荔枝视频

Connection and curious conversations around the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) was the focus of a memorable day at the .

The inaugural Bridging the Bow: YYC SoTL Network brought educators, researchers and SoTL practitioners together on May 23 to participate in a day of professional development to strengthen teaching and learning connections in 荔枝视频.

Co-hosted by the 荔枝视频鈥檚 Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning and Mount Royal University鈥檚 Mokakiiks Centre for SoTL, Bridging the Bow invited scholars from post-secondary institutions from across 荔枝视频 to share research, techniques and projects across eight workshops and a networking lunch.

鈥淏y working across institutions and disciplines, we鈥檙e given the chance to partner in the pursuit of research-informed approaches to the problems that we all face in post-secondary education鈥� says Dr. Erika Smith, Educational Development Consultant (SoTL) with the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning and co-organizer of the event.

Topics covered throughout the day鈥檚 workshops included methodology on common approaches to conducting SoTL, a session on the ways collective efforts drive student success, and techniques on finding and refining a SoTL voice. 

Immediately following Bridging the Bow, was the Toast to the 2025 Teaching and Learning Grant Recipients, a celebration of U荔枝视频 scholars beginning their research journey. Both events welcomed a combined total of 80 attendees. 

Teaching and learning Grants program

The Teaching and Learning Grants program is funded by the Provost鈥檚 Office. The goal is to provide support to support student learning experiences by supporting faculty engaged in Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) and in developing educational leadership capacity.

鈥淭he teaching and learning community is so open, I can approach anyone.鈥� says Dr. , PhD, who attended Bridging the Bow and stayed to participate in the toast to SoTL scholars as a team member on a 2025 grant funded project. 

鈥淢y background is in structural engineering not teaching and learning, so events like these are a good opportunity to get out of my comfort zone and for us all to discuss the projects we鈥檙e working on.鈥�

Chorlton, an Assistant Professor with the , is working with a team of scholars to create an open educational resource (OER) that鈥檚 available across Canada and not only applicable to first-year Engineering students at U荔枝视频.

Creating a smart teaching tool

The question bank is a smart tool, with a focus on the Engineering Statics course, that students can used to practice complex engineering problems. For educators, it鈥檚 an opportunity to better understand which course concepts students find most challenging.

鈥淟ike everybody at these events, I do this work because I鈥檓 here to support students. A project like this helps me to help them, and to reflect on and improve my own teaching.鈥�

Dr. Jean-Yin Tan, the academic lead for the Teaching and Learning Grants program, joined attendees in raising a toast to celebrate the educators behind 23 ambitious teaching and learning projects, which received over $800,000 in funding support.

鈥淭eaching and learning research connects educators across campus who share a common goal: to strengthen teaching, improve student learning, and keep pushing the boundaries of what鈥檚 possible. Whether in science, arts, or engineering, this event is a chance to celebrate the incredible work of this year鈥檚 grant recipients and bring together people who can spark new ideas and collaborations.鈥�

Explore the Teaching and Learning Grants program, the three application streams and the fourteen areas of focus by visiting the program homepage. Submission intake for the 2025/2026 program will begin in July.