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Teaching in Focus (TiF) conference

TiF 2026 – “What is the value of teaching: Exploring why we do what we do in our practice”

Teaching in Focus is a pan-university conference that strives to provide a fertile terrain for informed conversations about teaching and learning while highlighting the practical benefits and conundrums in implementing these ideas wherever we teach. Recognizing that teaching practice can take various forms, ranging in aims and methodology, we learn as much, if not more, as we teach. 

TiF 2026 will take place on Thursday April 30, 2026 at the Keele Campus, Life Sciences Building, First floor atrium, and rooms LSB 101, 103, 105, 106, 107

Register using our registration form.

Building capacity for impactful teaching at Teaching in Focus: Inaugural York Teaching Fellows will deliver opening address at 2025 conference.

Registration

Join colleagues from across York's teaching community on Thursday, April 30, 2026 as we explore the theme: “What is the value of teaching? Exploring why we do what we do.” Together, we’ll dive into the rapidly evolving education landscape and uncover how educators equip students with meaningful, experiential learning that bridges academic excellence with real-world skills.

Register using our registration form.

Find the complete program, or engage with the interactive agenda below:

AGENDA

Thursday APRIL 30

TIMEPROGRAM
9:00 AM - 9:30 AMCHECK-IN
9:30 AM - 10:30 AMWelcoming Remarks &
Beyond "Basket Weaving": Reclaiming the Value of Teaching in Higher Education
Dr. Lisa Davidson, Associate Professor (Teaching Stream), Department of Anthropology
Dr. Ian Garrett, Professor, Department of Theatre, Dance & Performance,
Dr. Lesley Zannella, Assistant Professor (Teaching Stream), Department of Psychology
10:30 AM - 10:40 AMBREAK
10:40 AM - 11:30 AMConcurrent Sessions
11:30 AM - 11:35 AMBREAK
11:35 AM - 12:30 PMEmpowering Future-Ready Graduates through Project-Based Work-Integrated Learning
Hosted by Anne Patterson, Chief Research and Communications Officer, Information and Communications Technology Council of Canada
12:30 AM - 1:15 PMRiipen LUNCH & Learn
1:15 PM - 2:00 PMDiscussion Circles
(DEDI & AI)
2:00 PM - 2:10 PMBREAK
2:10 PM - 2:50 PMConcurrent Sessions
2:50 PM - 3:00 PMBREAK
3:00 PM - 4:00 PMPerspectives from the "other” Side: Administration Exploring the Value of Teaching & Learning
hosted by Audrey Pyee

Universities are highly skilled at measuring research outputs, funding, and rankings, yet the value of teaching is often difficult to capture with these metrics. In this keynote, we examine a central question: what is the value of teaching? Drawing on our pedagogical practices, we propose that teaching creates three critical conditions for student development: belonging, understanding, and possibility. Through concrete examples, we explore how teaching can help students see themselves as legitimate participants in intellectual spaces, develop new ways of interpreting the world, and imagine how they might contribute to meaningful change. Together, we invite a reframing of teaching as a transformative practice that extends far beyond what is easily measured.

Dr. Lisa Davidson, Associate Professor (Teaching Stream), Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

Lisa M. Davidson is an Associate Professor (Teaching Stream) in the Department of Anthropology. Her teaching is grounded in Decolonizing, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (DEDI) principles, first-year experience, and work-integrated learning. In partnership and collaboration with community partners, she is developing innovative, student-centered approaches that support undergraduate students in learning to research with generative AI technologies in the social sciences, while advancing decolonial practices and ethical perspectives.

Dr. Ian Garrett, Professor, Department of Theatre, Dance & Performance, Faculty of Arts, Music, Performance & Design

Ian Garrett is an educator, designer, and researcher at York University, where he serves as Professor of Ecological Design for Performance. As Director of the Centre for Sustainable Practice in the Arts, his research explores the intersection of ecology and accessible mixed reality technologies. Ian brings extensive field experience to the classroom as producer for the performance collective Toasterlab and Venue Manager for Venue 13 at the Edinburgh Fringe. A founding member of IATSE ADC 659, he also serves on the boards of the Associate Designers of Canada and Pentacle, fostering sustainable models for the global arts community.

