parttimemomdigest: Preparing for Winter 2024: Seven strategies for success

Friday, December 22, 2023

Preparing for Winter 2024: Seven strategies for success

Adam Finkelstein

Dec 22

Each new term brings a blend of excitement, challenges, and the promise of academic growth. In preparation for the Winter 2024 term, we put together a list of seven suggestions to help ensure a successful teaching experience for you and an engaging learning experience for your students.

1. Review teaching support materials

Familiarize yourself with the TLS Course Outline Template and Guide, which aligns with McGill's policies, to structure your course outline effectively.
Stay organized with the Teaching Preparation Checklist, a comprehensive guide covering tasks from six months before the first class to the end of the term.
Peruse the Teaching and Learning Knowledge Base, which offers a comprehensive collection of information on course planning, implementation, and learning technologies, as well as step-by-step guidance on uploading content, creating assessments, and setting up your gradebook.
Check for Accessibility of Learning Materials to ensure all students, including those with vision impairments, can access your course content.

2. Plan assessments

Explore the assessment articles in the Teaching and Learning Knowledge Base to find different ideas for how to assess student learning.
While the University Student Assessment Policy is still in effect for Winter 2024, take a look at the new Policy on Assessment of Student Learning (PASL) (effective Fall 2024) to see if you would like to make some changes to your assessments now.

3. Explore Generative AI

Check out the TLS article on Using Generative AI in Teaching and Learning. Think about how you might consider designing AI into or out of your course to support student learning. Remember that McGill strongly recommends avoiding AI detection tools due their unreliability and false positive rate.

4. Support your students with developing their learning skills

Direct your students to TLS's web page of resources for students, which includes a page dedicated to strategies for enhancing students' learning skills.

5. Register for TLS webinars

Stay informed about upcoming workshops and webinars through the TLS Events web page. Topics include designing assessments, promoting student interaction, implementing effective teamwork assignments, and more! Attend synchronously or watch recorded webinars (complete with companion materials). The next webinar is on January 9, so register now!

6. Get help with implementing learning technologies

Familiarize yourself with myCourses through the self-paced myCourses Essentials tutorial.
Explore the more than three dozen McGill-approved technology tools for teaching that are listed on the Tools to Support Teaching and Learning  web page.
If you are teaching with Zoom, consult the Host and Record Live Sessions article in the Teaching and Learning Knowledge Base.

7. Stay up to date

Read the Focus on Teaching (FoT) ebulletin sent to all instructors that has announcements about upcoming events, as well as links to resources for teaching. Access the FoT archive. Aussi disponible en français—abonnez-vous!
Listen in to the Teach. Learn. Share podcast while driving to visit family. You can subscribe with your favorite podcast player on the Teach. Learn. Share podcast site.
Subscribe to the Teaching for Learning @ McGill blog, which features posts related to teaching and learning experiences in higher education.

Need more help? You can always book a one-on-one consultation with TLS to learn more about teaching and assessment strategies that are appropriate for your course and the learning technologies to implement them.

As you prepare for the winter term, keep in mind that it's okay to keep things simple while still having interactive and engaging classes. With these resources and support at your fingertips, you are well-equipped for a successful and fulfilling semester.