As I wrap up my summer course, here are my takeaways: 1. Relationships matter. 2. Learning is individual. 3. Trust students. 4. Decentre grades. 5. Do better for international students. 6. Find joy in your teaching.

Questioning every decision I made in my course design: active learning, collaborative grading, flexible assessment design. But also acknowledging that students can choose to engage (or not) and are responsible for the learning. The tension I feel is heavy.

Saturday morning yoga vibes

I’m back in the classroom exploring, co-creating, and listening to students. Talking about environmental science while encouraging critical thinking, curiosity, and ownership of learning. Learning on and about the land. All with collaborative grading. Grateful. #ungrading

Reflecting on the last 2 weeks. So many inspiring conversations around assessment, equity, learning, moving forward, kindness, and embracing Indigenous knowledges in my practice. Thanks to all for sharing your gifts.

A huge thanks to @cjdenial.bsky.social for an inspiring keynote and workshop at Taylor Institute at UCalgary on A Pedagogy of Kindness and centering kindness in assessments

Thrilled to be a presenter at the 2025 Conference on Postsecondary Learning & Teaching at U Calgary from April 28-30! Join me for stories of student experiences with collaborative grading and other sessions on Reassessing Assessment in Postsecondary Education. taylorinstitute.ucalgary.ca/conference

Designing assessments that honor learning not grades for an intro course requires careful scaffolding, practice self-assessment activities, & a commitment to equity, wellness & kindness #ungrading

Reviewing reflections of teaching philosophy statements from new faculty colleagues today. Inspired by thoughts about values, inspirations, & pedagogical approaches that centre equity, decolonial principles and engagement. #gratitude

Watch this beautiful and inspiring conversation. A powerful message.

@thetattooedprof.bsky.social Reflecting on your keynote for us at UFV last May. I was talking about hope in our classrooms with new faculty yesterday and the importance of actioning hope together with joy. It was a pleasure to listen to you live.

Spent a session with new faculty yesterday talking about teaching mindset, our teaching values, and how we share those. The topic of fun, joy and learning came up. We decided they are a key piece of our teaching identity. “Happy students are found in the classrooms of happy and joyful teachers”.

Tonight I wrapped up final student #ungrading conversations. We reflected on mutual learning, what worked & didn’t, what they learned about themselves as students, geographers, learners. They exceeded expectations; mine & theirs. Learning happened…no instructor grades needed!

Feeling the weight of so many things today. Thinking about my own journey and those of other people. Wondering why academia can be so unkind. This system could be so much better with less ego, less competition, less ‘you’re not one of us because…’

Trying to understand why young, talented assistant profs who want to do things differently are driven from universities where the status quo holds sway.

Re-reading the introduction to @cjdenial.bsky.social inspiring book ‘Pedagogy of Kindness’ as I get ready to talk about this approach with a faculty group. My reason for talking about this…to present another way, to open possibilities, to plant seeds, to be kind.

This weekend I reviewed unessay assignments that exceeded expectations. I had podcasts, TedTalks, posters, videos, essays. Students took risks, tried new things, shared complex topics that were extensively researched. They reflected & self-assessed their work. No instructor grade. #ungrading win

Time to review (not grade) this semester’s unessay assignments & process letters. Always a highlight. Students chose topics on Scotland’s geography & ways to demonstrate their learning. #ungrading

It was time to go.

Today’s TLC musings…when do LMS progress trackers become surveillance? And how does this data affect faculty perceptions of students? Do inherent assumptions or biases come into play? How do we discuss this with instructors?

Today’s classroom musings…university admins have responsibility to provide safe, brave & accountable spaces so we can teach in spaces that centre kindness and care while feeling safe ourselves.

Some classroom musings…students are surprised & confused when asked for input on content & activities; students also thrive when asked; students are surprised when detailed feedback is given with no grade; students also thrive when given this kind of feedback. Mmm…why is this not more common?

An inspiring workshop today exploring ways to address collective trauma in the classroom. So much to unpack. Thinking about ways assessment design and pedagogy can help or harm and my role as an educator & TLC faculty in opening dialogue for safe, brave & accountable spaces.

Getting ready to learn about ‘Transforming Teaching Through Social Change’ with Theresa Southam @ UFV Teaching and Learning events.ufv.ca/tlc/events/t...

Moving into this new space permanently. It’s time. So happy to reconnect with so many folks.

Getting ready to deliver the Instructional Skills Workshop this week @goUFV @TLCatUFV . Looking forward to a week of discovery, experimentation and consolidation in teaching.

Excited to share my ungrading experiences with BCcampus and participants at today’s FLO Friday. bccampus.ca/events/

A long weekend in the mountains. Hoping to rest and refresh. It’s Thanksgiving time.

Looking forward to co-facilitating a session for Computing Science sessional faculty on effective online instruction and other important pieces.

Such a great evening facilitating our new faculty learning cohort. 21 new permanent faculty enrolled in a year of learning together. Bring it on.

It’s a sushi for lunch kinda day.

We just posted my latest on the UM CETL blog, recapping the workshop we had last week on what instructors need to know when working with neurodivergent students. I hope (!) this will be helpful to my #highered colleagues. cetl.olemiss.edu/2023/09/13/r...

Check out this insightful post.

Sending the kids off to another school year…grades 10, 7 and 5. And while I’m not teaching this semester, I am looking forward to supporting colleagues in the classroom through my learning specialist role. 21 back to schools at UFV for me.

What a wonderful read. Something to talk with faculty about as they engage in course redesign.

It’s New Faculty Kickstart Day at UFV. Ready to help new faculty develop amazing learning experiences for their students.

It’s new faculty orientation week at UFV. Looking forward to working with new folks on their teaching and learning practice.