McGill’s new climate change course: A well-rounded learning opportunity for undergrads
In Fall 2022, the Faculty of Science launched a university-wide course titled FSCI 198: Climate Crisis and Climate Actions. ThisContinue Reading
Marcy Slapcoff
Undergrads Address their Science Questions at Poster Showcase
Have you wondered about the differences between fluorescence and phosphorescence? About the role of bone marrow in understanding disease andContinue Reading
Being a layperson in pharmacology
My identities in life are many – a staff member at McGill’s Teaching and Learning Services, a mother–daughter-sister-wife, a formerContinue Reading
My farmer, my teacher
Earlier this fall I spent an afternoon in my farmers’ field digging up carrots. Yes, I am part of communityContinue Reading
Student writing: Old school skill needs an updated approach
In recent conversations with faculty members, many have affirmed the importance of old school skills in higher education. One ofContinue Reading
Relaunching the Teaching for Learning Blog
There’s a change afoot at McGill. More and more people on campus are interested in changing things up – crossingContinue Reading
Turning class participation into short written assignments
In the entry from the Teaching Professor Blog pasted below, Maryellen Weimer, PhD, suggests that instructors give students a participation grade for writing ABOUT participation, not for talking up in class. What a novel idea! Weimer writes that the common approach to grading participation rewards students who like to talk and know that verbal participation will win them points. Instead, she suggests that writing short papers about the role participation plays in the learning process is a more fruitful strategy to help students appreciate how important interaction is to the learning process. Read more –>
Learning to scythe
This summer my husband taught me to use a scythe. I accepted my friends’ indulgent smiles when I raved about the experience but I knew that many considered this to be a foolhardy and retrograde pursuit. Some asked, “Would you like to borrow our mower?” or “Why not pay your neighbor to cut the field?” assuming our choice was due to lack of funds or lack of awareness of the advancement in power tools since the Industrial Revolution. Read more –>
Short writing assignments: something to consider
Many faculty shy away from short writing assignments, considering them to be the poorer cousin of the term paper or research paper. There is a commonly held assumption that shorter assignments can never match the rigor or substance of longer papers and that faculty are letting students down if they don’t assign a full-length paper (whatever that is according to the conventions of each discipline). Yet, what are faculty to do in a context of increasing class sizes and decreasing TA support? How can we still assess important outcomes such as analysis, synthesis and critical thinking? Read more –>
McGill and the Quebec Charter of Values
Congratulations to Principal Suzanne Fortier and the McGill administration for taking a stand in favour of pluralism and against the Quebec Charter of values. The statement published on the McGill website is a critical first step in supporting all members of our community and their right to dress in accordance to their convictions. Read more –>
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