As more Indigenous students seek out postsecondary education, and as more of those postsecondary institutions embrace Indigenous worldviews, what does that mean for our universities? Dr. Airini, Dean of the Faculty of Education and Social Work at Thompson Rivers University in British Columbia, will explore that question during her keynote address at the Fall Perspectives on Teaching Conference on Tuesday, Aug. 30.
Presented by the Teaching Support Centre, the one-day conference runs 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in Social Science Centre (SSC).
In her session, Remembering Who We Are: Indigenising, Teaching and the University, Airini will examine strengths-based approaches to indigenising and university teaching that are relevant to instructors, program leaders, researchers and university decision-makers.
Airini specializes in research for equity in education, with a particular focus on universities supporting success by Indigenous, and under-served students in postsecondary education. She is currently exploring what teaching practices help first-generation students to succeed at universities in Canada, the United States, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.
She will be joined by numerous other presentations during the conference, including:
- Indigenous Pedagogies: Incorporating Indigenous Methodologies and Ways of Knowing into the Curriculum, led by Susan Hill (First Nations Studies); Lina Sunseri (Sociology & Family Studies, Brescia University College); Pauline Wakeham (English); and Chantelle Richmond (Geography), 10:45 a.m. in SSC 2050;
- Using Online Activities to Build Students’ Research Capacity, led by Susan Hill (First Nations Studies); Lina Sunseri (Sociology & Family Studies, Brescia University College); Pauline Wakeham (English); and Chantelle Richmond (Geography), 10:45 a.m. in SSC 2028;
- Getting Feedback on Your Students’ Learning and Your Teaching, led by Mike Atkinson (Psychology) and Ken N. Meadows (Teaching Support Centre), 1:15 p.m. in SSC 2050;
- Bridging Classroom and Community: An Engaged Pedagogy, led by Stephanie Hayne Beatty and Lisa Boyko (Student Success Centre), 1:15 p.m. in SSC 2028; and
- Lessons from WALS: Engaging Students Outside Active Learning Classrooms, led by Benjamin Hill (Philosophy); Aaron Price (Mechanical and Materials Engineering); Ruth Ann Strickland (DAN Management and Organizational Studies); and Aleksandra Zecevic (Health Studies). 2:45 p.m. in SSC 2050.
- Higher Education: The State of Play: Reflections from Western 3M Teaching Fellows, led by David Bentley (English); Tom Haffie (Biology), Cam Tsujita (Earth Sciences) Moderator: Mike Atkinson (Teaching Support Centre), 2:45 p.m. in SSC 2028.
Visit the conference website to register.