Instructor Resources
Instructor’s Materials: Introduction
The instructor content was imagined and designed by the authors after consultation with members of the Ryerson instructor community, as well as extensive research into pedagogical best practices.
The authors, using the Design Thinking methodology, created materials based on the Medicine Wheel framework. This framework enabled the instructional design team and the authors to create supportive materials that best mapped to the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual needs of both instructors and students. The Design Thinking methodology is used to carefully imagine and map the pains and objectives of a given audience. It is typically done using a stepwise process that starts with empathizing with your target audience.
The authors based their decision-making upon the following understandings of how instructors might be motivated, sensing and empowered by materials.
Design Thinking asks that you imagine how your audience might be:
Thinking and feeling: Instructors are resource- and time-strapped, they want something easy to use, turn-key and with minimal need for rework
Hearing: That experiential, full-sensory and immersive learning is a powerful tool for pedagogy
Seeing: There is a limited (but growing!) pool of Indigenous educational resources; a limited sample of digital cultural heritage approaches and processes
Saying and doing: Instructors are looking for a way to bring this into existing coursework and do so in a way that is informed by Indigenous educational frameworks, and integrate the content into existing learning in a way that is engaging, informed and respectful
The instructional design team also mapped the pains and gains of this offering for secondary and postsecondary instructors. We heard that there is an increasing need to do more with less, instructors are often time- and resource-strapped but are ever-seeking a way to engage and connect their students.
Pain: Need to do more with less
Gain: Improve and enrich student experiences and understanding of course materials
Based on mapping an instructor’s journey, we have created the following resources.
Quick Links
Physical – Classroom Management Guide
Physical – Simulation Walkthrough
Emotional – Images and Questions
