An instructor replaced take-home essays with an in-class portfolio model to promote academic integrity, skill development, and authentic learning in the age of AI. The approach improved student engagement, reflection, and ownership of learning.
This article argues for decolonizing assessment by moving beyond traditional tests and essays toward holistic, relationship-based approaches that engage students’ intellect, emotions, identities, and lived experiences. Through flexible, reflective, and creative assessments, the author aims to foster more inclusive, meaningful, and culturally responsive learning.
A teaching portfolio is a carefully curated collection of materials that communicates your identity, values, and impact as an educator.
A quick guide to new Canvas features available at USask that can support assessment, accessibility, communication, and student learning.
Learn how the 2025–26 Learning Technology Ecosystem (LTE) Ease of Use Survey is helping USask improve learning technology support, communication, and resources.
In an online first-year English course, Dr. Carleigh Brady redesigned assessment to create multiple checkpoints that helped students engage with course readings, demonstrate their thinking—including orally—and receive feedback throughout the writing process. The redesign made learning more visible while adapting assessment to the realities of generative AI.
Explore how to use Canvas New Quizzes to create timed, video-response questions that enhance assessment security while supporting authentic and reflective learning.
When technology is unavailable, access to course materials can be disrupted. Taking a few simple steps can help ensure learning continues when unexpected challenges arise.
Three findings from the recent USask Student Sustainability survey, why it matters for teaching, and concrete actions educators can take.
Help students engage deeper by ensuring they receive comments when they are most prepared to act on them and the comments aren’t overshadowed by the numerical grade.
How Canvas Quizzes and Poll Everywhere can help students learn more effectively, while keeping things efficient and scalable for you.
USask students are seeking low-cost courses – tell us about yours!
EAL and international students are reported for academic misconduct more often — but research shows they don’t engage in it more than others. Misunderstandings and language barriers can lead to unfair assumptions.
How can metaphors be integrated into your practice as a tool for Indigenization?
How can you differentiate between Indigenous appropriation and appreciation in academic settings?
The GMCTL is rolling out an increased level of support for open educational resources (OER) and open pedagogy. This support will be available for all steps in projects and includes an option to be part of a cohort, all in addition to financial support.
Learn what equipment and furniture are available in your assigned classroom and how USask’s renewed and hybrid-enabled spaces can support flexible teaching and student learning.
How can thoughtful introductions foster reciprocity and trust in relationships?
How can you navigate inevitable changes to learning technologies in higher education? How do you integrate Leveraging Technology across a program?
In the fourth article in this series, we’ll explore ways that learners can make progress toward meeting the Leveraging Technology competency.
In the third article in this series, we’ll look at what students will do to develop this competency.
This is the second article in a series about the Leveraging Technology student competency. In this article, we’ll explore terms that are used a lot, but many people don’t know their meaning.
This article on steps for choosing appropriate learning technologies is the first in a series related to the Leveraging Technology Effectively competency.
How to use intercultural teaching capacity to engage and support learners.
Canvas Commons offers diverse, customizable resources to enhance instructional strategies and align with learning outcomes.
A digital spring cleaning can have many environmental, organizational, and psychological benefits. Follow this guide to make your digital life more organized and sustainable!
AI is a powerful tool that we can use to create a better tomorrow, but what are the environmental costs that we are seeing today?
Enhance the security of digital assessments in Canvas with these tips.
In Canvas quizzes you can have quiz questions selected randomly from a larger bank of questions. There are several benefits to this approach and a few things to carefully consider.
The primary purpose of quiz logs is to assist in investigating any issues students may encounter during their quizzes. They capture various actions and timestamps throughout the quiz attempt.
There will be instances where students or Canvas will experience internet connection issues. When this issue impacts a student’s ability to finish the exam, you can provide more time or attempts.
Instructors need to be sure that students are ready for life post-graduation in an AI-enabled world. How can we test both foundational skills and knowledge alongside AI skills and knowledge?
GenAI has made its impact on every field and discipline. To help prepare our students for life post-graduation, instructors will have to consider how to help their students leverage GenAI tools.
When using GenAI tools, the best practice is to be as transparent as possible. This concise guide gives a brief overview of how to do this.
How are students using AI and how can we clarify expectations?
Learn how to use GenAI tools in a way that is effective and efficient with the "ACE Your AI Use" model
The EDI Flower Design Tool is a comprehensive framework aimed at fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) for USask classrooms. This overview highlights the EDI Flower’s principles and provides suggestions for resources to integrate EDI into teaching and learning practices.
Find out if an oral assessment is a good choice for your course.
Make the most of your multiple-choice questions by moving beyond assessing understanding to analysis, evaluation, and beyond.
How to craft thought provoking exams that allow students to apply and expand upon their learning.
Help your students deepen their learning through reflective practice.
Enrich students learning and share the task of giving feedback by helping your students help each other.
Explore an array of oral assessment tasks that can help you better understand your students’ abilities without the aid of AI.
Want to prepare students for global careers? Virtual exchange offers real-world learning, intercultural collaboration, and professional growth—right from the classroom.
USask’s EDI Framework for Action emphasizes creating inclusive learning environments. Here we offer practical approaches to help foster a diverse, supportive, and accessible educational experience for all students and educators.
At USask, we aim to integrate Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) concepts into our teaching and learning environment, ensuring all students feel valued and supported. By embedding EDI principles, USask instructors can foster a culture of belonging and prepare students to thrive in a diverse world.
Reflection bridges theory and practice, fostering growth through meaningful insights. Explore strategies, tools, and frameworks to assess reflective learning effectively.
