{"id":264802,"date":"2019-05-23T16:06:45","date_gmt":"2019-05-23T20:06:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yfiledev.uit.yorku.ca\/?p=264802"},"modified":"2025-04-02T11:21:18","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T15:21:18","slug":"success-with-large-classes-the-focus-of-tif-2019-keynote-address","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yorku.ca\/yfile\/2019\/05\/23\/success-with-large-classes-the-focus-of-tif-2019-keynote-address\/","title":{"rendered":"Success with large classes the focus of TiF 2019 keynote address"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cTools of Mass Instruction\u201d was the intriguing title of Eric Kam\u2019s keynote speech at this year\u2019s Teaching in Focus (TiF) conference, and he delivered in spades (pun intended).<\/p>\n

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Ryerson University Professor and TiF keynote speaker Eric Kam (left) with York AVP Teaching and Learning Will Gage<\/p><\/div>\n

Kam, a York University alumnus and associate professor of economics at Ryerson University, provided a barrel of suggestions gleaned from his personal experience, all delivered in his humorous, rapid-fire style.<\/p>\n

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Teaching Commons interim Director Genevieve Maheux-Pelletier and Eric Kam<\/p><\/div>\n

First, however, Genevi\u00e8ve Maheux-Pelletier, the interim director of Teaching Commons, opened the annual conference that focuses on teaching innovation and the scholarship of teaching and learning. The two-day event, which took place May 15 and 16 at York University\u2019s Keele Campus and is now in its seventh year, was organized by the team at Teaching Commons.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe chose this year\u2019s theme of \u2018Intentionality in Your Teaching: From Practice to Praxis\u2019 to open up conversations about different ways of knowing and doing unfamiliar to us,\u201d Maheux-Pelletier said.<\/p>\n

She explained that the theme provided everyone an opportunity to mindfully reflect on his or her own teaching practice and should allow attendees to \u201copen their minds and hearts to new perspectives.\u201d<\/p>\n

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TiF participant Andrew Skelton, assistant professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Mathematics<\/p><\/div>\n

TiF\u2019s program featured the keynote address, two plenary sessions, a panel featuring the winners of the President\u2019s University-wide Teaching Awards, a poster session and seven blocks of concurrent talks.<\/p>\n

The concurrent sessions addressed a variety of useful topics, including using engaging instructional methods in the classroom; ways to support researchers focused on the scholarship of teaching and learning; employing peer leaders to enhance student learning; and becoming a great undergraduate student supervisor.<\/p>\n

Conference attendees also had the opportunity to enhance their technological skills at TiF MakerSpace, a production suite that featured a mobile video recording system, screen recording and video editing software and a free, open-source audio recording and editing platform. All of these tools can contribute to the ability to offer blended or online courses or to enhance the classroom experience. These tools, along with expert advice, are made available through the Teaching Commons to faculty interested in exploring and creating digital learning experiences as part of their teaching.<\/p>\n

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Will Gage<\/p><\/div>\n

Faculty of Health Professor Will Gage, the associate vice-president of teaching and learning, welcomed the attendees, noting, \u201cThere is tremendous work in teaching and learning happening across the university and it\u2019s a pleasure to have great people come out and share their work with others.\u201d<\/p>\n

Next, it was Kam\u2019s turn to offer his perspective on keeping students in large classes engaged. His presentation was filled with tips that he has learned from years of teaching economics classes ranging in size from 500 to 1,100 students.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no one way to teach right,\u201d Kam said, \u201cand it\u2019s also a myth that you can\u2019t do active learning in a large lecture hall. No one wants to hear anyone lecture for three straight hours; you need to break up the monotony. You can brainstorm, you can solve problems, you can work with case studies and you can have discussion periods.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before diving into the course material, however, Kam suggested that faculty turn their attention to logistics and classroom management.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople generally say the last lecture of the semester is the most important, but I believe it\u2019s the first,\u201d he said. \u201cYou have 10 minutes to capture the students; it\u2019s when they decide if you\u2019re worth listening to. Put your best teaching into it.\u201d<\/p>\n

During that first class, a skilled teacher will also:<\/p>\n