In June, Mount Saint Vincent University’s Teaching and Learning Centre proudly hosted the first in-person Nova Scotia Developers event, uniting teaching and learning professionals from across the province. This event celebrated NSD’s recent expansion, welcoming new members from beyond the Halifax Regional Municipality and fostering collaboration and innovation in educational development.
Sessions for the day included a networking lunch, an engaging and thoughtful workshop facilitated by Dr. Shazia Nawaz Awan, and a panel discussion featuring Dr. Ben Tait and MSVU alumni Stefani Woods and Doug Rogers. The workshop was facilitated by Dr. Emily Ballantyne, Acting Director of Teaching and Learning at MSVU. In Dr. Awan’s collaborative workshop, participants explored how Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and intercultural teaching competency (ITC) frameworks can be brought together to support more accessible and inclusive classrooms. Panelists shared their perspectives on how teaching and learning professionals can best support their departments and organizations when it comes to identifying the impact of their work in supporting students and faculty. Throughout the afternoon, participants exchanged questions and insights on ways to enhance support for faculty and learners in the evolving landscape of higher education.
Representatives from Acadia, Dalhousie, MSVU, NSCAD, NSCC, Sainte Anne, Saint Francis Xavier, and Saint Mary’s all brought their unique perspectives and experiences to the discussion. Dr. Ballantyne said, “Teaching and Learning Centres are important hubs at our institutions, but we are often disconnected from each other and working in silos. Opportunities to gather, sharing resources and ideas, makes us more effective and allows us to address common concerns that will ultimately impact our faculty, our students, and our institutions more broadly.”
Thank you to all of the presenters, panelists, and participants for making this event a success! We look forward to supporting further collaboration in the teaching and learning space in the near future.