CTEI Yorkville University & Toronto Film School

Building Better Lessons: Frameworks for Intentional Plans
2026-01-20 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Toronto)
Building Better Lessons: Frameworks for Intentional Plans
Date: Tuesday, January 20th, 2026
Time: 1:00-2:30pm (AT) / 12:00-1:30pm (ET) / 9:00-10:30am (PT)
Registration link
Workshop Description:
In this workshop, we will explore two models for lesson planning. Whether you are teaching online or on-site, these models can offer you a framework to plan lectures, tutorials, seminars, discussions, labs, experiential learning, and everything in between. Time will be spent discussing aligning lesson plans with learning outcomes, designing learning activities, and considering time management (both for you and your students!).

CTEI Ready-to-Teach – Week Three – Option Two
2026-01-21 13:00 - 14:30
CTEI Ready-to-Teach – Week Three – Option Two
Date: Wednesday, January 21th, 2026
Time: 2:00-3:30pm (AT) / 1:00-2:30pm (ET) / 10:00-11:30am (PT)
Registration link
Session Description:
Join the Centre for Teaching Excellence and Innovation to kick off the Ready-to-Teach program as you begin your time with Yorkville University and Toronto Film School.
The session will utilize active learning strategies which may include small breakout rooms and the use of other digital engagement tools.
Remember: You only need to sign up for one synchronous session in each of the scheduled synchronous weeks (Week 1, 3, and 5 of the CTEI Ready-to-Teach program).
If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach the Centre at ctei@yorkvilleu.ca.
The virtual doors will be closed to late attendees after 5 minutes.

Fictional Classrooms: National Community of Practice (Winter 2026) – January 2026 Meeting
2026-01-26 14:30 - 15:30
Fictional Classrooms: National Community of Practice (Winter 2026) – January 2026 Meeting
Date: Monday, January 26th, 2026
Time: 3:30-4:30pm (AT) / 2:30-3:30pm (ET) / 11:30am-12:30pm (PT)
Sign up to join! (you may be prompted to log in to your Google account)

Fictional Classrooms National Community of Practice Description:
Over the past four years, our very own Matthew Dunleavy (CTEI Senior Educational Developer, Faculty Excellence and Development) and his colleague, Robin Sutherland-Harris (York University), have facilitated the Fictional Classrooms community. The current iteration brings together educational/curriculum/faculty/instructional developers and instructors from across Canada and the US to explore and reflect on narratives of education in films, television, short stories, and novels. These works may speak to us as learners, educators, developers, researchers, artists, and/or simply as humans.
For Winter 2026, the Fictional Classrooms community will be discussing:

The Good Place S02E05 “The Trolley Problem” (TV show) – January 26th

Irfan in University (dir. Rıdvan Çevik) (short film) – February 23rd

Vaathi (dir. Venky Atluri) (film) – March 23rd

Stoner by John Williams (novel) – April 27th

You can read about all these selections (and previous selections) in our what to read/watch list.
To join the Fictional Classrooms Community for Winter 2026:
Please sign up as follows:

Visit https://groups.google.com/search?q=FictionalClassroomsED (you may be prompted to log in to your Google account)
On the right-hand side, click the small “Join” icon (next to the star) and ask to join group.
Matthew and Robin will approve your request within 2 working days, and you will then have access to the group, including their shared Google Folder and Calendar.

Note from Matthew and Robin: We approach the Fictional Classrooms program with a “read-what-you-can” mentality. We understand that we can get busy and may not finish readings each month, but we encourage you to attend each session regardless of how much you have been able to engage with the text or film so we can still have fruitful conversations and build community.

SoTL Scholars' Community of Practice (Winter 2026) - January Meeting
2026-01-27 11:00 - 12:00
SoTL Scholars’ Community of Practice (Winter 2026) – January Meeting
Date: Tuesday, January 27th, 2026
Time: 12:00-1:00pm (AT) / 11:00-12:00pm (ET) / 8:00-9:00am (PT)
SoTL Scholars’ Community of Practice Description:
As part of their first year in the SoTL Scholars (2-Year Fellowships) program, our SoTL Scholars meet monthly in a community of practice with The Centre to come together regularly as they work on their SoTL projects – not just to share their work and support each other, but to build SoTL capacities, cross-institutional relationships, and contribute to and advance our culture of teaching excellence and innovation through the scholarship of teaching and learning.
Meetings are on the final Tuesday of each month at 12-1PM AT / 11-12PM ET / 8-9AM PT
Check out our SoTL Scholars (2-Year Fellowships) landing page for more details about the program.

