“The virtual space presents unique challenges for both instructors and students, and navigating them with empathy, creativity, and flexibility helps keep the focus on what you’re assessing, rather than the assessment itself.”
Laurier’s Teaching and Learning team have launched a comprehensive Guide to Teaching, Learning and Assessment to take instructors through everything they need to consider when planning, building and teaching a virtual course – from theoretical concepts grounded in research all the way through to practical execution.
Featuring Creative Commons licensed content drawn from experts across the sector, as well as original content that has been researched, written and produced by Laurier’s professional team of educational developers, the guide supports higher education instructors as they adjust their practice to meet the distinct environmental and student learning needs present within the virtual classroom.
“In educating the whole person, we need to ensure that we create spaces that are safe, supportive, and provide the tools students need to succeed.”
The content within the Guide to Teaching, Learning and Assessment will continue to expand and evolve to reflect the changing realities of teaching and learning in higher education.
Educators regularly adjust, refine and reflect on their practice based on the teaching and learning environment by which they are surrounded. Classrooms change, curriculum advances, and each learner is unique.
Sometimes we can anticipate the change in surroundings and sometimes we need to adapt with little forewarning. Whether a major readjustment is prompted by an external force, like a global health crisis, or an internal force that recognizes it is time to re-evaluate an established practice, instructors have the support of teaching and learning professionals to help guide them through the change.
