A learning community for pedagogical conversation and recalibration

Summer is a time to decompress from the previous academic year, take stock of accomplishments and challenges, and prepare for the coming Fall term. It’s also a great opportunity to build new connections and strengthen academic relationships. 

“Reflect and Connect” is a space for taking a pause, discussing topics related to teaching, (re)connecting with our classroom experiences and teaching approaches, and sharing with teaching colleagues from across McGill. Participants have the option to remain afterwards for additional co-working “protected” time to advance their individual teaching projects in a community setting.

Time commitment

  • One-hour, in-person group discussions
  • (Optional) additional hour of co-working time
  • Invitation to engage with a short article, podcast, or video in advance of each meeting.

Session topics and dates

Each session has a different, complementary theme. Attend as many of the sessions as you wish.

Exploring student engagement challenges

June 3, 10 – 11am (in person) 
+ optional co-working time, 11am – 12pm

Some instructors have observed a lack of student engagement recently. We’ll explore this phenomenon as a starting point for conversation, with time to share your classroom experiences (including challenges, successes, and questions), and ideas from the literature. 

Identifying and living our teaching values

June 17, 10 – 11am (in person)
+ optional co-working time, 11am – 12pm

What values are guiding your teaching practice? How are you currently living those values in the classroom or teaching lab? Are there opportunities to draw more explicitly on your values, and to share this with your students?

Recalibrating, exploring, and preparing

August 5, 10 – 11am (in person)
+ optional co-working time, 11am – 12pm

As we look towards the Fall term, what is one teaching question you would like to explore? Or, what is something specific you’d like to change in your course this Fall? We’ll all brainstorm, explore, share, and you’ll come away having identified your immediate next step.