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Hello everyone! We hope you are getting settled into your new schedules and are staying warm. In the first edition of 2025, we introduce our two new cohorts, as well as offer a fin-tastic invitation!
Seneca's Curriculum Integration - Human Skills began its second cohort of Faculty Champions with a launch on January 7th. This term's cohort consists of nine Faculty Champions who will be working with The Teaching & Learning Centre over the next 12 weeks to begin the process of integrating Human Skills (Communication, Collaboration, and Critical Thinking) into all the courses in their programs.
Parallel to these weekly sessions with the new cohort, the first cohort of Faculty Champions are beginning the implementation phase of their Action Plans/Roadmaps, and we wish them all the best while reminding them that they can lean on us here in the T&L Centre for ongoing support.
Along with the CI Human Skills cohort, the CI TRC/EDI/SUS Winter 2025 cohort has also started. The faculty champions for this cohort joined their kickoff on January 8th, and learned about the what/where/when/and how of the Curriculum Integration project.
For this session, faculty champions will alternate between attending Spotlight sessions and Core sessions. The Spotlights provides a deeper dive into a specific topic or set of concepts, and the sessions are open to all Seneca faculty and staff. The Core sessions are for faculty champions, and will provide guidance tailored to the different mandatory deliverables.
We’ve already had some terrific discussions in the Week 2 Spotlight sessions, and we’re looking forward to learning together with the Winter 2025 champions.
Every CI Newsletter issue will feature a “Strategy Spotlight”, where we share a curriculum integration strategy or idea that you can adapt to your classroom. Each strategy comes with a learning objective and supporting activities, assessments and resources. The example is subject specific but can be adapted to any subject area.
In this edition, let's take a look at how to teach with the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs represent ambitious targets, but they are also descriptive, meaning that they cast light on current policies, cultures and challenges at the global level. If you are being authentic with your students and engaging them in real-world topics, you are likely already advancing towards the SDGs. The key is to recognize and celebrate the work you are already doing, and then explore specific SDGs more deeply.
For more SDG integration strategies, explore Seneca’s self-directed module Teaching Sustainability. Thank you to former CI Champion Kerri Knudsen for contributing her strategies.
Tell us what’s in your CI backpack! Do you have an integration idea to share with the Seneca community? Submit your idea here: Curriculum Integration Idea form.
The Teaching & Learning Centre is excited to announce the launch of Curriculum Integration Spotlights. These interactive sessions will offer practical strategies and deeper dives into topics supporting Truth and Reconciliation, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and/or Sustainability.
To learn more about each session, explore the CI Spotlight Flyer.
Caption: Spotlight Sessions flyer Source: Teaching & Learning Centre
Next week, we have two fantastic Spotlight Sessions on TRC and EDI, on January 28 and January 30, respectively. Spotlight Sessions are open to all Seneca faculty and staff. Please register on MyPD and join us for one or both sessions.
We look forward to seeing you!
Caption: A red pocket traditionally used to give money in Chinese culture. Source: Mok, E. (2019). Chinese new year [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/@eastonmok
The Lunar New Year for 2025 begins on Wednesday January 29th, and many Asian communities around the globe will celebrate this 15-day cultural event. This is the Year of the Wood Snake, which represents good fortune and growth.
If you’re wondering about your prospects this year, start by learning about the Chinese Zodiac signs and then review some predictions: 2025 Chinese Zodiac: Year of the Wood Snake Predictions for Each Sign. Check out this Year of the Wood Snake video as well to enhance your discoveries.
In terms of festivities, Toronto celebrants may attend the first Lunar New Year fireworks festival at Nathan Philips Square. Other Lunar New Year events around Toronto and the GTA welcome all celebrants.
And for information about various events and celebrations for diversity and inclusion, explore: Global Diversity Calendar 2025.
Here’s wishing one and all much prosperity for this Lunar New Year!
Mark Solomon, Associate Vice President, Reconciliation and Inclusion, would like to invite Curriculum Integration Champions on an ice fishing experience planned for February 15th.
You can sign up on a first-come, first-serve basis by filling out this form by January 31st. If spots are filled, a waiting list will be created. We will confirm your spot and provide additional detail closer to the event.
Curious about what the event is like? Check out an o-fish-al article on last year's ice-fishing event!
References• United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, https://sdgs.un.org/goals
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