Week of September 13, 2023 | Teaching & Learning Support

Teaching & Learning News

Week of September 13, 2023

New Term Reminders

Teaching Support & Canvas Resources

For questions about Canvas, educational technologies, course development and live streaming and recording options, feel free to contact the Forestry Teaching & Learning Support Team via forestry.tls@ubc.ca.

In addition, we organized the Canvas & EdTech Resources Site (view here) to compile key resources for setting up Canvas courses for instructors, teaching assistants, and staff in Forestry.

UBC Zoom & Teams Video Retention Policy

Starting in Oct 2023, UBC will automatically remove video recordings from Zoom and Microsoft Teams one year after each video is recorded. This new video retention policy will affect all faculty, staff, and student employees who use UBC accounts to record with these tools. Detailed instructions can be found in Zoom and Microsoft Teams video retention policy.

Check out the tip-sheet for frequently asked questions.

Call for Proposals: Forestry Teaching Innovation Fund

We are pleased to announce the reviving of the Forestry Teaching Innovation Fund (FTIF). The FTIF aims to support innovative teaching practices, experimentation with pedagogical approaches, and applications of emerging learning technologies to improve accessibility and inclusion while maintaining academic integrity in the Faculty of Forestry. Please submit the complete application form to Michelle Zeng, Senior Manager, Education Strategies (michelle.zeng@ubc.ca). by Friday, Sept 29, 2023.

Academic Integrity & AI

Privacy Implications of AI Tools

Currently, no generative AI tools have passed a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA)
at UBC. Make sure to file a PIA if using ChatGPT or other generative AI tools in teaching, especially for assessments and grading. For any such tool that is suggested as an option for use in an assessment, an alternative should be provided to the students who opt out of using the tool. Please contact forestry.tls@ubc.ca for consultation and support.

Consider Adding a Statement to Your Syllabus on Generative AI

There is no overall ban on using AI tools in teaching and learning at UBC. As a result, this leaves it as a course-level decision. UBC (see here) states that students should not assume that all available technologies are permitted, but it also states that the use of ChatGPT or other generative AI tools does not automatically equate to academic misconduct at UBC. Read more at Generative AI Syllabus for further resources and sample statements.

Give a sober second thought to the academic integrity of your assessments and exams, especially those in an online format.

We organized this tip-sheet to help you consider whether large assessments and exams should be online or in person.
At a minimum, consider proactive rather than reactive/punitive ways to prevent and discourage inappropriate use of AI or online web resources in your classrooms. Some instructors may be switching back to old-school in-person pen-and-paper exams this term to maintain academic integrity.

Workshops & Events

Forestry TA Training Program (Recap)

On Sept 5, we hosted the first TA training workshop, garnering the participation of > 40 Forestry TAs from whom we received positive feedback. The main topics covered were: (1) Responsibilities & Expectations; (2) Building Inclusive Teaching Environments; (3) Handling Conflicts, Difficult Situations, & Student Crisis; (5) Canvas, EdTech, & Resources; (6) Privacy & Information Security. Every Friday, a Zoom session will be organized to support TAs. See below.

Forestry TA Mentoring Sessions

Time: Fridays (11 am – 12 pm) | Online

New and returning TAs are welcome to join the weekly TA mentoring sessions via Zoom.

Forestry Teaching & Learning Drop-in Sessions

Time: Fridays (11 am – 12 pm) | Online

We host weekly drop-in sessions to answer teaching-related questions. Instructors and TAs are welcome to join the Zoom meeting.

UBC CTLT Workshop: Inclusive Teaching – What is it and Why Does it Matter?

Time: Monday, Sep 18 (1 – 2:30 pm) | Online

An introduction to inclusive teaching practices for anyone who teaches at UBC. Register here.

UBC EDI Workshop: Building inclusive learning environments

Time: Thursday, Sep 21 (10 am – 12 pm) | Online

Join this workshop to learn about power dynamics within the classroom, and the policies and guidelines that frame the work of TAs. For new or returning TAs at UBC-V. Register here.

Make-Up Monday Reminder

The Vancouver Senate has approved a schedule alteration for Thursday, Oct 12, 2023, designating it as a “Make-up Monday” in response to a calendar imbalance that disproportionately affected Monday classes due to statutory holidays (full details here on pages 29-31).

Regularly scheduled classes for Thursday, Oct 12, are cancelled and replaced by those usually held on Mondays (view UBC announcement here).

Key actions for instructors: If your course is scheduled on a Monday or a Thursday, please highlight this schedule change in your course syllabus with the message below:

“Important: Thursday, Oct 12, 2023, has been designated as a “Make-up Monday” for the Term 1 academic schedule. Classes scheduled for Thursday, Oct 12, are cancelled, and will be replaced by the classes normally scheduled on a Monday. This includes our course.”

Add this if your course is scheduled on a Monday:

“Please ensure you plan to attend our Monday class at its regular time and location on Thursday, Oct 12.”

Add this if your course is scheduled on a Thursday:

“Please note that our Thursday, Oct 12 class is cancelled.”

Please avoid scheduling midterm examinations or other assessments on Make-up Monday, Oct 12.

If you have questions about the logistics of Make-up Monday, please contact Scheduling Services at
schedulingservices@students.ubc.ca.