CTEI Ready-to-Teach – Week Five – Option One
2026-02-02 12:00 - 13:30
CTEI Ready-to-Teach – Week Five – Option One
Date: Monday, February 2nd, 2026
Time: 1:00-2:30pm (AT) / 12:00-1:30pm (ET) / 9:00-10:30am (PT)
Registration link
Session Description:
Join the Centre for Teaching Excellence and Innovation to kick off the Ready-to-Teach program as you begin your time with Yorkville University and Toronto Film School.
The session will utilize active learning strategies which may include small breakout rooms and the use of other digital engagement tools.
Remember: You only need to sign up for one synchronous session in each of the scheduled synchronous weeks (Week 1, 3, and 5 of the CTEI Ready-to-Teach program).
If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach the Centre at ctei@yorkvilleu.ca.
The virtual doors will be closed to late attendees after 5 minutes.

CTEI Ready-to-Teach – Week Five – Option Two
2026-02-04 13:00 - 14:30
CTEI Ready-to-Teach – Week Five – Option Two
Date: Wednesday, February 4th, 2026
Time: 2:00-3:30pm (AT) / 1:00-2:30pm (ET) / 10:00-11:30am (PT)
Registration link
Session Description:
Join the Centre for Teaching Excellence and Innovation to kick off the Ready-to-Teach program as you begin your time with Yorkville University and Toronto Film School.
The session will utilize active learning strategies which may include small breakout rooms and the use of other digital engagement tools.
Remember: You only need to sign up for one synchronous session in each of the scheduled synchronous weeks (Week 1, 3, and 5 of the CTEI Ready-to-Teach program).
If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach the Centre at ctei@yorkvilleu.ca.
The virtual doors will be closed to late attendees after 5 minutes.

Introduction to Universal Design for Learning Across Diverse Teaching Contexts and Modalities
2026-02-10 12:00 - 13:30
Introduction to Universal Design for Learning Across Diverse Teaching Contexts and Modalities
Date: Tuesday, February 10th, 2026
Time: 1:00-2:30pm (AT) / 12:00-1:30pm (ET) / 9:00-13:00am (PT)
Registration link
Workshop Description:
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) offers a meaningful framework for bringing accessibility into our teaching. Whether you are new to UDL or already integrating it into your courses, this workshop will introduce core concepts, as well as offer examples and discussion about what both foundational and scaffolded UDL principles can look like in practice. We’ll explore how our UDL approaches can continue to evolve; reflect on our positionality, consider moments of access friction; dive into how UDL might be applied both asynchronously and synchronously; as well as work towards challenging ableist assumptions that shape teaching and learning.

Journal Club – February 2026 Meeting
2026-02-11 13:00 - 14:00
Journal Club – February 2026 Meeting
Date: Wednesday, February 11th, 2026
Time: 2:00-3:00pm (AT) / 1:00-2:00pm (ET) / 10:00-11:00am (PT)
Registration link
“Journal Club” CTEI Communities Description:
Join the CTEI for monthly get-togethers where members will gather to share and discuss ideas on teaching, learning, and education more broadly. Discussions will be guided by selected journal articles balancing theory and practice.
For February 2026’s Meeting, we are listening to and discussing: Tea for Teaching‘s UDL 3.0 (2025).
Meetings are on the second Wednesday of each month at 10-11AM PT / 1-2PM ET / 2-3PM AT.
Check out our CTEI Communities page for more details and to register!

