Waterloo's Teaching Innovation Incubator (TII) has recently accepted another important project: the Student-Led, Individually Created Course (SLICCs) framework. Developed at the University of Edinburgh, SLICCs are a self-directed learning approach that offers benefits to both students and instructors by collaboratively shaping educational experiences. The framework aims to equip learners with the essential skills needed to navigate the complexities of our modern world, which aligns with Waterloo's strategic priority to “develop talent for a complex future.”
With support from LITE Grants, and an engaged Learning Community, SLICCs has been adapted into a number of courses across campus. As the demand for student-centered education grows, the SLICCs framework provides an option to support our commitment to preparing students for the challenges of the future.
Support from the Teaching Innovation Incubator allows the SLICCs project team to explore the following:
- How can SLICCs gain recognition as a legitimate course delivery method?
- What obstacles must be overcome to make SLICCs accessible to all students?
- Do SLICCs truly enhance student engagement and ownership of learning?
- In what ways can SLICCs encourage interdisciplinary collaboration?
Interested in learning more about SLICCs, and how the framework might be adapted into your course or program?
- Review the Examples of SLICCs at UW
- Explore the Instructors SLICC Toolkit - a resource to help you learn what is involved in implementing a SLICC and how to get started.
- Contact CTE’s Senior Educational Developer, Integrative and Experiential Learning, Katherine Lithgow (klithgow@uwaterloo.ca), to explore its potential to enrich the growth and development of your students.