Conversations about Teaching Excellence

Inspiring discussions with Laurier's instructional community about teaching excellence.

Teaching Excellence: A Laurier Conversation Series features discussions between Debora VanNijnatten, academic director of Teaching Excellence and Innovation, and the recent winners of the Donald F. Morgenson Awards for Teaching Excellence.

The series delves into critical conversations on innovative and inclusive approaches to teaching, mentorship, student-centred learning, and the future of higher education.

You can also listen to the Conversation Series on The Laurier Teaching Podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts.

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In Conversation with Elizabeth Mitchell: Making Music Guided by People

2024 Hoffman-Little Award winner Elizabeth Mitchell from Laurier’s Faculty of Music shares her journey into music therapy and the connective power of music in helping people express emotions, memories, and experiences. She discusses the importance of improvisation, versatility, and self-awareness, skills that allow practitioners to meet clients where they are and engage them in dynamic ways, whether in hospitals or community settings. She prepares students for clinical settings by integrating theory with hands-on experience, ensuring students develop both technical musical skills and interpersonal competencies to best serve the diverse clients that these students will support.

In conversation with Marybeth White: Teaching as a Continual Process of Learning

Marybeth White from Laurier’s Religion and Culture Department and recipient of the 2024 Sustained Excellence Teaching Award, shares insights on fostering a student-centered learning environment grounded in compassion, flexibility and inclusive design. Marybeth discusses the changes she’s seen in students throughout her career, including what students are better at now than when she started and what they need more support on. She reflects on how teaching is a continual process of learning and adaptation, responding to the evolving needs of students through flexibility and innovation. Marybeth shares ways she’s creatively reimagined her course design to focus on essential takeaways and diverse assessment methods, such as quizzes, reflective journals, presentations, and an optional final exam based on a student’s individual learning journey. Marybeth explores the importance of creating brave spaces for discussion and how she encourages students to engage critically and compassionately with diverse perspectives as keys to growth, as well as how she uses Universal Design principles to provide multiple ways for students to demonstrate their learning.

In Conversation with Michael Woodford: Mentoring Students to be Change Agents

Join 2024 Faculty Mentoring Award recipient Michael Woodford from Laurier’s Faculty of Social Work as he shares how some of the mentors along his personal and professional journey impacted him, the importance of sharing power in mentoring relationships, and the value of creating spaces where students can thrive as their authentic selves. Whether navigating difficult conversations, developing adaptable work plans, or helping students build lasting professional networks, his mentorship philosophy centers on collaboration, reflexivity, and meeting students where they are. Michael’s mentorship is built on experience and vulnerability, and he discusses how faculty can empower students, foster inclusive and interpersonal learning communities, and reflects on how great mentoring shapes not only academic success but also lifelong growth.

In conversation with Avis Beek: Inspiring Exploratory and Inclusive Education

Avis Beek from Laurier’s Faculty of Education and the recipient of the 2024 Early Career Excellence Award shares her hands-on, kinesthetic approach to STEM education. Through creative activities that include slime-making, terrarium building, and even live animals(!), Avis sparks curiosity and fosters collaborative and inclusive learning environments. Informed by her international teaching experiences, she integrates diverse Black, Indigenous and racialized voices, role models and cultural perspectives into her classes, empowering students to see themselves reflected in both STEM fields and the educational sector. Her STEMovation program fosters excitement and in-community support for STEM education by connecting local underserved communities with opportunities to engage in science learning alongside their families. In showing students how to be culturally responsive in their teaching and embrace experiential learning, she is helping to shape the next generation of STEM educators to create welcoming and vibrant educational experiences for their students.

In Conversation with Jeremy Hunsinger: Building Knowledge Together

Jeremy Hunsinger from Laurier's Communication Studies department and recipient of the 2024 Innovation in Teaching Award, shares his approach to creating a student-centered, studio-like classroom environment. Jeremy discusses how he integrates active learning from the very first class by having students co-create the course syllabus. His approach to grading, which focuses on specification grading and intrinsic motivation, challenges students to exceed standards rather than just meet them. Jeremy fosters critical thinking and reflection while building a passion for lifelong learning in students by encouraging connections across disciplines and the thoughtful use of technology in everyday life.

In conversation with Elaine Cheng: Preparing Future Archaeologists

Elaine Cheng from Laurier’s Archaeology and Heritage Studies program and 2024 Early Career Excellence winner shares how she guides students through classroom and field experiences that blend real-world challenges with a mix of career-integrated and experiential learning. Elaine emphasizes the importance of both hands-on fieldwork and in-class activities to help students develop critical skills in teamwork, adaptability, and problem-solving. Her inclusive course design invites students to explore personal interests, engage in debates, and learn how to approach ethical issues in heritage studies. By blending theoretical concepts with current events, she shows students how archaeology connects to contemporary issues and how students can meaningfully apply their degrees in the heritage sector.

In conversation with Simona Pruteanu: Teaching Language with Global Perspectives

Simona Pruteanu from Laurier's Languages and Literatures department and recipient of the 2024 Excellence in Internationalization Award, shares her passion for creating a multicultural and inclusive curriculum that incorporates guest speakers, creative assessments like storytelling and comic book creation, and career-integrated learning opportunities. She discusses how teaching entirely in French helps students build linguistic confidence and how the pandemic reshaped student engagement in the classroom. Simona reflects on the impact of technology on language learning, the effects generative AI tools are having on language education, and why technology cannot replace the interpersonal aspect of language learning.