Fictional Classrooms: National Community of Practice (Winter 2026) – February 2026 Meeting
2026-02-23 14:30 - 15:30
Fictional Classrooms: National Community of Practice (Winter 2026) – February 2026 Meeting
Date: Monday, February 23rd, 2026
Time: 3:30-4:30pm (AT) / 2:30-3:30pm (ET) / 11:30am-12:30pm (PT)
Sign up to join! (you may be prompted to log in to your Google account)

Fictional Classrooms National Community of Practice Description:
Over the past four years, our very own Matthew Dunleavy (CTEI Senior Educational Developer, Faculty Excellence and Development) and his colleague, Robin Sutherland-Harris (York University), have facilitated the Fictional Classrooms community. The current iteration brings together educational/curriculum/faculty/instructional developers and instructors from across Canada and the US to explore and reflect on narratives of education in films, television, short stories, and novels. These works may speak to us as learners, educators, developers, researchers, artists, and/or simply as humans.
For Winter 2026, the Fictional Classrooms community will be discussing:

The Good Place S02E05 “The Trolley Problem” (TV show) – January 26th

Irfan in University (dir. Rıdvan Çevik) (short film) – February 23rd

Vaathi (dir. Venky Atluri) (film) – March 23rd

Stoner by John Williams (novel) – April 27th

You can read about all these selections (and previous selections) in our what to read/watch list.
To join the Fictional Classrooms Community for Winter 2026:
Please sign up as follows:

Visit https://groups.google.com/search?q=FictionalClassroomsED (you may be prompted to log in to your Google account)
On the right-hand side, click the small “Join” icon (next to the star) and ask to join group.
Matthew and Robin will approve your request within 2 working days, and you will then have access to the group, including their shared Google Folder and Calendar.

Note from Matthew and Robin: We approach the Fictional Classrooms program with a “read-what-you-can” mentality. We understand that we can get busy and may not finish readings each month, but we encourage you to attend each session regardless of how much you have been able to engage with the text or film so we can still have fruitful conversations and build community.

SoTL Scholars’ Community of Practice (Winter 2026) – February Meeting
2026-02-24 11:00 - 12:00
SoTL Scholars’ Community of Practice (Winter 2026) – January Meeting
Date: Tuesday, February 24th, 2026
Time: 12:00-1:00pm (AT) / 11:00-12:00pm (ET) / 8:00-9:00am (PT)
SoTL Scholars’ Community of Practice Description:
As part of their first year in the SoTL Scholars (2-Year Fellowships) program, our SoTL Scholars meet monthly in a community of practice with The Centre to come together regularly as they work on their SoTL projects – not just to share their work and support each other, but to build SoTL capacities, cross-institutional relationships, and contribute to and advance our culture of teaching excellence and innovation through the scholarship of teaching and learning.
SoTL Scholars meet on the final Tuesday of each month at 12-1PM AT / 11-12PM ET / 8-9AM PT
Check out our SoTL Scholars (2-Year Fellowships) landing page for more details about the program.

Michal Kasprzak and Samantha Chang on Universal Design for Learning for Evidence-Informed Curricular Change
2026-03-03 12:00 - 13:00
Michal Kasprzak and Samantha Chang on Universal Design for Learning for Evidence-Informed Curricular Change
Date: Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026
Time: 1:00-2:00pm (AT) / 12:00-1:00pm (ET) / 9:00-10:00am (PT)
Registration link
SoTL Speaker Session Description:
This session explores how Universal Design for Learning (UDL) can serve as an evidence-informed framework for curricular change in higher education. Drawing on teaching-and-learning research and practitioner examples, participants will examine how the three UDL approaches can foster equity, flexibility, and learner-centred design. The session will include guided discussion to connect UDL approaches to participants’ own curricular contexts and SoTL investigations.
By the end of this 60-minute session, participants will be able to:

Describe the three approaches to Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and their relevance to evidence-informed curricular change in higher education.
Identify opportunities to integrate UDL approaches into curricular design and delivery to enhance accessibility, flexibility, and learner engagement.
Articulate actionable strategies for curricular change that respond to diverse learner needs and disciplinary contexts.

SoTL Speakers’ Bios:
Michal Kasprzak (he/him) has over 20 years of experience in Higher Education, working as an educational developer, instructional designer and teacher. Currently, he is Assistant Director at the Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation for the Teaching Assistants’ Training Program at the University of Toronto (U of T). He works closely with graduate students and faculty exploring a range of teaching-related issues such as teaching presence in online learning, the intersection of UDL and decolonization, leadership in educational development, students as partners, and accessibility.
Samantha Chang (she/her) is an art historian by day, a classical musician by night, and an educator always. She is an Educational Developer, Teaching, Learning & Technology at the Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation and a Course Instructor at the Department of Art History, University of Toronto (U of T). Samantha’s teaching practice integrates critical and inclusive pedagogies, accessible design, and the Universal Design for Learning framework. She is the recipient of the U of T Course Instructor Teaching Excellence Award (2021), the Arts & Science Superior Teaching Award (2024), and the Universities Art Association of Canada Teaching Excellence Award (2025).

