July 17 – 20, 2023 – In-Person Conference
Hosted by the Teaching Academy of the Consortium of West Region Colleges of Veterinary Medicine, the 2023 Summer Conference will be held at the beautiful campus of Oregon State University. The inception of this conference started at OSU 10 years ago. This year’s event underpins the importance of “Cultivating Connections and Community” in teaching practices, promoting inclusive and supportive learning spaces.
Here are just some of the highlights:
Pre-Conference Workshops
The conference will begin with dedicated workshops that center on enhancing teaching excellence, especially in clinical settings. Participants will be exposed to innovative methodologies and best practices for veterinary education. They engage with peers and experts in veterinary education, enhancing their teaching skills.
The Team Based Learning workshop will offer valuable insights into creating cooperative learning environments that facilitate deeper understanding and practical application of knowledge. These workshops offer an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas, strategies, and best practices.
Keynote and Workshop
- The Keynote by Dr. Ben Wiggins “Making Classroom Culture Work for Your Learning Goals” discusses the impact of classroom culture on learning outcomes and suggests teaching strategies for improvement. The interactive Workshop “Activating Your Classroom: Building an Active Learning Format from Your Existing Lecture Materials” guides educators in transitioning from passive to active instruction without substantial time investment.
- The Wellness Keynote by Marie Holowaychuk “It’s Veterinary Practice, Not Perfect: Overcoming Perfectionism and Imposter Syndrome” This presentation explores the causes and impacts of perfectionism and imposter syndrome on mental health in veterinary practice. Attendees will gain practical strategies for recognizing and overcoming these patterns, promoting long-term mental wellbeing. Her workshop is entitled “Restoring Resilience with Self-Compassion” This workshop focuses on the concept of self-compassion as a tool for resilience among veterinary professionals. Attendees will learn about the importance of self-compassion, accompanied by practical exercises for everyday practice.
Further Conference Activities
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Session: This critical session explores strategies for promoting diversity and inclusivity in veterinary education. Participants will discuss ways to create a more inclusive learning environment and foster a sense of belonging among students.
- Recognizing Teaching Advancement (RTA) Initiatives: The RTA initiative emphasizes the value of high-quality teaching through peer review and quantification of teaching efforts. Participants will explore methodologies for recognizing and enhancing teaching quality in their institutions.
- The QTEE group’s workshop summary: The QTEE (Quantifying Teaching Effort and Effectiveness) Committee has developed a new calculator to determine the amount of annual effort (with components of quality) that faculty members dedicate towards teaching. This short workshop will introduce the components of the calculator, provide time to complete the worksheet on your own, and then gather feedback on accuracy and applicability toward your own institution. Please join us to create the most accurate teaching effort calculator for the RTA.
The RTA’s collaborative approaches to shared educational challenges.
Look to get involved!
PLUS – networking and socializing with other educators.
