Cultivating Connection and Engagement in the Classroom

Cultivating connection and engagement in the classroom makes teaching more enjoyable and enhances students’ ability to grasp the material. It can also help instructors prevent and address disrespectful or disruptive behaviour.

At this practical workshop, participants will have the opportunity to:

• Share and analyze challenges they've faced in connecting with and engaging students.
• Explore strategies for creating connection and incorporating engagement into their teaching.
• Identify at least one strategy they would like to implement this coming semester.

Strategies discussed at the workshop will include designing and maintaining expectations around participation and behaviour; using surveys to get to know students, their needs, and interests; practicing regular self-reflection on our teaching experiences; and incorporating mini-discussion techniques such as Think Pair Share into classes.

A resource with a list of 15 concrete strategies for connection and engagement will be given to all participants to take with them after the workshop.

This workshop is offered on campus only.