Journal Club – March 2026 Meeting
2026-03-11 13:00 - 14:00
Journal Club – March 2026 Meeting
Date: Wednesday, March 11th, 2026
Time: 2:00-3:00pm (AT) / 1:00-2:00pm (ET) / 10:00-11:00am (PT)
Registration link
“Journal Club” CTEI Communities Description:
Join the CTEI for monthly get-togethers where members will gather to share and discuss ideas on teaching, learning, and education more broadly. Discussions will be guided by selected journal articles balancing theory and practice.
For March 2026’s Meeting, we are reading and discussing: Stacey C. Wilson-Forsberg, Phyllis Power, Valerie Kilgour, and Sara Darling’s “From Class Assignment to Friendship: Enhancing the Intercultural Competence of Domestic and International Students through Experiential Learning” (2018), CIE, https://doi.org/10.5206/cie-eci.v47i1.9322.
Meetings are on the second Wednesday of each month at 10-11AM PT / 1-2PM ET / 2-3PM AT.
Check out our CTEI Communities page for more details and to register!

Ann Gagné on Accessible Language Use for Educators
2026-03-23 13:00 - 14:00
Ann Gagné on Accessible Language Use for Educators
Date: Monday, March 23rd, 2026
Time: 2:00-3:00pm (AT) / 1:00-2:00pm (ET) / 10:00-11:00am (PT)
Registration link
SoTL Speaker Session Description:
Each area and discipline has language and terminology understood by practitioners and professionals in that field. There is an assumption in our language use that everyone knows what we mean when we use words, and that assumption can be exclusionary to English as additional language learners (EAL), students with accessibility supports, and international students. This session will explore how to approach language use in an accessible manner in course design, assignment design, and teaching facilitation, through reference to plain language writing, accessibility tools, and readability. It will provide tangible strategies and support knowledge translation in your field to different audiences.
SoTL Speaker’s Bio:
Dr. Ann Gagné (she/her) is Senior Educational Developer, Accessibility & Inclusion at Brock University. She has worked in higher education for over 22 years. Her work focuses on the need for accessible pedagogies through awareness of disabled lived experiences. She has facilitated workshops and keynotes on accessible pedagogy, accessible event design, accessible social media, and trauma-aware UDL. In March 2023 she started her own podcast Accessagogy, which talks about accessibility and pedagogy in short (under 15 minute) episodes.

Fictional Classrooms: National Community of Practice (Winter 2026) – March 2026 Meeting
2026-03-23 14:30 - 15:30
Fictional Classrooms: National Community of Practice (Winter 2026) – March 2026 Meeting
Date: Monday, March 23rd, 2026
Time: 3:30-4:30pm (AT) / 2:30-3:30pm (ET) / 11:30am-12:30pm (PT)
Sign up to join! (you may be prompted to log in to your Google account)

Fictional Classrooms National Community of Practice Description:
Over the past four years, our very own Matthew Dunleavy (CTEI Senior Educational Developer, Faculty Excellence and Development) and his colleague, Robin Sutherland-Harris (York University), have facilitated the Fictional Classrooms community. The current iteration brings together educational/curriculum/faculty/instructional developers and instructors from across Canada and the US to explore and reflect on narratives of education in films, television, short stories, and novels. These works may speak to us as learners, educators, developers, researchers, artists, and/or simply as humans.
For Winter 2026, the Fictional Classrooms community will be discussing:

The Good Place S02E05 “The Trolley Problem” (TV show) – January 26th

Irfan in University (dir. Rıdvan Çevik) (short film) – February 23rd

Vaathi (dir. Venky Atluri) (film) – March 23rd

Stoner by John Williams (novel) – April 27th

You can read about all these selections (and previous selections) in our what to read/watch list.
To join the Fictional Classrooms Community for Winter 2026:
Please sign up as follows:

Visit https://groups.google.com/search?q=FictionalClassroomsED (you may be prompted to log in to your Google account)
On the right-hand side, click the small “Join” icon (next to the star) and ask to join group.
Matthew and Robin will approve your request within 2 working days, and you will then have access to the group, including their shared Google Folder and Calendar.

