LITE Grant Showcase

Monday, October 21, 2024 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm EDT (GMT -04:00)

LITE Grant Showcase

Location: MC2036

Hosted by: Centre for Teaching Excellence

Facilitators: Brianna Bennett and Annik Bilodeau

Come hear presentations from colleagues at the University of Waterloo who are conducting their own scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) research, developing or piloting innovations for the classroom supported with funding from the Learning Innovation and Teaching Enhancement (LITE) grant program! 

During this session, researchers from the Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business (Faculty of Arts) and the Faculty of Science will present preliminary results. Each presentation will be followed by a 10-minute showcase of the technology or learning format used in the studies, allowing participants to experiment with (VR) or experience (circle pedagogy) these innovations.  

Examining Virtual Reality for Design Education in the Classroom 

Daniel Harley, Ville Mäkelä, Cayley MacArthur (Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business) 

This project examines the practical and experiential characteristics of using virtual reality (VR) in a 4th-year design course at the Stratford School (GBDA 413: W2024), analyzing student perspectives and creative work produced during the term.  

Indigenous Learning Circles in STEM Education  

Vivian Dayeh (Biology), Brenda Lee (Physics), Savannah Sloat (Manager, Science Indigenous Initiatives)  

This project implements a teaching and learning system based on an Indigenous Learning Circle methodology to better enhance student learning in STEM courses during lecture and tutorials, providing students a chance to participate in relational and reciprocal learning. 

About the LITE Seed grant program:  

Our Learning Innovation and Teaching Enhancement (LITE) Seed Grants support small-scale teaching and learning research projects with funding of up to $7,500. Applications are due June 1 and October 1 of each year, and up to 9 grants are awarded each round.  

Since 2012, more than 180 LITE grant projects have been awarded to instructors and staff investigating innovative approaches to enhancing teaching and fostering deep student learning at the University of Waterloo. Please see the CTE website for more information about the LITE grants.