Upcoming Events

Join us for a dynamic workshop on communication and professionalism within your role as a TA. In this workshop, we will explore strategies and tools around effective communication and professionalism with your students, including email etiquette, meeting and interacting with students, and communication with the course instructor. We will also discuss strategies to start the semester strong, including what you can do in the first few weeks of the semester to introduce yourself to students, get to know your students, and create a supportive, positive, and inclusive classroom environment....

Join us for an engaging and interactive workshop designed specifically for new teaching assistants. Discover practical strategies to streamline your grading process while providing impactful feedback that fosters student growth. Explore how to create and utilize rubrics effectively, ensuring fair and consistent assessment of students' work. This workshop offers essential tools and insights to enhance your grading efficiency and support your teaching journey from the start. Learning Outcomes By the end of this workshop, successful participants should be able...

This workshop offers graduate students’ invaluable insights into providing effective feedback on assignments, enhancing their teaching skills and fostering student success. Participants gain practical strategies for delivering constructive feedback that promotes learning and growth. In this workshop grad instructors begin to develop proficiency in providing meaningful feedback to learners that also helps create a supportive learning environment and fosters student engagement. Learning Outcomes By the end of this workshop, successful participants should be...

Join us for an enriching workshop designed to empower graduate students with essential tools for navigating classroom conflicts with professionalism and empathy. Explore strategies to foster a safe and inclusive learning environment that enhances student engagement and belonging. We will discuss effective approaches to manage conflicts that may arise in the classroom. Discover methods to create a supportive environment where every student feels valued. Learning Outcomes By the end of this workshop, successful participants should be able to: ...

Have you ever attended a seminar, tutorial or lab and didn't feel prepared on what to teach your students that day? Well then, this workshop is perfect for you to acquire the essential skills needed to deliver an organized and effective lesson to your students. You will be introduced to a lesson plan based on the BOPPPS lesson planning model and that aligns, learning outcomes with assessments and classroom activities. Through this framework you will make effective and efficient use of time and enhance student learning. Learning Outcomes By the end of this...

Join us for a discussion on being an international TA and the unique experiences of teaching and learning in the Canada context. Hear from your colleagues about how they navigate teaching and assessing undergraduate students in Canada. Panelists share their stories and the strategies they use. This is the time to ask these experienced TA’s your questions or anticipated challenges for your new TA position. Learning Outcomes By the end of this discussion, participants should be able to: Discuss issues and challenges that pertain to the...

During the Fall 2025 semester, the OTL Book Club will discuss Teaching Where You Are: Weaving Indigenous and Slow Principles and Pedagogies (Leddy & Miller, 2023). The book club is open to all University of Guelph, University of Guelph-Humber, and Ridgetown faculty, staff, instructors, teaching assistants, and graduate students.  We will approach this book club through a decolonial lens of experiential and wholistic learning. At each meeting, book club members will take part in a facilitated discussion of chapters in the book and share their thoughts, questions, and experiences...

This interactive, hands-on session invites instructors to explore and experiment with generative AI tools in a supportive, low-stakes environment. Through guided activities and demonstrations, participants will critically and creatively examine how generative AI can be used to develop lecture content, design active learning experiences, and support both teaching and student learning. The session will include opportunities for discussion and sharing, helping participants build confidence and curiosity in integrating AI into their own teaching practices. No prior experience with AI...

The University of Guelph invites educators from all three campuses to join a monthly community focused on artificial intelligence in teaching and learning. This group creates space for honest conversations about AI's impact on education, welcoming perspectives from enthusiasts to skeptics. Open to faculty, sessional instructors, teaching assistants, and staff, the community addresses real classroom challenges through peer learning and practical problem-solving. Participants can share materials, discuss assignment redesign, explore academic integrity questions, and learn what...

She:kon! Hello! OTL will be hosting a memorial event for National Truth and Reconciliation Day on September 30th, 2025, from 1:00-2:00pm beside the front entrance of Johnston Hall on the University of Guelph campus. Sewehia:rak: We Remember is an opportunity for members of the UofG community to name and learn more about the countless victims, and survivors of the Canadian Indian Residential Boarding Schools (IRS). The IRS system was the result of an assimilation policy enacted and funded by the Canadian Government from the late 1800’s to 1997. An estimated...