Dal Events

Constructing Effective Rubrics with Rubric Swap

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Tuesday, July 15
10–11:30 a.m.
Killam Library, Room B400*
Link to register for the session (opens in new tab)

Want to spend LESS time grading and providing feedback? Grading using rubrics has many benefits such as reducing grading time for instructors, and providing clear and consistent expectations to students. In this in-person workshop, you will:

Learn the purpose and principles underlying grading using rubrics.
Be introduced to different types of rubrics, the components that make up a rubric, appropriate language to use for rubrics, and the step-by-step process for constructing effective rubrics.
Participate in a rubric swap! Exchange rubric feedback with a peer.

Workshop participants are kindly asked to bring one paper copy of a rubric that you are looking to gather feedback on. If you do not have one, a sample rubric will be provided by the workshop facilitator.

Facilitator

Daniella Sieukaran, Senior Educational Developer (Program Development), CLT

Intended Audience

Instructors
Graduate Students
Teaching Assistants

*Please note that the B400 classroom is in the basement of the Killam Library. We are aware of, and apologize for, the accessibility barriers associated with this room. If you require the use of an elevator to reach this room, one of the CLT staff will have to access the elevator with you, using their key card. Please let us know in advance so that we can facilitate a smooth and timely transition to the basement.

We also ask that participants be respectful of those with significant allergies and avoid wearing perfume, aftershave, cologne, and highly scented hairspray, soaps, lotions, and shampoos.

Serviceberry Teachings: Nurturing Gratitude and Reciprocity in Teaching and Learning

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 14:00:00 GMT

Wednesday, July 16
11 a.m.–12 p.m.
In-Person, Department of Biology Outdoor Learning Space
Link to register for the event (opens in new tab).

Join us for an enriching outdoor discussion that delves into the practices of gratitude, reciprocity, and the generosity of nature as we explore how the gift economy thinking can offer meaningful insights into fostering more inclusive and relational approaches to teaching and learning.

Drawing from the inspiring work of Robin Wall Kimmerer (Potawatomi Nation), we will reflect on her vision of abundance and interconnectedness both in the natural world and human relationships. We highly recommend attendees read Robin Wall Kimmerer’s The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World (2024) or listen to “Ten Percent Happier, The Antidote to Not-Enoughness | Robin Wall Kimmerer Podcast Episode Discussion” on YouTube (link opens in new window) in preparation for this session.

Through this session, we aim to explore how principles of reciprocity and gratitude can be meaningfully translated into teaching and learning contexts. How can we nurture environments that encourage generosity, mindfulness, and interconnection, both in educational spaces and beyond? What lessons can we learn from nature’s abundance, and how might we apply those lessons to our own practices of teaching and learning?

We invite all participants to join in an open and reflective discussion, sharing ideas, experiences, and insights that may help us collectively imagine more generous and sustainable ways of living and learning.

Facilitators

Suzanne Le-May Sheffield, Director Centre for Learning and Teaching
Rachelle McKay, Educational Developer – Indigenous Knowledges & Ways of Knowing

Adapting Learning Outcomes to a GenA.I. World

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Tuesday, July 22
10–11:20 a.m.
Online via Microsoft Teams
Link to register for the event (opens in new tab)

Learning outcomes set the parameters of course design, guide assessment creation, and communicate expectations and goals to students. Outcomes that are specific and higher-order encourage students to meet course expectations and assessment tasks with integrity. Outcomes that are responsive to authentic futures develop students’ critical and ethical engagement within and beyond course contexts. Learning outcomes can be crafted to guide students in appropriate course and academic behaviour, and help them build capacities and competencies to participate in a GenA.I.-infused world. This workshop will lead participants in crafting such outcomes, with tips on how to communicate them to students and testing the alignment of assessments and activities with outcomes.

Prepare

Participants should come prepared with one or two learning outcomes they would like to workshop.