Welcome to the January 2019 issue of Innovatus

Experiential Education Symposium highlights benefits of hands-on experience
The symposium, organized in partnership with the Office of the Associate Vice-President, Teaching and Learning and the York University Libraries, took place Jan. 22 in the Scott Library Collaboratory. The event offered students, faculty, staff and University partners an opportunity to discover how varied experiential education can be and the ways in which it adds depth to the academic experience. Click here for the full story.

Psychology students praise course that helps develop professionalism and communication skills
The course, “Professionalism and Communication in Psychology,” helps students develop the skills they need to pursue a graduate school education. By integrating self-directed and experiential learning, the course assists students in developing the capacity for self-reflection, communication and working with others. Click here for the full story.

Second-year Space Engineering student launching her dreams this April
For Megan Gran, a second-year space engineering student in the Lassonde School of Engineering, the combination in-class learning, supportive faculty and extracurricular programming will see her take an active role in an upcoming rocket launch in Norway. Click here for the full story.

Simulated Person Methodology bridges theory to practice in social work
How can we best prepare undergraduates for clinical practice in social work? How can we scaffold experiential learning in social work? One approach is to use Simulated Person Methodology to enhance theory-to-practice training for students. School of Social Work Associate Professor Maria Liegghio and Field Education Manager Vina Sandher document their experience using SPM to enhance student learning. Click here for the full story.

Trip to Humber River gives students an opportunity to learn from the land
Teacher candidates in the Faculty of Education course “Pedagogy of the Land” recently had an opportunity to learn from the land during a visit to the Humber River in Toronto. The course explores Indigenous understandings of land as first teacher and the implications of such understandings for all. Click here for the full story.

Innovatus is produced by the Office of the Associate Vice-President Teaching & Learning in partnership with Communications & Public Affairs.