This morning OUSA received an invitation from the Executive of the Ontario Council of Academic Vice-Presidents to present our work on teaching and learning at their May meeting. Teaching and learning issues will be front and centre throughout the meeting, with the authors of Academic Transformations also attending to provide their recommendations.
Based on our research and on many consultations with students and educational developers, we’ve identified seven broad concerns with the state of teaching and learning in Ontario, as well as a number of cost-effective recommendations for improvement. Students have made it quite clear that improvements are necessary, but we need leadership from all levels of institutional governance if we are to truly change the culture around teaching and learning. I’m hopeful that we can begin a constructive dialogue with the Academic Vice-Presidents about the best way to move forward.
OUSA’s seven concerns are as follows:
- There is a lack of emphasis on, and support for, the scholarship of teaching and learning
- We rely too heavily on outdated teaching methods
- Centres for Teaching and Learning do not receive adequate funding and support
- There is insufficient emphasis on student-faculty interaction, especially in the first year
- Excellence in teaching is consistently undervalued and not sufficiently recognized
- Physical infrastructure inside and outside the classroom is often not designed to support active learning
- Graduate students, Ph.D. Students, and new instructors are not required to complete any formal training in teaching, learning and assessment.
Alexi White
Executive Director