Dr. Lesley Zannella, Assistant Professor (Teaching Stream), Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health

Lesley Zannella is an Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, in the Department of Psychology, where she teaches core undergraduate courses including Writing in Psychology, Critical Thinking in Psychology, as well as the Faculty of Health co-op preparation course. She views learning as a collaborative process and designs courses that increase access, foster meaningful engagement, and support the application of knowledge beyond the classroom. Her teaching emphasizes equity, mentorship, and experiential learning, helping students develop transferable skills alongside empathy and openness to diverse perspectives. Her work has been recognized with national and international awards for innovation and educational leadership.

Explore the rapidly evolving labour landscape and hear perspectives on how educators can equip students with meaningful, project-based learning that bridges academic excellence, real-world skills and pathways to industry.

This year’s panel will be guided by Anne Patterson, Chief Research and Communications Officer, Information and Communications Technology Council of Canada (ICTC). Anne is a global executive leader in research, policy, and strategic communications. With experience across 25 countries and a career spanning international development, social enterprise, labour, research, and movement-building, she brings a rich global perspective to the urgent questions shaping our work.

Panelists:

Lily Cho, Associate Professor, Department of English, Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
Marios Fokaefs, Associate Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Lassonde School of Engineering
Minerva Cernea, Director, Centre for Career Design, Schulich School of Business and the Office of Professional Development and Experiential Education

Join us for an engaging fireside chat bringing together the team at Riipen, Canada's leading experiential learning platform, and colleagues from right here at York University, as part of our teaching and learning event.

This session will explore what experiential learning looks like at scale across Canada, from the national EL continuum to government partner programs with the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. Panellists will share outcomes and real stories that speak to the impact of project-based learning in post-secondary classrooms, including what it has looked like in practice at York and real feedback and data from Employers.

Whether you're new to experiential learning or looking to deepen your practice, this is an opportunity to hear directly from peers and practitioners at the forefront of the field.

Topics will include:

  • The Canadian experiential learning ecosystem
  • Signature programs including Level UP, Riipen Labs, FuturePath, and Advance Ontario
  • Outcomes and stories collected from educators, learners, and employers across Canada
  • How Riipen supports faculty in embedding real-world projects into their courses

Light lunch will be provided. All faculty and teaching staff are welcome.

Presenters:

Danielle Robinson (York)

Mel Belore (York)

Kristen Spong (Riipen)

Caroline Konrad (Riipen)

Amanda Boone (Riipen) 

This panel, hosted by Audrey Pyee, a Teaching Stream Professor in the Department of Global and Social Studies, as well as the Global History and Justice Program at Glendon College, will explore the "other" side of teaching and learning. This panel, made up of administrators and educational leaders from across our York faculties and campuses, will share their insights, lessons, and challenges supporting teaching and learning from their respective experiences in their current roles. What is this work and how do they value teaching and learning as they enter from these roles?

Panelists:

Neil Buckley, Associate Dean, Teaching & Learning, Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
Sheril Hook, Associate Dean, Teaching and Learning, Libraries
Karin Page-Cutrara, Vice Dean, Learning, Teaching & Academic Programs, Health
Justin Podur, Associate Dean Teaching and Learning, Environmental and Urban Change

Outside view of Life Sciences Building with people walking by

Location

Life Sciences Building

4700 Keele Street
Toronto, ON M3J1P3

Find on campus map

If you submitted a call for proposals you will receive confirmation of your acceptance soon, with more information.

If you missed submitting a call this year, stay tuned for next year's conference call for proposals.

teaching conference keynote presenter speaking from a podium to a large audience with an opening slide displayed on a screen next to the presenter.

Inquiries

If you have questions about the Teaching in Focus conference, or want more information, please email us.

Email: teaching@yorku.ca