In this session, a framework for designing assessment which promotes assessment as a process of “interpreting from evidence” was explored. Notions of aligning assessment with learning outcomes, formative vs. summative assessment, and establishing criteria and standards for assessment were examined. Participants had the opportunity to design an assessment plan for a course they were currently teaching or planning to teach. A key theme of this session related to inclusive design to support a variety of learners, including students with disabilities.

Between the two sessions, lunch was served and opportunity given to chat with the speakers. 

September 26, 2012 - "Technology and Higher Education" Facilitated by Dr. Corinne Haigh

October 19, 2012 - "Formative and Summative Assessment" - Facilitated by Dr. Laura Mitchell

November 13, 2012 - "Integrative Learning Inside and Outside the Classroom" - Facilitated by Dr. Jessica Riddell

December 5, 2012 - "Problem Based Learning" - Facilitated by Dr. Heather McKeen-Edwards

January 29th, 2013 - "Leadership in the classroom" - Facilitated by Mike Teed, Williams School of Business

February 22nd, 2013 - "Using Clickers in the Classroom" - Facilitated by Scott Stoddard, ITS User Support Specialist

March 27th, 2013 - "Teaching Evaluations" - Facilitated by Dr. Heather Lawford

April 8th, 2013 - "Interteaching" - Facilitated by Dr. Fuschia Sirois