Curricular peer mentoring is an educationally effective collaborative learning strategy that capitalizes on the knowledge, skills and experience of undergraduate students to enhance the learning and engagement of their peers.

Supported by the Student Union, research at the UofC as well as other universities has shown that undergraduate peer mentors bring substantial academic benefit into the classroom while directly contributing to the creation of a learning environment that is engaging, positive and student-friendly.    Peer Mentoring programs can be managed very cost-effectively through credit-based practicum courses for peer mentors.  

This workshop will feature host-instructors from the faculties of Nursing, Faculty of Arts and the Haskayne School of Business who are currently working with student peer mentors, or have done so in the past.  Presenters will discuss the benefits that hosting and working with peer mentors have brought into their classrooms, and how the program has been successfully adapted to suit their specific needs. 

Peer mentors are registered undergraduate students who enroll in a senior level credit course in which they learn theories and practices of peer-led learning related to advanced education and professional practice.   Concurrently, peer mentors bring this knowledge into the classroom, working collaboratively with an instructor, modeling, coaching and supporting the learning of the students registered in this course.  In most cases, peer mentors are placed within courses they have previously taken.  Please note that communications media may be present at this event. 

Blackboard Essentials

A combination of the former 'Getting Started with Blackboard' and 'Advanced Blackboard' sessions, Essentials moves you sequentially through a typical process of designing and administering your Blackboard course.

Topics covered include: - Orientations to various Blackboard screens - Making changes to the course menu - Adding contact information - Adding content - Making your course available to students - Using Blackboard's communication tools to connect with your students - Managing groups - Managing discussion forums - Using the chat and virtual classroom tools

Please note that the workshop will be cancelled if there are fewer than 3 participants