Oakville, ON, October 17 & 18, 2016
The theme of this year's EDC Institute was The Changing Face of Higher Education: Implications for our Work with Faculty and their Classrooms. Over two very full days of presentations and discussion, a group of Educational Developers from across Canada and the UK came together at the intersection of our learner-practitioner identities. The sessions at the Institute emphasized an important exploration of what inclusion, diversity, differentiation, and equity could mean for our students, our faculty, and our practice.
Several sessions discussed inclusion and diversity as it relates to different populations that we interact with on campus. While we may have spent an hour and a half at a time discussing international students, multilingual students, or students who identify as having a disability, what was most striking were the group conversations and keynote speakers that highlighted the important and complex intersections of these identities and how they impact teaching and learning. Presenters shared stories that gave a human voice to the facts and theories that underpin our practice, allowing us to question how and where we might make space for emotion in our work. There was also a wonderful culture of sharing occurring in and between sessions, with colleagues offering practical examples and applications of our discussions in how we work with faculty. We shared videos and other resources to help shape discussions related to identifying and understanding assumptions, and theoretical models that chart student learning in ways that can support meaningful feedback, risk taking, and inclusive practice. We also shared ideas related to how teaching interventions and learning strategies can be assessed across multiple and diverse populations, particularly when the goal is to highlight and celebrate multiple learning styles and lived experiences.
The EDC Institute was an enriching and inspiring experience, knowing that the Educational Development community is full of so many professionals who are committed to the pursuit of inclusive and innovative teaching and learning. We are in an exciting time for the field as we work to keep pace with the changing landscape of higher education.
