The Teaching and Research Commons (TREC) is a collaborative initiative of Academic Technology Services (ATS), Douglas Educational Support Community (DESC), the Library and Learning Centre, and the Research and Innovation Office (RIO). It aims to create an open, visible, and centrally located physical space for faculty to access an array of coordinated teaching, research, and learning supports in person at NW and CO libraries.
TREC partners include the Community of Practice for Instructor Well-Being and Effective Teaching, Indigenous Academic Initiatives, and Student Affairs & Services.
Consultation services
TREC builds on the success of a wide range of existing consultation services and now provides options to access them under one roof! In-person consultation services for faculty include:
- online learning design and instructional technology integration
- pedagogical approaches in the classroom, with a focus on indigenization, accessibility, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
- digital and information literacy, writing, and learning support in the classroom
- course materials assistance through open educational resources (OER), zero textbook (ZTC) alternatives, and course reading list support
- research funding and dissemination, research data management, and publishing support
Faculty development and research events
ATS, DESC, LR, and RIO currently offer a wide range of events and learning opportunities for faculty. Going forward with TREC, we will be coordinating professional development events, focused activities, and guest speakers on:
- teaching best practices
- application of educational technology to teaching
- copyright, privacy, GenAI, and more
- research practices, methods, and developments
Resource centre
A physical and virtual library of resources to support faculty in their teaching and research activity at the College will be developed over TREC’s first year.
Spaces
- N2100D - RIO
- N2100C - Consultation space for EdTech and Pedagogy Coordinator, ATS Learning Designers, and other TREC collaborators
- N2100B / B1307 - Shared spaces for faculty development events
- N2100A / B1307 - Shared spaces for faculty development events requiring hands on technology learning
General TREC inqueries
Nathan Hall - Coordinator, Educational Technology & Pedagogy
Richa Dwor - Coordinator, Research and Innovation Office
Tim Paul - Manager, Academic Technology Services
Trish Rosseel - Director, Learning Resources
Partners
Community of Practice for Instructor Well-Being and Effective Teaching
Indigenous Academic Initiatives
Student Affairs & Services