David J Hornsby, Vice-Provost & Associate Vice-President (Academic). Photo by Bryan Gagnon.
This time last year, we were stepping back onto campus after two and a half years marked by the global pandemic. Though its effects will endure, I am grateful for the energy and vibrancy that has returned to our campus life.
As I take up the role of Vice-Provost, which includes responsibility for Teaching and Learning Services in addition to academic program development and quality assurance, it is critical to keep an eye on what lies ahead.
Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) dominates the headlines, offering a mix of opinions showing deep concern and hopeful optimism. As educators, we already see the impacts of AI on how we teach, work and how our students approach their studies.
But while AI has created challenges and some concerns for educators, it also provides the opportunity to enhance teaching and learning and positively transform education. From assisting in course design and data analysis to providing students with a virtual tutor, today’s educators are exploring new and exciting ways to incorporate AI into their teaching.
As we continue to adapt and look for new and exciting opportunities, TLS has put together several resources and guidelines to help instructors navigate AI in the classroom. I invite you to explore them here.
Continuing with technology, this fall, we open the Experiential Learning Hub, our state-of-the-art facility located in Southam Hall that will bring students and instructors together to engage and experiment with Extended Reality (XR) educational technologies.
The Hub includes three new studios to support experiential learning through the use and development of XR media with tools and support provided in part by the Future Skills XR Grant in partnership with EON Reality. I’m thrilled with this new space, which along with the existing Future Learning Lab, fosters innovation and creates additional opportunities for collaboration between instructors and students.
Collaboration is just one of the ways that we are embracing change and transforming higher education, as envisioned by the Future of Teaching and Learning Working Group report released this year. We are also empowering our students with the skills to be successful in the classroom and their future careers through programs like FUSION. I encourage you to check out the modules available and let us know if we can assist in integrating them within your courses.
As you prepare for the first few weeks of classes, remember that Teaching and Learning Services is here to help you imagine possibilities and address challenges in your courses. Reach out for support with pedagogies, assessment strategies or educational strategies.
On behalf of all of us in the Office of the Vice-Provost, I wish you and your students a safe and successful fall term!
David J Hornsby (he/him) BA (Hons.), MA, PhD (Cantab)
Vice-Provost & Associate Vice-President (Academic)