North Island College Teaching & Learning Supports
 
Teach Anywhere

Intercultural Sessions

Online Series: Enhancing Intercultural Understanding and Engagement

These sessions are coordinated and hosted by NIC’s Global Learning Facilitator, Margaret Hearnden. Please email her to register and learn more Margaret.Hearnden@nic.bc.ca

Session 1: Internationalizing a Course
  • Date and Time: none at this time
  • Location: Online (BlueJeans meeting link to be provided)
  • Facilitator: Margaret Hearnden, Global Learning Facilitator, Office of Global Engagement
  • Register and Info: Email Margaret at Margaret.Hearnden@nic.bc.ca
  • Description:
    Internationalizing a course begins with understanding who we are as instructors, the cultural narratives that have informed and continue to inform us as humans and educators, and our perceptions of the roles and responsibilities of students. In this session, we will consider our beliefs about teaching and learning, and how these are reflected in our course outlines (content and pedagogy) and our expectations of how students β€˜should’ engage (participation and assessment).

 

Session 2: Facilitating Group Work with Diverse Students
  • Date and Time: none at this time
  • Location: Online (BlueJeans meeting link to be provided)
  • Facilitator: Margaret Hearnden, Global Learning Facilitator, Office of Global Engagement
  • Register and Info: Email Margaret at Margaret.Hearnden@nic.bc.ca
  • Description:
    An important part of college learning is supporting students in working well with others. We know some students struggle, even dread group work. Sometimes as instructors, we do too. In this session, we will look at some of the differences in expectations across cultures of coming together in groups, the practical implications for group work in our classes, and the strategies we can use to support students in working together with kindness and greater understanding of each other.

 

Session 3: Teaching and Assessing Diverse Students
  • Date and Time: none at this time
  • Location: Online (BlueJeans meeting link to be provided)
  • Facilitator: Margaret Hearnden, Global Learning Facilitator, Office of Global Engagement
  • Register and Info: Email Margaret at Margaret.Hearnden@nic.bc.ca
  • Description:
    Our current reality means that we have to assess students to β€˜show’ transfer institutions and or employers what they will bring to future opportunities. Another reality is that how we teach and how we assess may support some students more than others. In this final session, we will look at different pedagogical practices we can employ to promote student engagement. We will also explore alternative ways of assessment that offer students ways of demonstrating their learning.
Asynchronous Resources

If you are unable to attend any of the live professional development opportunities, email Margaret at Margaret.Hearnden@nic.bc.ca and ask to be enrolled in the short three-module Brightspace course: Enhancing Intercultural Understanding and Engagement. This course allows you to go through resources and self-reflection activities on the following themes.

  • Module 1: Internationalizing a Course
  • Module 2: Facilitating Group Work with Diverse Students
  • Module 3: Teaching and Assessing Diverse Students

 

Individual Support

For those of you looking for a more tailored experience, book a private consultation with Margaret, the Global Learning Facilitator, Office of Global Engagement – Margaret.Hearnden@nic.bc.ca. She will be happy to meet you either face-to-face or online to chat about your specific questions.

Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to attend every session to be able to engage in the online sessions?
No. Ideally, participants will attend all three, but if you are unable to, that is fine. Let Margaret know which session(s) you plan on attending.

Do I have to do any β€˜homework’ before attending the online sessions?
Yes and no. Margaret will send you some resources ahead of the workshop/sessions and if you have time to take a look, that is great, but not to worry if you do not.

Do I have to bring anything to the online sessions?
Yes. Please bring one or more course outlines. The sessions are interactive, and we will be working together on our course outlines, sample engagement activities and assessments. Please bring all documents that you want to work on (e.g., a course outline, a list of assignment questions, examples of group projects you plan to use etc.)