Two educational developers have been appointed to the Teaching Commons at York University. In their new roles, Yelin Su and Ellen Sims will provide pedagogical support to York faculty.
"I am delighted to welcome Yelin and Ellen to the Teaching Commons," says Celia Popovic, director of the Teaching Commons. "They bring a wealth of complementary skills, knowledge and enthusiasm, which will help us in our mission to inspire excellence in teaching and learning through engaging individual teachers, programs, Faculties and the University as a
whole in collaborative dialogue and reflective practice."
Yelin Su
Prior to her appointment to York’s Teaching Commons, Su was a teaching & learning officer in the Centre for Holistic Teaching & Learning at Hong Kong Baptist University. She obtained her doctorate in education in instructional technology from Texas Tech University.
Su’s expertise is in providing pedagogical support and consultations for university teaching staff working in classroom and online learning environments. Her experience also includes designing and delivering faculty professional development programs and outcome based teaching and learning.
An active researcher in education, Su has designed, led and coordinated institutional research projects. Her personal research interests are constructive alignment, learning environments, student academic achievement, learning approaches and quality assurance.
Ellen Sims
Sims arrived at York University from the University of Arts in London, UK, where she was the program director of professional development, including the Master’s Program in Academic Practice in Art & Design. Prior to that role, Sims was seconded to the Creative Learning in Practice Centre for Excellence in Teaching & Learning, and was an educational developer and instructional designer at the University of Bristol, UK.
She began her career in education as a secondary and then tertiary teacher of art and design, having completed a BFA in drawing, painting and printmaking. Sims has a postgraduate teaching certificate from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She completed a master’s degree in education at the University of Bath, UK and is a doctoral candidate at the Institute of Education, University of London.
Her research and development interests include tertiary teaching in the disciplines (signature pedagogy) and interdisciplinary opportunities, the changing roles of academics and institutional response to professional development needs, student centred teaching, open educational practice and experiential education.
The Teaching Commons provides a supportive, responsive and collegial environment to encourage the engagement of faculty, staff and students in all aspects of teaching and learning.
For more information or to contact Su or Sims, visit the Teaching Commons website.