[Ssphrfaculty] Teaching Support Unit - September updates

Fri Sep 18 09:58:41 EDT 2026

Hello all, and happy start of term! It is hard to believe that we are already almost two weeks in. I hope the rest of the summer left you feeling at least somewhat rejuvenated and ready for the term ahead, and that all that rejuvenation has not been lost already.

There are a number of teaching and learning events coming up that might be of interest, including Instructional Innovations Week<https://us.list-manage.com/fEMmGLzp0qA?e=17a89f1522&c2id=554b25d345be6b43c133ff5d9f65c59e> in October that bookends AI Discovery Day<https://uwaterloo.ca/daily-bulletin/2026-08-13#register-now-for-ai-discovery-day>.

If you have any questions or would like support with teaching and learning initiatives this term, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly at mary.power at uwaterloo.ca<mailto:mary.power at uwaterloo.ca> or our new “front door” support email teachingsupport at uwaterloo.ca<mailto:teachingsupport at uwaterloo.ca>!

All the best,

Mary

UPCOMING
EVENTS

 Climate Pedagogy Across the Curriculum<https://us.list-manage.com/_tbeW2vwg2H?e=17a89f1522&c2id=554b25d345be6b43c133ff5d9f65c59e>
Friday, September 25, 12:00pm-2:00pm, EV2 Room 2006
(registration required)
Join the Waterloo Climate Institute and partners for a hands-on, interdisciplinary workshop exploring the what, why and how of climate pedagogy and climate emotions.

Virtual Reality in the Classroom
Thursday, October 1, 10:30am-11:30am, LIB 329<https://us.list-manage.com/d4dAbH61lvF?e=17a89f1522&c2id=554b25d345be6b43c133ff5d9f65c59e>
Wednesday, November 11, 2:30pm-3:30pm, LIB 329<https://us.list-manage.com/iBV8FCxPqEk?e=17a89f1522&c2id=554b25d345be6b43c133ff5d9f65c59e>
(registration required)
In this one-hour hands-on workshop, instructors will be introduced to the Meta Quest 3 VR headsets and explore how virtual reality can support teaching and learning across disciplines.

Graduate Supervision Series (GSS) for Faculty<https://us.list-manage.com/LZQx_l1pNfY?e=17a89f1522&c2id=554b25d345be6b43c133ff5d9f65c59e>
Friday, October 2 and Friday, October 30
If you are interested in attending the GSS or finishing a previous series, please contact me Mary Power<mailto:m2power at uwaterloo.ca?subject=&body=>.

AI Discovery Day<https://us.list-manage.com/16O8GLabwTz?e=17a89f1522&c2id=554b25d345be6b43c133ff5d9f65c59e>
Wednesday, October 14, 8:30am-4:00pm, STC
(registration required)
AI Discovery Day brings together colleagues from across Waterloo to share practical experiences, emerging ideas, and responsible approaches to artificial intelligence in teaching, research, and administrative work.

Instructional Innovations Week<https://us.list-manage.com/g8QfGkjMmA3?e=17a89f1522&c2id=554b25d345be6b43c133ff5d9f65c59e>
Tuesday, October 13, Thursday October 14 and Friday, October 16
Various times and locations
(registration for individual session is required)
Teaching Support and Innovation is looking forward to offering Instructional Innovations Week 2026, in collaboration with faculty from across campus. Events include a Panel with GenAI Teaching and Learning Fellows, a short webinar introducing new GenAI and Teaching resources, an Introduction to Assessment Redesign in the context of GenAI, a faculty Assessment Showcase, and workshops on Teaching Critical Thinking in a Time of AI and Augmented Reality Video for Online/Hybrid Teaching and Tutoring. Please see the link above for individual session descriptions, times and registration information. I am happy to answer any questions you might have about any of these.

