Transformative Teaching and Learning Retreat (online)

10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.

Countering Common Accessible Pedagogy Misconceptions
Dr. Ann Gagné, Senior Educational Developer, Accessibility & Inclusion at Brock University

There are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to accessible pedagogy and accessible assessment design. Often we hear Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and think that is the start and the limit to what needs to be taken into account in accessible course design strategies. This workshop will address some of the misconceptions commonly found in teaching and learning spaces around UDL, GenerativeAI, assessment design, engagement, and even the word access, through case scenarios, question prompts, and disciplinary connections. This workshop will approach accessible pedagogy in a holistic way that holds space for the lived reality of multi-marginalized learners and teaching teams in higher education. Participants will leave with co-created resources, and a meaningful goal for accessible pedagogy practice in their own contexts. 

Dr. Ann Gagné (she/her) is Senior Educational Developer, Accessibility & Inclusion at Brock University. She has worked in higher education for over 21 years. Her work focuses on the need for accessible pedagogies through holistic awareness of disabled learners, faculty, and staff lived experiences to decrease barriers to inclusion in higher education. She has facilitated workshops and keynotes on accessible pedagogy, accessible event design, accessible social media, and trauma-aware UDL. In March 2023 she started her own podcast Accessagogy which talks about accessibility and pedagogy in short (under 15 minute) episodes.

1–2:30 p.m.

Curating Accessible and Inclusive Learning Experiences
Gabriella Mosquera, Instructor, Faculty of Computer, Science Dalhousie University

Relationship between student learning experience and outcomes (e.g., performance, retention, engagement) has been well documented in various fields and disciplines. However, it is a student's sense of belonging that has become of particular interest, specifically when curating accessible and inclusive learning environments as it can help educators create learning environments with less barriers, thereby having a more direct impact on a student's perception of ability. In this interactive session, we will explore ways for creating accessible and inclusive learning environments, whether online or in person, that: foster a sense of belonging, increase student engagement, increase student retention, and increase student self-efficacy. At the end of this session, participants will be prepared to make students feel welcomed, included, supported, and connected in their courses.

Prof. Gabriella Mosquera is an Instructor at Dalhousie University's Faculty of Computer Science, focusing on applied undergraduate and graduate Web Application Development courses for CS majors, and undergraduate electives for non-CS majors. Through a combination of Universal Design for Learning and a HyFlex course design, Gabriella's courses encourage a flexible, inclusive, and accessible experiential learning environments that foster creativity and supports all ways of learning. Gabriella is also a Cultural Competence in Computing (3C) Fellow through Duke University's Identity in Computing Group, and has teaching certifications from Dalhousie University's Centre for Learning and Teaching (CLT) and Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences' Digital Society School. Gabriella's teaching methodology has been recognized with the Dalhousie University Award for Excellence in Online/Blended Course Development, Design, and Delivery, and a Dalhousie Legacy Award.

2:30–3:30 p.m.

Curiosity Room