Teach.Learn.Share

All Episodes (12)

From new to old

From new to old From old to new

1. 

   1. Explain it in three minutes: Using micro lectures to help students develop communication skills

   Many undergraduate students may go on to be policy-makers. Why not have them practice the skill of translating complex concepts and issues into a “pitch” that shows students’ engagement with the course content? This idea became Dr. Tari Ajadi’s three-minute micro lecture assessment, a strategy that he first tried when asked to prepare one himself for a conference. As they engage with a format that is less familiar to them, students reflect on how to best communicate their understanding of the co

   May 07,2024 32:43
2. 

   2. Using authentic assessments and flexible grading schemes in a large science course

   In her introductory computer science class, Dr. Giulia Alberini asks her approximately 600 students whether they want to be “code crafters” or “problem solvers.” The first group will write two midterms and a final coding project. Instead of the final project, “problem solvers” prepare a technical interview that simulates an authentic real-world experience. This choice allows students to work to their strengths, be it programming alone or interviewing with two members of the instructional team. L

   Apr 15,2024 29:03
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   3. Leveraging assessments to help students learn to recognize bias

   Low or no-stakes assessment tasks give students the opportunity to focus their practice on what they aim to learn and allow them to try their hand at failing. When what they’re learning means recognizing implicit biases in themselves and others, it’s key that students have multiple opportunities to practice developing this skill. In this episode, Dr. Alissa Levine describes her multipronged approach to assessments that help students recognize bias and understand the impact it can have on their f

   Apr 03,2024 26:29
4. 

   4. Flexible formative assessments: How to keep exam preparation focused on learning

   Quizzes are a tried-and-true way to prepare students for higher-stakes exams, but do they allow you to assess the progress of students’ learning? To ensure her students’ learning is on track, which in this case means thinking critically about the immune system, Dr. Jasmin Chahal has her students design concept maps, draw cartoon diagrams, and write problem-solving exam questions. In this episode, we learn about the flexible and creative formative assessments Jasmin gives her students, which allo

   Mar 19,2024 29:27
5. 

   5. A different take on two-stage exams: How collaboration can further assessment for learning

   In this episode, we learn about a two-staged mid-term exam where students do a collaborative version of the exam before trying their hand at an individual exam. For Dr. Laura Pavelka, having students work collaboratively and ask questions in an introductory science course were key in helping students understand how science works, so she designed those elements into her assessment strategy. Easing exam-related student anxiety was another motivating factor. Tune in to hear Laura share her tips on

   Mar 04,2024 33:07
6. 

   6. Welcome back! More conversations reshaping assessment for learning coming your way

   Welcome back to Teach.Learn.Share’s exciting new miniseries! Join us over the next five episodes as we delve into creative, concrete, and transferable assessment strategies centered around assessment for learning. In each episode, we sit down with instructors from various Faculties at McGill University to explore a new strategy, discussing its design and implementation. Listen in as instructors share what works and where the challenges lie in assessments for large and small classes, as well as i

   Feb 19,2024 01:16
7. 

   7. Integrating principles of well-being and assessment, with Professor Andrea Creech

   Do the assessment choices instructors make support students’ learning and their well-being? To close our five-part miniseries, we wanted to hear an instructor’s perspective. In this episode, we’ve invited Dr. Andrea Creech, Professor of Music Pedagogy at the Schulich School of Music, McGill University, to join the conversation. Andrea shares insights into how assessment forms an integral part of her pedagogy, which is shaped and guided by principles of well-being. These principles include self-e

   Dec 11,2023 32:07
8. 

   8. Striking the right balance on assessment and well-being, with grad students Sakina Rizvi and Connor Sin-Chan

   Getting assessment right—being fair, consistent, equitable, and conscientious of students’ and instructors’ well-being—leads to healthier learning environments in university settings but is a difficult balance to strike. In this episode, we talk to two graduate students who share their experiences with the assessment and well-being connection in their contexts. We also discuss fairness and reliability in grading, student-instructor dialogues around assessment, and the positive impact small incre

   Nov 27,2023 32:44
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   9. Assessment, learning, and student well-being, with undergraduates Jordan Leeson and Hyeonwoo Park

   Interested in knowing what students think about sharing the responsibility of improving assessment practices in higher ed? In this episode of our miniseries on assessment and well-being, we ask Jordan and Woo to explain their perspectives on the emotions bound up with assessment and their potential impact on learning. Listen to Woo and Jordan describe hurdles they’ve faced, as well as assessment tasks that challenged them academically, allowed their creativity to flourish, and provided opportuni

   Nov 13,2023 34:59
10. 

    10. Inclusive assessment practices for healthier learning environments, with Char Lewis-Sutherland

    Assessment can often stir up negative emotions. But what if we can reframe the way we think about it? Assessment has long been equated with what’s wrong, what needs to be “fixed” or “bettered.” In this episode, Char Lewis-Sutherland, a Senior Advisor in McGill’s Equity Team, will challenge us to think, dialogue, and act creatively on assessment. They offer insights on inclusive and anti-racist assessment practices that promote healthier learning environments by effectively supporting all student

    Oct 30,2023 34:11
11. 

    11. Promoting student mental health through assessment practices, with Kira Smith

    This first episode of a miniseries on assessment and well-being sets the stage for our exploration into ways in which to build an inclusive culture of learning and healthier learning environments by focusing on assessment practices. In this episode, Kira Smith, Student Engagement Officer at the Office of Science Education at McGill University, helps us arrive at a common understanding of well-being and explains how it relates to student experiences. Drawing on the results of her graduate studies

    Oct 16,2023 32:42
12. 

    12. Welcome to Teach.Learn.Share!

    Teach.Learn.Share’s first miniseries centers on assessment and well-being. Over five episodes, we ask different members of our university community whether we can view learning and student well-being as connected when looking at the way student learning is assessed. We also delve into specific ways in which to build an inclusive culture of learning by focusing on assessment practices. The conversations point to concrete strategies and calls to action while also signaling misconceptions and long-

    Oct 05,2023 01:30