Our Support
How we support programs
The Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE) provides comprehensive support to UNF’s programs throughout their life cycles. From conceptualization to ongoing program review, we collaborate closely with program leadership to foster exceptional learning experiences that reflect UNF’s innovative education philosophy and produce highly sought-after graduates. Our program support services include:
- Program development support: We offer guidance and expertise during the program development process.
- Learning outcome development and measurement: CTE assists in crafting clear, measurable learning outcomes to ensure academic rigor and relevance.
- Assurance of learning processes: We help establish data collection systems to assess and enhance learning effectiveness.
- Program-level teaching sessions: CTE delivers tailored programming to ensure consistent implementation of UNF’s innovative educational model.
- Program review support: We assist with the preparation of program review reports, including data collection, analysis, and documentation, to support continuous improvement efforts.
- Customized program support: We develop resources and programming to address specific needs related to learning tools, technologies, processes, and instructional practices.
How we support faculty
CTE supports UNF faculty in all aspects of their course design, course delivery, and professional growth endeavors. Our approach is inclusive, collaborative, and supportive, ensuring that faculty receive the resources and guidance they need to thrive as educators. We do this through:
- Project management assistance: We offer structured support throughout the online course development process, ensuring a smooth and successful experience from start to finish.
- Heutagogical support: CTE helps develop learning tools, resources, and artifacts that foster self-directed learning and deeper engagement.
- Professional development programs: We offer a variety of initiatives, including the CTE Learning Lounge, Faculty Orientation, CTE Spotlight Workshops, and the UNF Certificate in Teaching and Learning, to support continuous faculty growth.
- Technology training: We provide practical ‘How To’ sessions and resources on relevant technological tools and resources to enhance teaching and learning.
- Individual consultations: Faculty can access personalized, confidential, one-on-one consultations tailored to their unique teaching needs and goals.
- Collegial practice sharing: We create opportunities for faculty to connect, collaborate, and share both effective teaching practices and challenges, fostering a supportive academic community where continuous learning and mutual growth are prioritized.
How we support students
Playing a critical role in supporting students, we ensure that they have seamless access to their courses and other essential systems within Cascade, UNF’s learning management system. Our focus is on empowering students to succeed in a number of ways including:
- Cascade support: We provide comprehensive resources such as instructional videos and written guides to help students effectively navigate Cascade. These resources ensure students can access and engage with course materials, view and submit assignments, track their progress, and access grades with ease.
- Technical support: Our team responds promptly to student inquiries, addressing technical issues quickly to minimize disruptions and maintain an accessible learning environment.
- Accessibility and inclusion: We prioritize inclusive education by ensuring all content aligns with AODA and other web standards. This commitment includes optimizing learning for tools such as screen readers to ensure course materials are accessible to all students.
Online development process
The CTE team works closely with faculty, associate deans, and course authors to create engaging and interactive online learning experiences. Our course development process includes:
Needs assessments
These are conducted to ascertain the specific requirements for the course and program.
Course planning
Course planning documents are completed to lay out a comprehensive structure that aligns with course learning outcomes and program learning outcomes.
Collaboration
CTE collaborates with faculty to guide them through the content creation process and help them produce excellent written, video, and interactive materials.
Content updates
Instructional Designers organize and restructure materials to create active and engaging modules, reduce cognitive load, and promote learner retention.
Online development
Courseware Developers build the content modules by following brand guidelines and a comprehensive style guide to facilitate student navigation through the course.
Quality assurance
Instructional Designers and Courseware Developers perform quality assurance checks from both a content and technical perspective to maintain UNF’s high standards.
Revisions and improvements
Iterative course revisions and improvements are implemented to ensure ongoing quality and relevance of all content.
Explore CTE