Note from Matthew and Robin: We approach the Fictional Classrooms program with a “read-what-you-can” mentality. We understand that we can get busy and may not finish readings each month, but we encourage you to attend each session regardless of how much you have been able to engage with the text or film so we can still have fruitful conversations and build community.

From Theory to Practice: Experiential Learning
2026-03-24 12:00 - 13:30
From Theory to Practice: Experiential Learning
Date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026
Time: 1:00-2:30pm (AT) / 12:00-1:30pm (ET) / 9:00-10:30am (PT)
Registration link
Workshop Description:
From performances to work-integrated learning and simulations to internships, experiential learning (EL) comes in many shapes and sizes. Whether you are already formally embedding EL into your courses, doing it but not realizing it, or just EL-curious, in this workshop, we will investigate the different forms of experiential learning, consider the meaning-making process for students, and compare different models of critical reflection.

CTEI Reflective Quarterly Gathering - March 2026
2026-03-30 12:00 - 13:00
CTEI Reflective Quarterly Gathering
Date: Monday, March 30th, 2026
Time: 1:00-2:00pm (AT) / 12:00-1:00pm (ET) / 9:00-10:00am (PT)
Registration link
Event Description:
Join us for our quarterly, semi-structured gathering to reflect on the past term and look ahead to the next! (Re)connect with your peers across Yorkville and Toronto Film School to celebrate what’s working, unpack what is challenging us, and identify emerging teaching and learning needs.
Through guided reflection and small-group conversation, participants will share strategies, compare experiences, and surface practical takeaways to inform the upcoming term. This is a collegial, supportive, interactive space designed to foster shared learning. So, grab your tea, coffee, water, or pop and come say “Hi”!

SoTL Scholars’ Community of Practice (Winter 2026) – March Meeting
2026-03-31 11:00 - 12:00
SoTL Scholars’ Community of Practice (Winter 2026) – March Meeting
Date: Tuesday, March 31st, 2026
Time: 12:00-1:00pm (AT) / 11:00-12:00pm (ET) / 8:00-9:00am (PT)
SoTL Scholars’ Community of Practice Description:
As part of their first year in the SoTL Scholars (2-Year Fellowships) program, our SoTL Scholars meet monthly in a community of practice with The Centre to come together regularly as they work on their SoTL projects – not just to share their work and support each other, but to build SoTL capacities, cross-institutional relationships, and contribute to and advance our culture of teaching excellence and innovation through the scholarship of teaching and learning.
Meetings are on the final Tuesday of each month at 12-1PM AT / 11-12PM ET / 8-9AM PT
Check out our SoTL Scholars (2-Year Fellowships) landing page for more details about the program.

CTEI Ready-to-Teach – Week One – Option One
2026-04-07 12:00 - 13:00
CTEI Ready-to-Teach – Week One – Option One
Date: Tuesday, April 7th, 2026
Time: 1:00-2:00pm (AT) / 12:00-1:00pm (ET) / 9:00-10:00am (PT)
Registration link
Session Description:
Join the Centre for Teaching Excellence and Innovation to kick off the Ready-to-Teach program as you begin your time with Yorkville University and Toronto Film School.
The session will utilize active learning strategies which may include small breakout rooms and the use of other digital engagement tools.
Remember: You only need to sign up for one synchronous session in each of the scheduled synchronous weeks (Week 1, 3, and 5 of the CTEI Ready-to-Teach program).
If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach the Centre at ctei@yorkvilleu.ca.
The virtual doors will be closed to late attendees after 15 minutes.

Journal Club – April 2026 Meeting
2026-04-08 13:00 - 14:00
Journal Club – April 2026 Meeting
Date: Wednesday, April 8th, 2026
Time: 2:00-3:00pm (AT) / 1:00-2:00pm (ET) / 10:00-11:00am (PT)
Registration link
“Journal Club” CTEI Communities Description:
Join the CTEI for monthly get-togethers where members will gather to share and discuss ideas on teaching, learning, and education more broadly. Discussions will be guided by selected journal articles balancing theory and practice.
For April 2026’s Meeting, we are reading and discussing: Mariana T. Guzzardo et al.’s “‘The Ones that Care Make all the Difference’: Perspectives on Student-Faculty Relationships”, Innovative Higher Education, 46(1), https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-020-09522-w.
Meetings are on the second Wednesday of each month at 10-11AM PT / 1-2PM ET / 2-3PM AT.
Check out our CTEI Communities page for more details and to register!

