Centre for Teaching and Learning


Faculty List

  • X. Huo, B.A. (Sichuan International Studies University), M.A. (York, UK), Ph.D. (York, Canada), Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream
  • M. Irwin, B.Sc., M.Ed., Ph.D. (Toronto), Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream
  • N. Johnston, B.A. (Trent), M.A., Ph.D. (York), Associate Professor, Teaching Stream
  • E. Khoo, B.Sc. (U. of Malaysia), M.A. (U. of Reading), Ph.D. (U. of South Queensland), Associate Professor, Teaching Stream
  • S. King, B.A. (Glendon), M.A., Ph.D. (U. of Western Ontario), Associate Professor, Teaching Stream
  • K. McCrindle, B.A. (York), M.A., Ph.D. (Toronto), Associate Professor, Teaching Stream
  • H.L. Meacock, B.A. (Trent), M.A. (York), Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream Emerita
  • K. Persaud, B.Sc. (Toronto), B.Ed. (U. of Western Ontario), Ph.D. (McMaster), Associate Professor, Teaching Stream
  • Z. Shahbazi, B.Sc. (Sharif University of Technology), M.Sc., Ph.D. (Toronto), Professor, Teaching Stream
  • G. Sharzer, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. (York), Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream
  • S. Stevenson, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. (Maryland), Lecturer, Emerita

Director: K. McCrindle  Email: adteaching.utsc@utoronto.ca
For more information, visit the Centre for Teaching and Learning Website

The Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) provides leadership in educational excellence through supporting and inspiring transformative and inclusive teaching and learning. CTL advises and collaborates with all instructors to support an interactive community of scholarly teaching excellence, inquiry and innovation. CTL also engages with all students, individually and through course support and other learning initiatives, to enhance foundational skills required for coursework and beyond. CTL support includes:

  • Facilitated Study Groups which are weekly collaborative learning sessions for selected UTSC courses.
  • Math and Statistics Support is open to all students who wish to improve their quantitative reasoning skills and includes workshops and drop-in help for students in specific Mathematics and Statistics courses. 
  • Writing Support assists student learning in any discipline at any stage of the writing process and offers one-to-one and group instruction.
  • The Experiential Learning program connects students with on- and off-campus experiential placement opportunities to deepen their academic learning.
  • English Language Development Support provides English Language learners with programming that includes individual appointments with writing experts, interactive and Cafe-style game-based learning sessions.

CTL also offers courses that focus on skill and personal development. CTLA01H3 and CTLA02H3 are designed for English Language Learners to help them bring their academic English skills to a level that matches their other strong academic skills. CTLB03H3, our experiential learning course, is open to students in all disciplines who want hands-on opportunities to use and enhance their academic knowledge. Two CTL courses are designed specifically for UTSC’s Transitional Year Program students. CTLA20H3 focuses on advocacy writing to develop the critical reading and writing skills necessary for postsecondary study and community engagement, while CTLA21H3 explores practical applications of mathematics and statistical interpretation to build numeracy skills.

To learn more, you can also visit UTSC Digital Resources Commons:
English Language Development Support
Experiential Learning
Facilitated Study Groups
Math and Statistics Support
Writing Support

Resources for Faculty, Instructors, Graduate Students, and Teaching Assistants:
Faculty Teaching and Learning Support Resources
Educational Development for Faculty and Instructors
Teaching Assistant Training and Graduate Student Support

Centre for Teaching and Learning Courses

CTLA01H3 - Foundations in Effective Academic Communication

This highly interactive course for English Language Learners who find Academic English a challenge aims to fast-track the development of critical thinking, reading, writing and oral communication skills. Through emphasizing academic writing and rapid expansion of vocabulary, students will gain practical experience with university-level academic texts and assignment expectations.

Prerequisite: No more than 10.0 credits completed. Students are required to take a diagnostic test of academic English skills to be conducted by the English Language Development Support, Centre for Teaching and Learning, in advance of the first day of class.
Enrolment Limits: 20 students per practicum
Breadth Requirements: Arts, Literature and Language
Note: The instructor has the authority to exclude students whose level of proficiency is unsuitable for the course, including those students who meet the prerequisites.

CTLA02H3 - Exploring Inter-Cultural Perspectives in Academic Contexts

Students will develop language, communication and critical thinking skills through an exploration of culture and academic culture(s). Students will use various media in activities and assignments to connect their knowledge and experience with course learning, to foster dynamic academic integration for international students as they develop their English and multi-literacies.

Prerequisite: No more than 10.0 credits completed. Students are required to take a diagnostic test of their academic English skills to be conducted by the English Language Development Support, Centre for Teaching and Learning in advance of the first day of class.
Enrolment Limits: 20
Breadth Requirements: Arts, Literature and Language
Note: The instructor has the authority to exclude students whose level of proficiency is unsuitable for the language learning and cultural exploration focus of the course, including those students who meet the prerequisites.

CTLA20H3 - Writing for Change: Foundational Academic Skills to Make a Difference in Your Community

This course uses the mode of advocacy writing to teach the foundational skills necessary for all effective communication. Students will learn to convey their ideas about issues relevant to their communities with attention to structure, voice, evidence, and writing mechanics.

Enrolment Limits: 25
Breadth Requirements: Arts, Literature and Language
Course Experience: University-Based Experience
Note: This course is available to students in the Transitional Year Program only, and students will be enrolled into the course by program administrators. 

CTLA21H3 - Math4life: Developing Mathematical Thinking and Skills in Practical Contexts

This course will cover basic mathematics concepts such as Arithmetic, Elementary Algebra, Geometry and Trigonometry, Data collection and Interpretation, Sets, and Functions. Students will engage these concepts through a series of activities which require them to solve practical problems based on real life circumstances. The course will also draw on African and Indigenous cultural knowledges and perspectives to connect the study of mathematics to TYP students’ interests and lived experiences.

Enrolment Limits: 25
Breadth Requirements: Quantitative Reasoning
Course Experience: University-Based Experience
Note: This course is available to students in the Transitional Year Program only, and students will be enrolled in the course by program administrators.

CTLB03H3 - Introduction to Community Engaged Learning

In this experiential learning course, students apply their discipline-specific academic knowledge as they learn from and engage with communities. Students provide, and gain, unique perspectives and insights as they interact with community partners. Through class discussions, workshops and assignments, students also develop transferable life skills such as interpersonal communication, professionalism and self-reflection that support their learning experiences and help them connect theory and practice.

Prerequisite: Completion of 4.0 credits and selection of a U of T Scarborough Specialist or Major program. GPA will also be considered.
Exclusion: FREC10H3, HCSC01H3
Enrolment Limits: 30
Breadth Requirements: Social and Behavioural Sciences
Course Experience: Partnership-Based Experience

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