Award for Inclusive and Innovative Course Design

This award recognizes and celebrates innovative approaches to teaching that promote inclusion through the use of technology, digital pedagogies and principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Recipients of this award demonstrate a significant impact on student engagement and academic success, as well as broadening research and experiential components in the learning environment.

Eligibility

This award is open to:

• all faculty members as defined in the Collective Agreement,
• those currently holding a regular faculty position and anticipate continuing in that position for the next academic year; and,
• have taught two or more courses at the graduate and/or undergraduate level that include inclusive and innovative course design using the principles of UDL.

Award criteria

Nominations will be assessed based on evidence of excellence in the following elements of inclusive and innovative course design:

• Plans, develops, and implements effective innovative learning activities in course(s) (e.g., using educational technologies to support student engagement, peer-to-peer instructional strategies, use of different modalities in LMS, use of alternative realities, etc.)
• Develops clear learning outcomes that encompass UDL approaches:
• • How information gets presented to students and access in multiple formats
  • Provide alternative and effective ways for students to express or demonstrate learning in a changing environment
  • Use a variety of ways to stimulate student engagement and interest through experiential and active learning practices

Nomination components

Submit your nomination through the online form. Submit all the nomination components in one combined PDF.

Nominee bio

Include a summary of the nominee’s distinctive contributions, including their teaching practices and philosophy. This will be used to brief the adjudicators and for promotional purposes if the nominee is the successful candidate. 100 words maximum.

Nomination letter

A signed written statement including:

• teaching practices
• teaching philosophy
• impact of teaching on student learning specific to award criteria

Two pages maximum with 12pt font, 1-inch margins.

Two letters of support

• At least one of the two letters of support must be written primarily by a former student and can include additional authors, including students or faculty members. 
• The second letter may to be from faculty, staff, community partners or alumni, or another former student.
• Letters are to address nominees' effective teaching practices (i.e., student engagement, student learning, value of the courses to their overall program, effective teaching strategies, creativity in course design, teaching inspired by research, student mentoring, and innovative or effective assignments.)

Each letter is two pages maximum with 12pt font, 1-inch margins.

Narrative Curriculum Vitae (CV)

A narrative CV, following the Tri-Agency guidelines. Please also include courses taught and relevant teaching awards.

• Tri-Agency narrative CV template and instructions

Five pages maximum with 12pt font, 1-inch margins.

Demonstration of Excellence in Teaching (NEW)

A demonstration of excellence in teaching, presented as a selectively curated set of evidence demonstrating the impact of the nominee's teaching on student learning. The nomination letter should explicitly reference the evidence included in this supporting document, as well as clearly connect it to the award criteria. 

Appropriate evidence or demonstration may include excerpts or selections from:

• course syllabi
• assignment descriptions and rubrics
• lesson plans or instructional materials
• samples of current work
• photos of cultural or creative works
• transcript excerpts from videos or oral submissions
• excerpts from cultural stories or photo essays
• community-based validation (e.g., evidence of relationships, demonstrated impact, community voice) 

Two pages maximum with 12pt font, 1-inch margins.