CTEI Ready-to-Teach – Week One – Option Two
2026-04-08 13:00 - 14:00
CTEI Ready-to-Teach – Week One – Option Two
Date: Wednesday, April 8th, 2026
Time: 2:00-3:00pm (AT) / 1:00-2:00pm (ET) / 10:00-11:00am (PT)
Registration link
Session Description:
Join the Centre for Teaching Excellence and Innovation to kick off the Ready-to-Teach program as you begin your time with Yorkville University and Toronto Film School.
The session will utilize active learning strategies which may include small breakout rooms and the use of other digital engagement tools.
Remember: You only need to sign up for one synchronous session in each of the scheduled synchronous weeks (Week 1, 3, and 5 of the CTEI Ready-to-Teach program).
If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach the Centre at ctei@yorkvilleu.ca.
The virtual doors will be closed to late attendees after 15 minutes.

CTEI Ready-to-Teach – Week Three – Option One
2026-04-20 12:00 - 13:30
CTEI Ready-to-Teach – Week Three – Option One
Date: Monday, April 20th, 2026
Time: 1:00-2:30pm (AT) / 12:00-1:30pm (ET) / 9:00-10:30am (PT)
Registration link
Session Description:
Join the Centre for Teaching Excellence and Innovation to kick off the Ready-to-Teach program as you begin your time with Yorkville University and Toronto Film School.
The session will utilize active learning strategies which may include small breakout rooms and the use of other digital engagement tools.
Remember: You only need to sign up for one synchronous session in each of the scheduled synchronous weeks (Week 1, 3, and 5 of the CTEI Ready-to-Teach program).
If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach the Centre at ctei@yorkvilleu.ca.
The virtual doors will be closed to late attendees after 5 minutes.

Formative Assessment: Creative Tools and Practical Application
2026-04-21 12:00 - 13:30
Formative Assessment: Creative Tools and Practical Application
Date: Tuesday, April 21st, 2026
Time: 1:00-2:30pm (AT) / 12:00-1:30pm (ET) / 9:00-10:30am (PT)
Registration link
Workshop Description:
In this workshop, we’ll explore how formative assessments can be incredibly valuable in not only checking in on student learning but also building relationships with students and encouraging students to take a more active role in their own learning (i.e., fostering self-assessment, metacognition, engagement, and more). We’ll share examples of formative assessment activities and tools, as well as ways to practically integrate formative assessment into your course, whether it is online or onsite, asynchronous or synchronous. We’ll also discuss ways to interpret formative assessment results to inform and adapt instruction in manageable, time-sensitive ways.

CTEI Ready-to-Teach – Week Three – Option Two
2026-04-22 13:00 - 14:30
CTEI Ready-to-Teach – Week Three – Option Two
Date: Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026
Time: 2:00-3:30pm (AT) / 1:00-2:30pm (ET) / 10:00-11:30am (PT)
Registration link
Session Description:
Join the Centre for Teaching Excellence and Innovation to kick off the Ready-to-Teach program as you begin your time with Yorkville University and Toronto Film School.
The session will utilize active learning strategies which may include small breakout rooms and the use of other digital engagement tools.
Remember: You only need to sign up for one synchronous session in each of the scheduled synchronous weeks (Week 1, 3, and 5 of the CTEI Ready-to-Teach program).
If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach the Centre at ctei@yorkvilleu.ca.
The virtual doors will be closed to late attendees after 5 minutes.