Authentic assessment in higher ed reveals critical challenges: power dynamics, cognitive overload, mentor training gaps, and ethical risks. Thoughtful design can balance these issues, enriching real-world learning and career readiness.
Discover ways to approach conversations with individuals or the whole class when academic misconduct is suspected.
Learn how to use Canvas New Analytics to see how students are doing in your course
Transform volunteer work into academic credit! Discover how USask is turning student experiences into valuable, credit-earning opportunities through innovative experiential learning course.
Inquiry-based learning sparks curiosity by encouraging students to ask questions, explore answers, and actively engage with content, leading to deeper understanding and meaningful learning experiences. Read this excerpt of a blogpost by Dr. Lee Beavington at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU), reposted with permission.
Reflecting on Your Teaching Practice
Canvas offers tools for teachers in math and science to create accessible, properly displayed equations; learning LaTeX can further enhance your course's efficiency.
Bring global perspectives into your classroom! Learn how integrating diverse viewpoints can enrich learning and prepare students for a connected world.
Experience USask’s innovative “Campus as a Living Lab” project, where campus becomes a dynamic space for sustainability education and hands-on learning. Join us in shaping a sustainable future!
Discover how international experiential learning bridges theory and practice, offering students immersive experiences that enrich their education and global understanding. Dive into real-world learning!
Discover the transformative impact of mentorship in higher education. Learn how effective preceptor development is key to nurturing future leaders and fostering academic excellence.
Explore how hands-on fieldwork in biology courses breathes life into learning, fostering deeper understanding and engagement with the natural world. Discover the transformative power of outdoor education!
Discover GMCTL’s EDI Flower, a resource to help you cultivate a learning environment where all students thrive. Explore essential competencies from positionality to assessment, designed to enhance your teaching and foster equity, diversity, and inclusion in your classroom.
The job of a Teaching Assistant (TA) is both demanding and rewarding.
Discover how gamification can transform your teaching! Learn strategies to engage students and enhance learning through game-like experiences.
Elevate classroom success with this guide on embedding research, artistic, and scholarly skills. Gain practical steps to enhance student learning and engagement.
Boost engagement and learning by integrating experiential activities into introductory courses. Learn how practical experiences enhance academic understanding.
Enhance student growth with instructor feedback in reflective journaling. Learn how targeted comments can improve student writing and critical thinking skills.
Learn about prompting Microsoft Copilot to have it generate formative assessment questions for you.
Here we cover some reasons why you might send an announcement, a few good practices to keep in mind, and some options and tips particular to using the Announcements tool in Canvas.
Transform your teaching with Inbox Assignments! Engage students and boost learning outcomes through real-world email scenarios.
Learn some basics about prompting AI to have it help you get ready for class.
If you are creating a quiz in Canvas, we recommend you use the New Quizzes engine instead of Classic Quizzes. Got questions? Take a look through this FAQ.
If you need to provide students with quiz accommodations, it's important to know that adding accommodations in New Quizzes looks quite different than Classic Quizzes.
Summary of the differences between New Quizzes (now available in Canvas) and Classic Quizzes.
Canvas has a new quiz engine. Here are 8 reasons why you might be excited about making the move to New Quizzes!
Higher education has a responsibility to address the lived reality for Indigenous learners. Educators can look to build authentic relationships with learners and manage learning outcomes.
Examining assessment practices to determine the impact on Indigenous student success will provide opportunity for an enhancement of practice and improved outcomes.
To assist you in writing or revising your syllabus, the USask Syllabus Generator Tool can be accessed directly through Canvas. This tool includes all required sections, the recommended sections and sample language.
This post aims to compare the design of two online quizzes to determine how each design impacts student learning.
Students who choose assessments that are personally relevant are more likely to be motivated, engaged, and take ownership of their learning.
Authentic assessment emphasizes real-world application of skills and knowledge. Learn how it enhances student engagement and aligns with meaningful learning outcomes.
Boost engagement in your classroom! Discover strategies to amplify student voice and choice, making learning more personalized and empowering for all.
Learn about this tool and how it can be used in your class to make for a more active learning experience.
If you’re wondering how to enhance your experiential learning practices and make meaningful connections with learners’ knowledge and experiences, here are five valuable resources to support experiential learning. Discover rubrics, learning modules, reflection models, and prompting questions.
Identify when your teaching can benefit from experiential learning to boost student engagement with practical, real-world applications.
Learn the most important things to give feedback about in your classes, and how to make feedback highly efficient.
Strategies to assist you and your students to have a better experience using Canvas Discussions for learning.
Reflect on grading practices to enhance student learning and equity. Discover how thoughtful assessment can drive better educational outcomes. How can you determine if someone’s reflection is good enough, and how can you signal that to students so they reflect well and understand the feedback and grades they receive?
Learning technologies like Poll Everywhere can help keep your class active and engaging.
Letting students choose how their assessments are weighted can reduce stress, boost engagement, and build self-reflection — making your course more flexible and inclusive!
Poll Everywhere is integrated polling tool at USask. As you begin planning for the fall term, you may be considering how you will make use of formative assessment in your courses, including the use of Poll Everywhere.
Learn more about using Poll Everywhere in your asynchronous online courses, including instructions for how to embed the activity into a Canvas page.
Canvas can be used for replicating a “take-home” style of exam in a digital setting. Learn when to use this approach, and how to set it up for a smooth launch at exam time.
Learn more about using a variety of whiteboard tools for online learning.
Tips for how to have students work together using technology.
Using the Canvas Chat, a powerful tool and a hidden gem for those who have not yet made use of its capabilities.
Flexible classrooms have three key characteristics and are effectively across all parts of the learning process including receiving information, practicing, and getting feedback.
Use Perusall to make pre-class readings more engaging
