Dr. Sarika Bose, Chair of Contract Faculty Committee of Faculty Association
As Contract (Sessional) Faculty members constantly strive towards excellence in their teaching, many individuals are looking for opportunities to discuss practical instructional techniques and broader pedagogical strategies with their colleagues. By providing a collegial space in which to meet other Contract Faculty across campus, this Community of Practice aims to offer such an opportunity. Our sessions may vary in format as we develop our community. The three basic formats envisioned include:
- A presentation by an expert on a particular topic, followed by discussion
- A workshop on a particular skill
- A group discussion of an article on pedagogy to which the group will have a link before the session
For the 2018-2019 year, we plan to meet once a month and the dates will vary. All sessions will be held at the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology (1961 East Mall, Irving K. Barber Learning Centre). All Contract Faculty members are warmly welcomed. Topics for each session will be announced closer to the date.
If you have any questions about this Community of Practice and/or ideas for future events, please contact Dr. Sarika Bose, Chair of Contract Faculty Committee of Faculty Association.
Events: Academic year 2020/2021*
2020
Online Teaching Check-in with Contract Faculty
August 20 | 1 – 2 p.m. | Zoom
This session was created specifically for contract faculty (sessionals and Lecturers). Please only register for this session if that description fits you.
As Contract Faculty go into the Fall term as virtual teachers in virtual classrooms, we recognize that Contract Faculty have unique needs. For example, access to basic resources such as increased internet speed, bandwidth and equipment, availability of private space, pressure to produce and deliver online courses synchronously or with many bells and whistles, as well as issues of academic freedom and online harassment seem to be particularly amplified for Contract Faculty. In this session, we will discuss some of these challenges to our working lives as teachers, consider some possible solutions and invite participants to share resources.
Register >
Contract Faculty: Teaching Online for the First Time
August 27 | 1 – 2 p.m. | Zoom
This session was created specifically for contract faculty (sessionals and Lecturers). Please only register for this session if that description fits you.
In this session, we will be going through some of the basic practical steps in teaching online, including some relevant online resources, course delivery options (e.g. UBC online platforms), basic syllabus design and some ideas about content. Considering student needs – such as access to technology and limits of time zones – would be a useful first step in planning our courses, so we will suggest some basic questions to ask as we construct our courses. We will also consider how to think ahead and plan for course evaluations. We will take a little time for problem-solving, so registrants might find it useful to send questions to us ahead of time.
Register >
Contract Faculty: Teaching Online for the First Time
September 10 | 1 – 2 p.m. | Zoom
This session was created specifically for contract faculty (sessionals and Lecturers). Please only register for this session if that description fits you.
In this session, we will be going through some of the basic practical steps in teaching online, including some relevant online resources, course delivery options (e.g. UBC online platforms), basic syllabus design and some ideas about content. Considering student needs – such as access to technology and limits of time zones – would be a useful first step in planning our courses, so we will suggest some basic questions to ask as we construct our courses. We will also consider how to think ahead and plan for course evaluations. We will take a little time for problem-solving, so registrants might find it useful to send questions to us ahead of time.
Register >
Contract Faculty: Asynchronous Teaching
October 6 | 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Zoom
This session was created specifically for contract faculty (sessionals and Lecturers). Please only register for this session if that description fits you.
In this session, we will go through various techniques that have been used effectively in online, asynchronous courses before the COVID crisis forced adaptations of classroom classes into online classes. A course delivered online and a carefully-constructed online course that has several months or years + the aid of an instructional designer for development are very different. We hope the experience of instructors who have designed online courses in the past will provide some helpful support to instructors writing courses for the current unique situation. We will discuss challenges and share resources with each other.
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Contract Faculty: Student Motivation
November 4 | 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Zoom
This session was created specifically for contract faculty (sessionals and Lecturers). Please only register for this session if that description fits you.
Students (and sometimes instructors) go through motivation fatigue by this time of year, so this session will present some research and techniques for supporting student motivation. Resources for student and faculty wellness, such as material on the UBC Student Services website, will be introduced. As always, we will discuss and share further resources with each other.
Register >
*Please note session times and dates are subject to change. Visit the CTLT events website to register.