Assessment Redesign and GenAI<https://us.list-manage.com/lT23gBiYYSy?e=17a89f1522&c2id=554b25d345be6b43c133ff5d9f65c59e>
Monday, December 14 and Wednesday, December 16, 1:00pm-4:00pm, MC 2036
(registration required)
This assessment redesign workshop is being offered again due to demang and explores the implications of GenAI for assessment design, offering strategies to both harness GenAI as a learning tool and address challenges. Over two half-days, the workshop provides space, time, expertise, and peer feedback to help participants create assessments that are both innovative and resilient in the age of GenAI.

LITE Seed Grants Due October 1

For this round of LITE Seed Grants<https://us.list-manage.com/13MzfP4okmj?e=17a89f1522&c2id=554b25d345be6b43c133ff5d9f65c59e>, we are seeking projects that advance insights, ideas, and discussion generated from the 17th Annual University of Waterloo Teaching and Learning Conference theme, The Human Factor – Shaping the Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Higher Education. While this call is inspired by discussions from the 2026 University of Waterloo Teaching and Learning Conference, attendance at the conference is not required to submit a LITE proposal. We welcome proposals from all eligible members of the UW community whose proposed work aligns with the theme.

To learn more, visit the LITE Seed Grant guidelines<https://us.list-manage.com/kDYN2g8P371?e=17a89f1522&c2id=554b25d345be6b43c133ff5d9f65c59e>. The application deadline for the Fall term is Thursday, October 1 at 4pm, but applicants must meet with the grant program manager (Annik Bilodeau<mailto:a2bilode at uwaterloo.ca?subject=&body=>) no later than Friday, September 18 at 12pm.

TIMELY RESOURCES

Teaching Tips

  *   Active Learning Activities<https://us.list-manage.com/3mkOo_y43k9?e=17a89f1522&c2id=554b25d345be6b43c133ff5d9f65c59e>
  *   Building Community in Large Classes<https://us.list-manage.com/6SFCVKuRIH6?e=17a89f1522&c2id=554b25d345be6b43c133ff5d9f65c59e>
  *   Early Engagement Quick Tips<https://us.list-manage.com/WvurIEF93MK?e=17a89f1522&c2id=554b25d345be6b43c133ff5d9f65c59e>
  *   Implementing Oral Assessments<https://us.list-manage.com/1BYw2GuARUo?e=17a89f1522&c2id=554b25d345be6b43c133ff5d9f65c59e> *new*
  *   Inclusive Engagement Activities<https://us.list-manage.com/K4ZwZTmJSGv?e=17a89f1522&c2id=554b25d345be6b43c133ff5d9f65c59e>
  *   Optimizing Your LEARN Site for Students<https://us.list-manage.com/ZXhvdBEpZEI?e=17a89f1522&c2id=554b25d345be6b43c133ff5d9f65c59e>
  *   Redesigning Unsupervised Assessments in the GenAI Era<https://us.list-manage.com/MKA4ouvoATA?e=17a89f1522&c2id=554b25d345be6b43c133ff5d9f65c59e>

Additional Resources

  *   Accessible Teaching<https://us.list-manage.com/bzLqnvo8uI1?e=17a89f1522&c2id=554b25d345be6b43c133ff5d9f65c59e>
  *   GenAI Programming<https://us.list-manage.com/OZU8gl1C4Eo?e=17a89f1522&c2id=554b25d345be6b43c133ff5d9f65c59e>
  *   PowerPoint Slide Accessibility<https://us.list-manage.com/JGbi4FnyhgA?e=17a89f1522&c2id=554b25d345be6b43c133ff5d9f65c59e> *new*
  *   University of Waterloo GenAI Hub<https://us.list-manage.com/BibjGohOZKm?e=17a89f1522&c2id=554b25d345be6b43c133ff5d9f65c59e>

************************************************
Mary Power, PhD  (she/her)
Senior Manager, Faculty Support Services
Teaching Support and Innovation
University of Waterloo
m2power at uwaterloo.ca<mailto:M2power at uwaterloo.ca>  | Chat with me on Teams<https://teams.microsoft.com/l/chat/0/0?users=m2power@uwaterloo.ca>

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations<https://uwaterloo.ca/indigenous/>.
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