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Learning and Teaching Committee

Students working happily on their laptops

The Faculty of Community Services (FCS) Learning and Teaching (L and T) Committee brings together representatives from across our nine schools to talk about current and emergent issues relating to teaching and pedagogy and to provide opportunities for discussion and learning amongst FCS faculty and instructors.

The committee has a focus on ABR, equity and teaching; teaching & technology; AI and its impact; mode of delivery issues; Faculty-wide curriculum; student experience; academic integrity; academic accommodations; and other issues that may arise. As part of our work, the committee engages in its own learning and discussion of ways to better support each other and our colleagues and to strengthen our pedagogies and curricula.

In addition, the committee supports the adjudication of the Sue Williams Excellence in Teaching Award on an annual basis.

The committee is open to both TFA and LTF colleagues. If you are interested in joining the committee, please reach out to Kelly Giesen.

2024/25 Committee Members

  • Yemi Adediji, assistant professor, School of Urban and Regional Planning
  • Sue Bookey-Bassett, assistant professor, Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing
  • Aida Haghighi, assistant professor, School of Occupational and Public Health
  • Olawale Olubowale, limited term faculty, School of Child and Youth Care
  • Jessica Omand, assistant professor, School of Nutrition
  • Kathleen Peets, associate professor, School of Early Childhood Studies
  • Merrick Pilling, assistant professor, School of Disability Studies
  • Jennifer Poole, associate professor, School of Social Work
  • Vicki Van Wagner, associate professor, Midwifery Education Program

Past Events

Two years after the murder of George Floyd, the Learning and Teaching Committee invited FCS colleagues to reflect on anti-Black racism conversations in the classroom environment. What has changed? What remains the same? What remains unchallenged?

Panelists

  • Beverly-Jean Daniel, associate professor, School of Child and Youth Care
  • Denise McLane-Davison, associate professor, School of Social Work
  • Priscilla Boakye, assistant professor, Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing
  • Travonne Edwards, assistant professor, School of Child and Youth Care

Moderator

  • Janelle Brady, assistant professor, School of Early Childhood Studies
  • RenĂ©e Ferguson, educational developer, Anti-Racism Pedagogy, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching

The Learning and Teaching Committee invited FCS colleagues to reflect on their experiences of addressing anti-Black racism in the classroom and some of the challenges and opportunities that have emerged. 

Panelists

  • Valerie Borum, director, School of Social Work
  • Nadia Prendergast, assistant professor, Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing
  • Nemoy Lewis, assistant professor, School of Urban and Regional Planning

Moderator

  • Petra Roberts, assistant professor, School of Child and Youth Care

The Learning and Teaching Committee invited FCS colleagues to share thoughts and reflections on:

  • How can the whiteness of the university impact classroom teaching and learning experiences?
  • Teaching about anti-Black racism may be experienced as a paradox of personal and institutional responsibility by Black faculty. How do you navigate this dilemma and paradox of responsibility?
  • Why are practices of resisting whiteness in learning, teaching and pedagogy necessary, and what are the challenges?

Panelists

  • Annette Bailey, associate professor, Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing
  • Janelle Brady, assistant professor, School of Early Childhood Studies
  • Funke Oba, assistant professor, School of Social Work

Moderator

  • Valerie Borum, director, School of Social Work

Addressing Anti-Black Racism: Reflections on Classroom Experiences & Interventions 

The Learning and Teaching Committee and Faculty of Community Services colleagues reflected on experiences of addressing anti-Black racism in the classroom on- and off-line. Panelists included:

  • Petra Roberts, assistant professor, School of Child and Youth Care
  • Julie James, assistant professor, School of Child and Youth Care
  • Kristin Snoddon, associate professor, School of Early Childhood Studies
  • Craig Fairclough, adjunct professor, School of Occupational and Public Health

Anti-Blackness: Institutional Constraints & Pedagogy (external link) 

Idil Abdillahi, assistant professor, School of Disability Studies, held a panel discussion on Anti-Black Racism, Institutional Constraints and Pedagogy on November 26, 2020. Panelists included:

  • Andrea Davis, associate professor, Department of Humanities and Special Advisor on Liberal Arts and Professional Studies's Anti-Black Racism Strategy, York University
  • Treisha Hylton, assistant professor, Child and Youth Care, Toronto Metropolitan University
  • Rinaldo Walcott, professor, Women and Gender Studies Institute, University of Toronto