Drop-Ins, Workshops, and Professional Development
The Centre for Teaching and Learning is excited to offer a variety of workshops for faculty, staff, and students. Enhance your skills by signing up for sessions on topics such as Using Secure Online Exams in Your Courses, Accessibility Standards, Software Training Sessions, Administrative Practices, and Curricular Planning. For specific training requests, please contact teachinghub@nipissingu.ca.
2026 Summer Drop-in Sessions: Instructional Design
The Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) is pleased to invite you to participate in our weekly drop‑in sessions designed to support your teaching, course design, and use of educational technologies.
All these sessions are with Instructional Designer Sapna Sharma.
We are asking people to register even though these are billed as "Drop-ins" because it helps us to plan now and in future (as well as keeping online versions more secure). They are informal enough that coming any time in the first hour will be fine, though.
You'll notice that the online sessions are in the evening. This is based on our needs survey in which a significant number of part-time faculty expressed the need for hours outside 8:30-4:30. We do not expect anyone to work outside their typical working hours.
Blackboard-related session information for July and August will be posted soon.
Click on a topic to read more and to register for one or more of its offerings.
Have questions about aligning courses, outcomes, and assessments? Join this informal drop-in session to explore the fundamentals of curriculum development and program mapping. Whether you’re designing a new course, revising an existing one, or ensuring alignment with program learning outcomes, you’ll find practical guidance, examples, and one-on-one support. Bring your questions, drafts, or ideas—drop in for a quick consult or stay to learn strategies for creating clear, coherent, and student-centred curricula.
Learning Outcome:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to align course learning outcomes, instructional activities, and assessments within a program map to support a coherent progression of student learning.
Register for this Session
Description:
Explore a range of engaging educational technologies that can enhance teaching and learning in both in-person and online environments. This drop-in session introduces tools such as Padlet, Kahoot, Mentimeter, and Collaborate, with a focus on practical applications for active learning, student engagement, and real-time feedback. Faculty can see quick demonstrations, discuss pedagogical uses, and receive support in choosing and implementing tools that align with their course goals.
Learning Outcome:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to select and apply at least one educational technology tool to support interactive and student-centred learning in their courses.
Register for this Session
Description:
This drop-in session focuses on effective and equitable grading strategies to support student learning and transparency. Faculty will explore approaches to designing clear, consistent assessments, with particular attention to creating and using rubrics. Participants will review examples, discuss common challenges, and receive guidance on aligning grading practices with learning outcomes to enhance fairness, efficiency, and the quality of feedback.
Learning Outcome:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to design a clear, criterion-based rubric aligned with course learning outcomes to support consistent and transparent grading.
Register for this Session
Description:
This drop-in session explores how generative AI is shaping assessment practices in higher education. Faculty will discuss opportunities and challenges associated with AI-assisted work and consider strategies for designing assessments that promote academic integrity, critical thinking, and authentic learning. Topics may include revising traditional assignments, incorporating process-based or in-class assessments, and establishing clear expectations for AI use. Bring your questions or examples to explore practical, adaptable approaches.
Learning Outcome:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to identify and apply at least one assessment strategy that accounts for the use of generative AI while supporting authentic student learning
Register for this Session
| Date | Topic | In-Person | Online |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, Jun 24 | Assessment Strategies Considering Generative AI | 1:00–3:00 PM | 6:00–8:00 PM |
| Thu, Jun 25 | Grading Strategies (Including Rubric Design) | 1:00–3:00 PM | 6:00–8:00 PM |
| Jul 1–2 | No Sessions | ||
| Wed, Jul 8 | Curriculum Development & Program Mapping | 1:00–3:00 PM | 6:00–8:00 PM |
| Thu, Jul 9 | Educational Technologies | 1:00–3:00 PM | 6:00–8:00 PM |
| Wed, Jul 15 | Assessment Strategies Considering Generative AI | 1:00–3:00 PM | 6:00–8:00 PM |
| Thu, Jul 16 | Grading Strategies (Including Rubric Design) | 1:00–3:00 PM | 6:00–8:00 PM |
| Wed, Jul 22 | Curriculum Development & Program Mapping | 1:00–3:00 PM | 6:00–8:00 PM |
| Thu, Jul 23 | Educational Technologies | 1:00–3:00 PM | 6:00–8:00 PM |
| Wed, Jul 29 | Assessment Strategies Considering Generative AI | 1:00–3:00 PM | 6:00–8:00 PM |
| Thu, Jul 30 | Grading Strategies (Including Rubric Design) | 1:00–3:00 PM | 6:00–8:00 PM |
| Wed, Aug 5 | Curriculum Development & Program Mapping | 1:00–3:00 PM | 6:00–8:00 PM |
| Thu, Aug 6 | Educational Technologies | 1:00–3:00 PM | 6:00–8:00 PM |
| Wed, Aug 12 | Assessment Strategies Considering Generative AI | 1:00–3:00 PM | 6:00–8:00 PM |
| Thu, Aug 13 | Grading Strategies (Including Rubric Design) | 1:00–3:00 PM | 6:00–8:00 PM |
| Wed, Aug 19 | Curriculum Development & Program Mapping | 1:00–3:00 PM | 6:00–8:00 PM |
| Thu, Aug 20 | Educational Technologies | 1:00–3:00 PM | 6:00–8:00 PM |
Please Enroll in the Blackboard Orientation Module:
Nipissing University holds an institutional membership with the organization Quality Matters (QM), giving faculty, instructors, and Centre for Teaching and Learning support staff access to a range of evidence-informed course design resources.
Use your @nipissingu.ca email to register for MyQM and unlock the QM Reference Library, Self-Review Tool, and Course Design Rubric.
July 22, 2026 Level Up Your Learning Materials: Strategies for Engaging Students with Interactive Elements (Webinar)
Presented by Julie Jacobs and Dana Simionescu, Oregon State University.
REGISTER NOW
August 19, 2026 Strategic Alignment: Digital Accessibility, Faculty Development, and Quality Course Reviews
Presented by Nancy Swenson and Amy Sugar, University of Central Florida.
REGISTER NOW
Learn More
Visit the Quality Matters website to explore additional resources and information.
Now — Digital Pedagogy Institute (online) great keynotes and concurrent sessions on all matters digital. Organized by 4 Ontario universities.
Fall: The STLHE/SAPES Virtual Conference
The Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education has been the organization of choice for university and college educators across the country since the 1980s. Now they have, in addition to their summer conference, a virtual Fall one. Save the date and bookmark the link. 2026 Virtual Conference – STLHE
eCampusOntario Professional Learning (Summer/Fall 2026) Explore upcoming programs for faculty and staff, in particular:
· Empowered Educator (Aug 4 – Aug 21 & Oct 26 – Dec 18) Build core skills in digital, open, and inclusive teaching practice
· Mastering Open Ed (Sept 14 – Oct 30) Create and adapt open educational resources using practical tools and licensing
Programs are free or available at a preferential rate for participants from eCampusOntario member institutions. Questions? Please contact us at learn@ecampusontario.ca.