To welcome the new academic year, Arts Instructional Support and Information Technology (ISIT) hosted the Arts ISIT Welcome Back Conference on August 27 and 28, 2024.
The event was a hub for Arts instructors, staff, and teaching assistants to discover innovative pedagogical strategies, meet their colleagues in person, and discuss teaching and learning topics in times of rapid technological change.
Generative AI and Student Writing
We’re Only Human: Generative AI, Student Writing, and Academic Integrity
The conference kicked off with a panel discussion on the impact of generative AI (GenAI) on student writing and academic integrity.
Presented by the We’re Only Human Large TLEF project team, the panel addressed thought-provoking questions around the challenges and opportunities presented by GenAI including considerations for designing and evaluating written assignments, the types of learning they aim to foster among students, and specific changes to their teaching approaches.
Interested in learning more or participating in this project? Complete the form below to get in touch with the We’re Only Human project team.
Summarize, Brainstorm, and Organize: AI-Assisted Essay Planning
This hands-on workshop introduced participants to using generative AI for planning and organizing academic essays.
In small groups, participants tested GenAI tools to generate summaries of scholarly articles, aid in the brainstorming of topics, and help plan an outline. The session also raised key considerations and critical questions to evaluate the appropriateness of AI for students when conducting literature reviews.
Innovative Classroom Approaches
Fostering Student Engagement and Building Classroom Community
With more blended and multi-access courses available, instructors are finding innovative ways to encourage student engagement and peer interaction in the classroom.
Five Arts faculty members delved into different methods they use for their courses—from hands-on assignments that engage with real-world projects and topics, to facilitating peer discussions and other community-building activities.
Shaping Our Future Classrooms
Facilitated by the UBC Learning Spaces team, this interactive workshop covered guiding principles for learning space design. Various examples illustrated how different classroom designs aim to encourage interaction, facilitate the use of technology, ensure accessibility, and support other key considerations.
Attendees also participated in a hands-on activity where they provided their thoughts on different classroom designs and shared suggestions for their dream classroom.
Practical Learning
Leveraging Arts Staff Expertise and Resources for Departmental Practical and Career Learning
Going beyond the classroom, this panel discussion highlighted the value of applying academic knowledge to the professional world.
Panelists from Arts Work Integrated Education, Arts Development & Alumni Engagement, UBC Careers, and select academic units shared valuable insights on integrating practical learning through departmental events, design thinking in curriculum, and career learning in courses.
Data Analytics for Decision-Making
Leveraging Data Analytics: Empowering Arts Units to Make Data-Informed Decision
In this highly insightful session, attendees discovered how they can leverage the diverse data resources at their disposal to inform strategic decisions within their unit.
Presentations covered the type of support available from Arts ISIT, as well as examples of Arts units that have used data analytics to better understand enrolment trends, contextualize patterns in academic performance, inform curriculum mapping and design, and more.
Leveraging Teaching Tools
Transformative Tools to Make Teaching and Learning Better for You and Your Students
In this second keynote panel, five Arts instructors shared changes they have made to improve the teaching and learning experience for their courses.
A series of informative presentations delved into five different tools and approaches: Top Hat, Universal Design (UDL) on Inclusive Syllabus, Piazza, Formscanner, and HP5. Each presentation equipped attendees with concrete examples and takeaways for enhancing their classroom experience.
Start-of-Term Workshops
Apart from discussions on broader pedagogical topics, participants also brushed up on their knowledge of various tools in preparation for the new term.
The Arts Service Centre (ASC) Student team provided an overview of Workday Student tasks for instructors, as well as available training and resources for faculty members.
Two ISIT-led workshops also covered different learning technologies such as ways to leverage new Canvas features and Turnitin integrations, and how to use audiovisual (AV) equipment in the classroom. Participants also had the chance to learn support options from Arts ISIT for the incoming term.
Bridging Technology and Pedagogy
From exploring teaching tools to engaging in meaningful discussions on pedagogical topics, attendees were equipped with insights to enhance their teaching experience.
The Arts ISIT Welcome Back Conference provided a space to engage in these topics, underscoring the importance of technology in shaping modern pedagogical approaches.
