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We hope you all had a fantastic and restful summer. The Curriculum Integration team is also back and ready to embrace the start of fall. Please enjoy our first newsletter of the new term.
Fall 2024 Human Skills Cohort
On Wednesday, September 25th, those in the Human Skills Cohort will meet (in person) to have our first Curriculum Integration Project Human Skills workshop! Our focus will be on the "what" and the "how" of Human Skills. Join us by registering on MyPD for interactive activities that will highlight and model the fostering of Human Skills.
Caption: Spilling the Equity icon. Source: Teaching & Learning Centre.
Each month, Akeisha Lari, Manager Reconciliation and Student Inclusion, shares classroom insights for student engagement. For her previous entry, visit the Newsletter archive. This month, Akeisha "spills the tea" on the importance of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and how TRC has impacted her life.
Reach out to Akeisha at any time to chat about connecting to our students: akeisha.lari@senecapolytechnic.ca
Note: Seneca Polytechnic will host an event on September 30th to commemorate this important day.
Caption: Artwork by Jay Redbird, “Our Home”, located at Seneca Newnham Campus Source: Seneca Polytechnic.
As professors design learning experiences to support Truth and Reconciliation (TRC), some lessons may require additional consideration to ensure authenticity. There is a growing concern that pan-Indigeneity may be an unintentional byproduct of TRC student research, presented unknowingly in their submissions. Also, in the age of GenAI, the information students find may not accurately describe specific First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) communities.
In discussion with First Peoples@Seneca and Mark Solomon, Associate Vice President, Reconciliation and Inclusion, pan-indigeneity is the grouping of Indigenous Peoples without confirmation of community (McGuinne, 2014). For example, students may be asked to research information about an Indigenous community, but the information provided by GenAI is an overview rather than an accurate description of a specific FNMI nation.
To prevent this, professors should revise assessment instructions for specifics relative to FNMI student research. Before students submit, ask them to identify an exact nation they plan to research.
If you seek more TRC experiences, you can contact First Peoples@Seneca and/or come into Odeyto for a personal teaching or workshop for you and your students. Additional curriculum support can be offered from the Reconciliation and Inclusion team: RI@senecapolytechnic.ca.
Caption: Faculty speaking to students at front of class. Source: Monkey Business, (n.d.).
Many professors conduct a Land Acknowledgment as part of course delivery and offer different activities to engage students. Professors teaching in-person may read or have students read the Land Acknowledgement. Online professors may add a voice-over to communicate the message. Seneca’s Land Acknowledgment video may be another means of engaging in territorial understandings. More thoughts and ideas are offered in the article “For the Land Acknowledgment and Beyond” by Darryl Bautista. Read the full article here.
For additional support, please communicate with the Reconciliation and Inclusion (RI) team and they will work with you on developing ideas and activities: RI@senecapolytechnic.ca.
Seneca is thrilled to announce the upcoming Green Citizen Symposium! This free, online event will take place from November 5–7, 2024 and promises to be an opportunity for education, discussion, and fostering environmental stewardship among students, faculty, staff, and the broader community. The theme for this year’s symposium is “Thrive & Transform: A Resilient Journey”. The symposium will focus on empowering individuals and communities to adapt and prosper in the face of ecological changes. Students will gain valuable insights from innovators, business leaders, and respected academics. Please register for the event here!
Caption: Sustainable Seneca in the Service Hub. Source: Seneca Polytechnic.
Integration into the Curriculum
We encourage faculty to integrate the symposium into their curriculum by setting specific marks allocated to participating and completing the workshops. Here are the key benefits:
Enhance Educational Experience: Integrate sustainability topics into the curriculum and enrich students’ learning journeys.
Certificate of Completion: Students will receive a certificate for each keynote session and workshop they complete, adding value to their academic portfolio.
Flexible Participation: All sessions will be recorded and available for later viewing, making it easy for students to participate at their convenience.
Event Highlights
Dates: November 7, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST
Modality: Online
Sessions: Each day will feature two sessions, starting with a keynote address followed by an interactive workshop. Recordings will be available for those who cannot attend live.
Special Networking Event
In addition to the symposium, we are organizing a complimentary networking event spotlighting the sustainability industry. Thanks to our partnership and sponsorship by TD Insurance and Seneca Alumni, we’re inviting all Seneca students, faculty and alumni to an evening of connection and exploration. This event will take place on November 12 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the TD Insurance building in downtown Toronto.
Check out Sustainbale Seneca’s video archive to view the keynote from previous years.
Redbird, J.B. (2010). Our Home. [Painting]. Seneca Polytechnic Newnham Campus, Toronto, ON, Canada.
McGuinne, J. S. (2014, October 20). Pan-Indigeneity. Indigeneity, Language and Authenticity.
Monkey Business. (n.d.). Female teacher addressing university students in a classroom. [Image] Adobe Stock.
Steph. (2022, May 30). Avoiding Pan-Indigeneity while Indigenizing Education – Rethink Learning Design. Rethink Learning Design.
Looking for support? Feel free to reach out to the CI team at any time by emailing teaching@senecapolytechnic.ca.
Caption: Artwork by Isaac Murdoch, “The Petition to the Water Spirits”, located at Seneca@York Courtyard. Source: Seneca Polytechnic, 2023.
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