Special Session

Facilitator: Jordan Holmes, Senior Manager, Teaching, Learning, and Technology, CTSI Research shows that generative AI tool design matters for learning. The OECD Digital Education Outlook 2026 (https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/oecd-digital-education-outlook-2026_062a7394-en.html) finds that AI tools with clear educational guardrails may support learning outcomes, while unstructured use of AI risks becoming a shortcut that may hamper genuine learning gains.   Through Cogniti, U of T is giving instructors control over how AI is used for learning. Cogniti is an AI platform embedded directly in Quercus — no separate accounts required — that lets you shape AI interactions around your course content, your learning objectives, and your pedagogical [...]

Julia Allworth, Manager, Innovation Hub Irene Sullivan, Neurological Team Lead, Accessibility Services An inside look at the lives of five neurodivergent students at U of T This session features an exclusive early screening of a new documentary short produced by the Innovation Hub in partnership with Accessibility Services. The 25-minute documentary features five neurodivergent students who share their different experiences at U of T.  Students share their stories through on-camera interviews, video diaries, voiceovers, and vlogs of their day-to-day lives. Throughout the documentary, student provide commentary about their unique university journeys. By highlighting the experiences of neurodivergent students, we aim to [...]

The university's AI Task Force report (Toward an AI-Ready University (https://ai.utoronto.ca/u-of-t-ai-task-force/report)) called for a proactive approach to AI adoption: one that prioritizes literacy, ethical use, and accessible, human-centred tools. The AI Kitchen (AIK) is a core recommendation for delivering on that vision, providing the ingredients, appliances, and guidance for faculty, staff, and librarians who choose to bring AI into their work.  In this session, members of the AIK team will share what they're learning as they build out these supports, including where the clearest needs are emerging. There will be time for conversation and questions, so come ready to surface your [...]

Moderator: Cristina D'Amico, Educational Developer, Graduate Student Development & TA Training, CTSI Panelists:  Moaz Shoura, TATP Course Instructor Coordinator, Department of Psychology, UTSC Luke Volk, Department of Mathematics, FAS Carlie Manners, Department of History, FAS Donald McCarthy, Department of Classics, FAS In this roundtable session, we will engage in conversation with graduate student course instructors at the University of Toronto’s and hear their approach to teaching challenges and building learning communities. Panelists include the Course Instructor Coordinator at the Teaching Assistants’ Training Program (TATP) and shortlisted candidates for the Course Instructor Teaching Excellence Award (https://tatp.utoronto.ca/awards/ci-award/), which is given annually by the [...]

Moderator: Susan McCahan, Vice-Provost, Innovation in Undergraduate Education Panelists: Gwendolyn Eadie, Assistant Professor, Astronomy and Astrophysics/Statistical Sciences, FAS Certina Ho, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy/ Psychiatry, TFoM Daniel Newman, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Director of Graduate Writing Support/Department of English, FAS Zahra Shakeri, Assistant Professor, Institute of Health Policy, Management & Evaluation, DLSPH Naomi Steenhof, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy  What does exceptional teaching look like at the start of an academic career? Join recipients of the Cheryl Regehr Early Career Teaching Award (ECTA) (https://www.provost.utoronto.ca/awards-funding/university-of-toronto-early-career-teaching-award/)for a dynamic conversation on creativity, commitment and impact [...]