As the academic year commenced, the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) at UIC has launched a new round of the Induction Program (IP) for the 2024-2025 fall semester. With a series of five insightful workshops, this program aims to equip new faculty and teaching support staff with a solid foundation in pedagogical strategies and learning methodologies. Additionally, it serves as an ongoing professional development opportunity for all teaching personnel.

Workshop Series Overview

Elevating Teaching Proficiency (September 3)

The inaugural session was led by Prof. Yanan Lin (林亚南教授), Special Advisor of CTL. The workshop, titled How to Master Teaching Skills and Enhance Teaching Effectiveness (掌握教学技能，提升教学水平), drew upon Prof. Lin’s extensive experience in education. During this workshop, Prof. Lin discussed the significance of teaching competitions in improving pedagogical skills, and gave an overview of diverse teaching methodologies, emphasizing the necessity for continuous growth in teaching practices.

Prof. Lin sharing his experiences

Aligning Learning Outcomes and Assessment Strategies (September 4)

Dr. Jesse Owen Hearns-Branaman, Head of the Department of Communication and an Associate Professor of International Journalism at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, conducted the second workshop, titled Practical Implications of Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs) and Criterion-Referenced Assessment (CRA). During the session, he shared insights on assessing CILOs and corresponding assessments, pinpointing the optimal timing for assessments, and the fairness and design of effective rubrics.

Dr. Jesse Owen Hearns-Branaman leading an interactive discussion

Exploring Advance HE Fellowship Opportunities (September 4)

Later on the same day, Mr. Ian Hall, an Advance HE Associate Fellow, facilitated an online workshop titled Getting Started with Advance HE Fellowship. Mr. Ian Hall provided a comprehensiveoverview of the Advance HE Fellowship, and participants gained valuable insights into resources that could aid in the application development process. They were also informed about additional support mechanisms available for refining their applications.

Mr. Ian Hall’s online sharing

Leveraging iSpace for Enhanced Teaching (September 6)

Ms. Suri Suyi Li, Senior IT Technician from ITSC, conducted a workshop introducing iSpace: Essential Skills and Beyond. This session emphasized iSpace's role as a crucial tool that transcend mere E-learning platform status, effectively bridging student engagement with various teaching practices. Participants acquired essential skills for utilizing iSpace to enhance their teaching.

The participants in Ms. Suri Suyi LI’s workshop

Integrating AI in Educational Assessment (September 13)

In the final session, Dr. Theresa Kwong, Dr. Crusher Wong, and Dr. Lisa Law from the Centre for Holistic Teaching and Learning (CHTL) at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) facilitated an insightful workshop on Authentic Assessment and Generative AI. This workshop provided an overview of HKBU's principles and guidelines for generative AI in education. Participants gained insights into diverse applications of generative AI in designing teaching and learning assessments (TLAs) and exploring alternative assessment strategies. The workshop also discussedethical considerations and challenges of integrating AI in higher education.

Dr. Theresa Kwong delivering a presentation

Discussion with Dr. Crusher Wong

Group Discussion

Group photo with delegates from the CHTL at HKBU

Program Impact

The Induction Program, attracted 40 new faculty and staff members, receiving positive feedback for its comprehensive approach to familiarizing new colleagues with outcome-based teaching and learning, digital strategies, pedagogical knowledge, and teaching support at UIC. Reflecting UIC's unwavering commitment to enhancing educational quality through the adoption of advanced methodologies and technologies, the insights shared during the workshops are expected to shape future teaching strategies, fostering a more comprehensive and effective teaching and learning experience for both educators and students.