Fictional Classrooms: National Community of Practice (Winter 2026) – April 2026 Meeting
2026-04-27 14:30 - 15:30
Fictional Classrooms: National Community of Practice (Winter 2026) – April 2026 Meeting
Date: Monday, April 27th, 2026
Time: 3:30-4:30pm (AT) / 2:30-3:30pm (ET) / 11:30am-12:30pm (PT)
Sign up to join! (you may be prompted to log in to your Google account)

Fictional Classrooms National Community of Practice Description:
Over the past four years, our very own Matthew Dunleavy (CTEI Senior Educational Developer, Faculty Excellence and Development) and his colleague, Robin Sutherland-Harris (York University), have facilitated the Fictional Classrooms community. The current iteration brings together educational/curriculum/faculty/instructional developers and instructors from across Canada and the US to explore and reflect on narratives of education in films, television, short stories, and novels. These works may speak to us as learners, educators, developers, researchers, artists, and/or simply as humans.
For Winter 2026, the Fictional Classrooms community will be discussing:

The Good Place S02E05 “The Trolley Problem” (TV show) – January 26th

Irfan in University (dir. Rıdvan Çevik) (short film) – February 23rd

Vaathi (dir. Venky Atluri) (film) – March 23rd

Stoner by John Williams (novel) – April 27th

You can read about all these selections (and previous selections) in our what to read/watch list.
To join the Fictional Classrooms Community for Winter 2026:
Please sign up as follows:

Visit https://groups.google.com/search?q=FictionalClassroomsED (you may be prompted to log in to your Google account)
On the right-hand side, click the small “Join” icon (next to the star) and ask to join group.
Matthew and Robin will approve your request within 2 working days, and you will then have access to the group, including their shared Google Folder and Calendar.

Note from Matthew and Robin: We approach the Fictional Classrooms program with a “read-what-you-can” mentality. We understand that we can get busy and may not finish readings each month, but we encourage you to attend each session regardless of how much you have been able to engage with the text or film so we can still have fruitful conversations and build community.

SoTL Scholars’ Community of Practice (Winter 2026) – April Meeting
2026-04-28 11:00 - 12:00
SoTL Scholars’ Community of Practice (Winter 2026) – April Meeting
Date: Tuesday, April 28th, 2026
Time: 12:00-1:00pm (AT) / 11:00-12:00pm (ET) / 8:00-9:00am (PT)
SoTL Scholars’ Community of Practice Description:
As part of their first year in the SoTL Scholars (2-Year Fellowships) program, our SoTL Scholars meet monthly in a community of practice with The Centre to come together regularly as they work on their SoTL projects – not just to share their work and support each other, but to build SoTL capacities, cross-institutional relationships, and contribute to and advance our culture of teaching excellence and innovation through the scholarship of teaching and learning.
Meetings are on the final Tuesday of each month at 12-1PM AT / 11-12PM ET / 8-9AM PT
Check out our SoTL Scholars (2-Year Fellowships) landing page for more details about the program.

Developing a Classroom Code of Ethics: Early Semester Work for Preparing the Class for Learning and Participation - with Renée Nichole Ferguson, Angelina LoBianco, and Gabriela Robinson
2026-04-30 12:00 - 13:00
Developing a Classroom Code of Ethics: Early Semester Work for Preparing the Class for Learning and Participation – with Renée Nichole Ferguson, Angelina LoBianco, and Gabriela Robinson
Date: Thursday, April 30th, 2026
Time: 1:00-2:00pm (AT) / 12:00-1:00pm (ET) / 9:00-10:00am (PT)
Registration link
SoTL Speaker Session Description:
In social work education, one way ethics is taught is through ethical codes and solving dilemmas, shaped by traditions that treat conflict as something to manage or analyze at a distance. This SoTL project starts from a different premise: that ethical issues are fundamentally conflicts between values, relationships, institutions, and harness real-world conditions. We begin from Black feminist pedagogy and methodology and use this project to test what it means to take them seriously in both teaching and the study of teaching and learning. Developed in a social work course at Toronto Metropolitan University, we analyzed student assignments through a students-as-partners model, asking what becomes visible in students’ thinking, what remains difficult to articulate, and what becomes possible within the classroom.
As part of the session, participants will learn about Black feminist pedagogy and its significance in the classroom; learn about ways to develop a SoTL project and work closely with student partners; and apply takeaways from the project to draft a code of ethics that will support them in setting a supportive tone for the class at the start of the year.
SoTL Speakers’ Bios:
Renée Nichole Ferguson, PhD (she/her) is an Assistant Professor in Social Work at Toronto Metropolitan University. Her teaching and research draw on Black feminist methodology and are shaped by her professional practice in health and social service settings in Canada.
Angelina LoBianco, BSW, RSW (she/her) is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University and a member of the research team contributing to the project. She is currently working with communities in non-profit housing and co-operative housing. As a recent graduate of the BSW program, Angelina is thrilled to have the opportunity to explore students’ conceptions of conflict, accountability, and peace, as well as the gaps in social work education. She also hopes to apply her learnings to her work with long-standing aging communities.
Gabriela Robinson (she/her) is a soon-to-be graduate of the BSW program at Toronto Metropolitan University and a member of the research team contributing to the project. Gabriela is honoured to implement her knowledge and skills to better understand students’ perspectives on conflict, accountability, and peace. She is particularly interested in how these concepts can inform compassionate practices and support the well-being of individuals in both clinical, community-based settings, and academics. She also hopes this experience will support her in expanding her career in research and deepening her engagement with meaningful practice.

