Teaching and Learning Innovations Conference 2026
NEW! We are pleased to announce our very first FREE Pre-Conference event. On Wednesday, May 20th we will host an Educational Technology Showcase in person at the University Centre. This interactive event highlights how educators are using various technologies to address pedagogical challenges in higher education.
Teaching and Learning Innovations Conference 2026
May 21 - 22, 2026
At the University of Guelph’s 37th Teaching and Learning Innovations Conference, we will come together to explore the theme of Conditions for Learning and its influence on how we teach, learn, and work together.
On Thursday, May 21st, we will connect in person at the University Centre for speakers, interactive sessions, and presentations. On Friday, May 22nd, we will connect synchronously online with a different set of interactive sessions and presentations.
Conference Theme: Conditions for Learning
What makes learning possible, powerful and enduring?
As educators, researchers, students, staff, we each play a role in shaping the conditions that support learning. These conditions are both visible and invisible – found in pedagogical choices, learning environments, relationships, policies, and lived experiences and broader societal, cultural, and environmental contexts. These conditions all have a profound impact on the entire community.
The term “conditions” implies several things: the state of something’s functionality or quality; the circumstances in affecting the way in which people live or work; and a state of affairs that must exist or be brought about before something else is possible. In the context of education, these meanings converge, reminding us that learning is not just the result of what and how we teach, but of the environments, relationships, and systems we reinforce or reimagine.
Inspired in part by Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, this year’s theme invites reflection on the full range of conditions that make meaningful learning possible, for everyone, from meeting basic needs and ensuring safety to fostering belonging, empowerment, and purpose. This year, we invite participants to explore the many factors that influence learning in higher education. From course design and assessment to mental health and campus culture, we seek proposals that examine the structural, interpersonal, and individual layers that contribute to the conditions for learning.
By examining these conditions together, we can identify what might foster deep, enduring learning – and what needs to change. The 2026 TLI Conference will provide a space to share evidence, stories, and innovations that help us imagine and strengthen the conditions in which learners and educators can thrive. Whether you're involved in teaching, student support, curriculum development, educational development, research, or leadership, we welcome your perspectives on creating and sustaining meaningful conditions for learning.
The following streams and questions are intended to inspire your proposals:
Ensuring the physical conditions for learning are met
- How do basic needs, such as food security, rest, and health, affect an individuals’ ability to learn and participate?
- In what ways can learning spaces (physical, digital, or hybrid) be designed or adapted to better support all learners?
- How do time, workload, and scheduling practices shape the capacity for learning and teaching?
- What practices support sustained focus and reduce cognitive fatigue?
- How can we apply principles, such as Universal Design for Learning, to address diverse sensory, mobility, or processing needs?
Creating environments where learners feel safe, stable, and supported
- What does psychological safety look like in learning environments, and how can it be cultivated?
- How can trauma-informed practices be integrated into curriculum and pedagogy?
- How do academic integrity policies, AI, and technologies impact trust and safety in learning environments?
- What approaches ensure digital safety, data privacy, and ethical use of learning technologies?
- How can course design and transparent communication reduce uncertainty and cognitive load and foster a sense of stability?
Fostering connection, inclusion, and a sense of belonging
- How can we design learning experiences that actively create community and connection among participants?
- How can we build inclusive and equitable learning communities?
- How does activating prior knowledge help learners feel included and connected to new material?
- What practices effectively support historically excluded or marginalized learners in higher education?
- How can relationships between students, faculty, and staff be nurtured to enhance learning?
- What strategies promote peer-to-peer learning and co-creation of knowledge?
- How can cultural identity, language, and lived experience be honoured and integrated into learning?
Supporting confidence, motivation, and self-efficacy
- How can feedback be designed to build confidence, resilience, and self-efficacy?
- In what ways can students be offered choice and agency in their learning processes?
- How does practice and retrieval build learners’ confidence in their own abilities?
- How can we meaningfully recognize and celebrate excellence in teaching, learning, and academic contributions?
- What supports help instructors and graduate students strengthen their teaching identity and confidence?
- How do professional learning opportunities contribute to educator empowerment and capacity-building?
Enabling purpose, creativity, and fulfillment through learning
- How can learning experiences inspire creativity, exploration, and intellectual curiosity?
- In what ways can curriculum and pedagogy be aligned with purpose-driven and values-based education?
- How can educational leadership and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) drive institutional and cultural change?
- What role can learning play in activism, social justice, or liberation?
- How might risk-taking, experimentation, and play be intentionally embedded in learning environments?
The Call for Proposals will open in November!
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Acknowledgements:
The Office of Teaching and Learning and the 2026 Teaching and Learning Innovations Conference Co-chairs would like to thank the Offices of the Provost and Associate Vice-President (Academic) for ongoing support.
For More Information:
For more information about the conference, please contact us at otl@uoguelph.ca.
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