In conversation with Max Gwynn: Inspiring Students' Confidence with Stories and Humour

Max Gwynn from Laurier’s Psychology Department and recipient of the 2024 Sustained Excellence in Teaching Award reflects on his mentors and the teachers who have shaped him as an educator, and discusses the importance of stories, humour, and personal anecdotes on engaging students. He shares how his focus on increasing students’ self-efficacy allows them to overcome their math anxieties and carry their newfound problem-solving abilities into their personal and professional lives. Max shares his strategies for keeping large classes engaged, including crafting lectures with narrative arcs and ensuring that students have opportunities to participate, and offers advice for colleagues on the importance of sharing their authentic selves with students.

In conversation with Sara Klinck: Teaching as a Learning Journey

Sara Klinck from Laurier's Music Therapy program and recipient of the 2023 Sustained Excellence Award in the Part-time Category shares her journey from a clinical music therapist to an inspiring educator, emphasizing the importance of self-discovery, humility, and lifelong learning in her pedagogical approach. Sara’s commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment shines through as she prepares students to handle weighty subjects such as end-of-life care. She discusses the integration of clinical experiences into her courses, the significance of universal design for learning, and the delicate balance of professional and personal well-being.

In conversation with Danielle Law: Leading with Care at Laurier

Danielle Law from Laurier's Psychology and Youth and Children's Studies programs and recipient of the 2023 Faculty Mentoring Award, shares her mentorship philosophy rooted in trust, support, and mutual respect. She explains how her emphasis on "red means love" in her grading shifts the way students receive academic feedback, fostering a positive, student-centered and growth-oriented environment.

Danielle describes how she built the Child and Adolescent Research and Education (C.A.R.E.) Lab and shares the complexities and rewards of mentoring large teams while promoting peer mentorship among students. She also offers ideas about how effective mentorship practices can be implemented to nurture the next generation of scholars and community leaders.

In conversation with Robert Ame: Seeking Knowledge with a Global Purpose

Robert Ame from Laurier’s Human Rights and Human Diversity delves into his comprehensive approach towards enriching educational experiences through internationalization. He shares his journey as an international student from Ghana to Norway and Canada and how those experiences shaped his teaching philosophy centered on the value of cross-cultural knowledge. Robert highlights the significance of creating inclusive educational environments that embrace a global perspective and shares his belief in the potential for academic pursuits to lead to meaningful societal change. He talks about establishing bi-directional international partnerships and illustrates the profound impact of these programs on fostering community among international students, combating isolation, and promoting cultural exchange.

In conversation with Amilah Baksh: Bringing the Energy of Social Work into the Classroom

2023 Early Career Excellence Award recipient Amilah Baksh from Laurier’s Faculty of Social Work shares her holistic approach to education, which acknowledges the significance of positionality and identity and invites both educators and students to bring their entire selves into the classroom. Amilah discusses how establishing classroom community guidelines sets a foundation for respectful and supportive discussions on challenging topics. Explore how Amilah incorporates critical reflective journals as activities to encourage students to develop deep, personal introspection and insight into their experiences, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds.

In conversation with Anne-marie Joy Henry: Helping Students Choose Curiosity

2023 Staff Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Anne-marie Joy Henry from Laurier International shares the travels that have taken her across Canada and around the globe. These foundational intercultural experiences deeply inform her approach in her current role at Laurier, where she engages students in rich discussions of complex issues in the classroom and supports their preparation for international study. Anne-marie shares strategies she uses to guide conversations and cultivate a more open, insightful, and reflective educational journey that emphasizes the transformative power of curiosity and diversity.

In conversation with Lisa Kuron: Guiding from Alongside at Laurier

2023 Early Career Excellence Award recipient Lisa Kuron from Laurier’s leadership program discusses her student-centered teaching approach which emphasizes being a 'guide on the side', utilizing classroom space creatively for diverse learning experiences, and instilling excitement about learning right from the first class. Lisa highlights the importance of creating a sense of belonging using strategies to get to know her students and build community, shares ice-breaking exercises and relationship-building techniques and reflects on co-teaching.

In conversation with Hind Al-Abadleh: Unlocking Environmental Sustainability with Chemistry

2023 Hoffman-Little award recipient Hind Al-Abadleh from Laurier’s Chemistry and Biochemistry Department discusses integrating science with societal and environmental issues, employing effective strategies for large classes, and promoting a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving. She reflects on her approach to self-care, how she helps students build patience and perseverance, and discusses the importance of bringing diverse talent into the Sciences and inspiring them to ask visionary questions.

In conversation with Jonathan Finn: Personalising Learning with Innovation

2023 Innovation in Teaching recipient Jonathan Finn, from Laurier’s Communication Studies department, reflects on how his unique self-tracking pedagogy not only fosters ownership among learners but also encourages reflection beyond the classroom. Jonathan helps students to co-create their learning environments and personalise their learning, and discusses how low-tech innovations and getting students off screens can be powerful for creating deep and meaningful reflections and connections in the classroom.

In conversation with Tracy Snoddon: Building Thriving Learning Communities

2023 Sustained Excellence in Teaching recipient Tracy Snoddon, from Laurier’s Economics department joins Debora VanNijnatten, academic director of Teaching Excellence and Innovation to discuss her efforts to connect with students individually and create an impactful and supportive learning environment, emphasizing real-world applications, active teaching approaches, and centring care in her classroom.

Previous Series

Watch conversations with past award winners discussing inspiring teaching with former vice-provost: Teaching and Learning Mary Wilson.

Explore the 2022 Series | Explore the 2021 Series