The COVID-19 pandemic compelled students, faculty, and staff having to adopt new and unfamiliar strategies and to revise existing practices to learn, teach, and work multi-modally. In particular, we must rely on technology, new and old, to deliver content, engage students, and create rich learning environments.

As we know, most instruction at SFU will continue to be delivered through remote methods in the fall 2020 semester, to create certainty for instructors and students, safety for students and employees who have higher level health risks, and access to learning for students who cannot physically travel to BC at this time.

This seminar series provides faculty with an opportunity to look at our challenges, failures, and successes as we explore new ways of teaching and learning remotely with a focus on providing high quality learning experiences for students. This new stream of inquiry grants will support SFU faculty investigation of the strategies they are using as they move their classes online, and changes they are implementing to support student success in online learning environments.

Topics explored will include:

• Improving student learning experience in an online environment
• Fostering student and instructor well-being
• Encouraging engagement and meaningful online discussions
• Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Principles
• Better online practices
• Accessibility– “digital red lining” (e.g., having it and when they can use it)
• Time management & 24/7 instructor accessibility
• Online exams
• Academic integrity
• Privacy and confidentiality
• Building relationships and creating community in online environment
• Creating safer environments for students having controversial conversations on controversial topics