CTEI Ready-to-Teach – Week Five – Option One
2026-05-04 12:00 - 13:30
CTEI Ready-to-Teach – Week Five – Option One
Date: Monday, May 4th, 2026
Time: 1:00-2:30pm (AT) / 12:00-1:30pm (ET) / 9:00-10:30am (PT)
Registration link
Session Description:
Join the Centre for Teaching Excellence and Innovation to kick off the Ready-to-Teach program as you begin your time with Yorkville University and Toronto Film School.
The session will utilize active learning strategies which may include small breakout rooms and the use of other digital engagement tools.
Remember: You only need to sign up for one synchronous session in each of the scheduled synchronous weeks (Week 1, 3, and 5 of the CTEI Ready-to-Teach program).
If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach the Centre at ctei@yorkvilleu.ca.
The virtual doors will be closed to late attendees after 5 minutes.

ISW – Yorkville + TFS (New West Campus, BC – May 4, 5, 6)
2026-05-04 12:00 - 20:00
ISW (Instructional Skills Workshop) – Day 1
Location: British Columbia (Yorkville Vancouver Campus)
Dates: May 4th, 5th, and 6th, 2026
Time: 9:00-5:00pm PT each day
Registration link
Workshop Description:
The Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) is offered within a small group setting and is designed to enhance the teaching effectiveness of both new and experienced educators. During the three-day workshop (24-hour contact time), participants design and conduct three “mini-lessons” and receive verbal, written, and video feedback from the other participants who have been learners in the mini-lessons. Using an intensive experiential learning approach, the workshop encourages reflection and examination of one’s teaching practices with feedback focused on the learning process rather than on the specific content of the lesson.
Visit the Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) page of the CTEI website for more information and to register.

ISW – Yorkville + TFS (New West Campus, BC – May 4, 5, 6)
2026-05-05 12:00 - 20:00
ISW (Instructional Skills Workshop) – Day 2
Location: British Columbia (Yorkville Vancouver Campus)
Dates: May 4th, 5th, and 6th, 2026
Time: 9:00-5:00pm PT each day
Registration link
Workshop Description:
The Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) is offered within a small group setting and is designed to enhance the teaching effectiveness of both new and experienced educators. During the three-day workshop (24-hour contact time), participants design and conduct three “mini-lessons” and receive verbal, written, and video feedback from the other participants who have been learners in the mini-lessons. Using an intensive experiential learning approach, the workshop encourages reflection and examination of one’s teaching practices with feedback focused on the learning process rather than on the specific content of the lesson.
Visit the Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) page of the CTEI website for more information and to register.

ISW – Yorkville + TFS (New West Campus, BC – May 4, 5, 6)
2026-05-06 12:00 - 20:00
ISW (Instructional Skills Workshop) – Day 3
Location: British Columbia (Yorkville Vancouver Campus)
Dates: May 4th, 5th, and 6th, 2026
Time: 9:00-5:00pm PT each day
Registration link
Workshop Description:
The Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) is offered within a small group setting and is designed to enhance the teaching effectiveness of both new and experienced educators. During the three-day workshop (24-hour contact time), participants design and conduct three “mini-lessons” and receive verbal, written, and video feedback from the other participants who have been learners in the mini-lessons. Using an intensive experiential learning approach, the workshop encourages reflection and examination of one’s teaching practices with feedback focused on the learning process rather than on the specific content of the lesson.
Visit the Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) page of the CTEI website for more information and to register.
