CURRICULAB PROJECTS

Reviewing curriculum for Sculpture courses

As part of a review of courses within the Sculpture area in Studio Arts, Curriculab supported faculty leads in implementing the curriculum changes focused on decolonization and sustainability. This included: 

• Coordinating meetings with Decolonizing Curriculum and Pedagogy Director, to offer mentorship and guidance and with other stakeholders at CTL and across the university. 
• Assisting in crafting new calendar descriptions and developing a shared syllabus for core Sculpture courses. 
• Supporting the hiring of a student-as-partner to research and create a bank of resources for faculty teaching these redesigned courses. 
• Implementing a survey of faculty and students post-change to measure the impact of the curriculum changes. 

Reimagining the BFA in Contemporary Dance

The Department of Contemporary Dance is undertaking a multi-phase redesign of its BFA in Contemporary Dance to reflect the evolving role of dance in contemporary society. The review aims to incorporate more Black, Indigenous and racialized perspectives in thecurriculum and to place greater emphasis on diverse dance practices. 

Curriculab has supported the process by: 

• Helping the department to map out the changes and establishing a timeline  for ongoing feedback from CTL educational developers and curriculum experts. 
• Organizing a roundtable meeting with Dance faculty and subject matter experts in the areas of decolonization, anti-Black racism, sustainability, and equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), to provide live feedback on the redesign. 

Infusing Black scholarship into Fine Arts curriculum 

Part of the President’s Task force on Anti-Black Racism – this university-wide initiative aims to help faculty integrate Black scholarship into curricula and offer students an education  inclusive of Black people’s experiences, perspectives, and realities. 

Curriculab has enabled:

• Hiring of students-as-partners to work on course development, modules and content, including for  IMCA 400: Advanced Practices in Video, Performance and Electronic Arts.   
• Contributing to Fine Arts courses such as ARTH 271: Introduction to Black Canadian Art and IMCA 400: Advanced Practices in Video, Performance and Electronic Arts. 

Creating faculty networks   

Curriculab organizes gatherings, presentations, podcasts, and meetings between instructors across the Faculty and the University to provide spaces for faculty to share both their successes and challenges in undergoing curriculum change. 

Pedagogy training in Interdisciplinary studies

In connection with the degree required courses FFAR 248 and FFAR 249, Curriculab has facilitated a close collaboration with Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) experts in decolonization, instructional design, anti-Black racism, sustainability, and EDI. This work has shaped the latest offerings of the Pedagogy Training Program for graduate students on these courses and to work toward its certification.