Conference theme and discussion threads

Reassessing Assessment in Postsecondary Education 

Assessment, the process of gathering and interpreting information about student learning, guides student learning and shapes our teaching in higher education. Effective assessment strategies are central to meaningful, equitable, and engaging learning experiences.

Ten years ago, the Conference for Postsecondary Learning and Teaching was themed around Assessment. At that time, discussions centered on the adoption of Learning Management Systems and digital tools for grading, a renewed focus on learning outcomes, and new evaluation methods for diverse and collaborative projects – topics that in hindsight seem more evolutionary than revolutionary considering the decade that would follow.

The abrupt shift to emergency remote learning  , the emergence of Generative AI, rapidly changing student demographics, and overdue attention to equity and justice in education all raised questions about how to design assessments that recognize the lived experience and unique learning journey of each student while being mindful of faculty well-being.

Reflecting on ten years of change, exploration, and hard work, we were led to this year’s conference theme “Reassessing Assessment in Postsecondary Education."

The 2025 University of Calgary Conference on Postsecondary Learning and Teaching invites all those involved in student learning -- including academic staff, staff supporting instruction, academic leaders, administrators, students, postdoctoral scholars and community members -- to explore the changing landscape of assessment in post-secondary. Our conference will explore how shifts and innovations have inspired change, exploration, and most of all, improvements to student assessment.
 

The following guiding questions are provided for further inspiration:  

• How might we encourage, design and enact more equitable, inclusive, and accessible assessment practices? 
• Which assessment strategies are most effective in large enrolment classes? How can we provide meaningful and timely assessments? Is it possible to scale assessments to meet the needs of large enrolment classes?
• What role does new technology, particularly generative AI, play in assessment practices, and how can we ensure it is used ethically and supports equity and accessibility for all students?
• How can digital tools be used to enhance authentic assessment of learning? To help with instructor workload? To provide richer feedback?
• How is assessment changing alongside classroom demographics?
• How can we support and uphold academic integrity in a changing assessment landscape? 
• What are we learning about assessment strategies and the mental health and wellness of both students and course instructors?
• What does meaningful assessment look like in experiential learning opportunities including labs, coops, research projects, etc.? 
• In what ways can we involve students in the assessment process to foster a deeper understanding of their own learning and encourage self-reflection?  
• How can we design more practical, sustainable authentic assessments given the constraints of our current systems?
• What is the relationship between course and program-level learning outcomes and grading processes?
  
   

The following conference threads represent cross-cutting issues related to teaching and learning in postsecondary education. These threads do not change year-over-year and provide presenters and delegates with an opportunity to further customize their conference sessions and experiences: 

• Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility: Equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility (EDIA) are about valuing human difference, removing barriers that impede equal access, and ensuring that all learners and educators can participate meaningfully. This thread explores creating equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible learning and teaching opportunities so that all voices are heard, respected and valued. 
• Blended and Online Learning: Blended and online courses and programs provide unique opportunities to support student engagement, interaction, access, and success. This thread explores the pedagogy, practice and scholarship of intentional blended and online course design that centers students’ learning and engagement in blended and online learning environments. 
• Experiential Learning (EL): Experiential learning is learning-by-doing that bridges knowledge and experience through critical reflection. This thread explores how EL activities can be intentionally designed and assessed, to empower students and enhance skills such as complex problem solving, professional practice skills, critical reflection, and teamwork. 
• Indigenous Perspectives: Indigenous perspectives honour the histories, knowledges, methodologies, pedagogies and practices of Indigenous peoples and create shared understandings of truth and reconciliation. This thread explores how to advance Indigenous ways of knowing, being, doing, and connecting in postsecondary education.   
• Interdisciplinary Collaborations: Educators and students often view learning through their own disciplinary lenses. Understanding these lenses forms the foundation of the interdisciplinary collaboration necessary for solving complex world challenges. This thread examines what this learning looks like in the different disciplines, and in the spaces where different disciplines meet.    
• Learning Partnerships: Learning is a reciprocal process at the course, program and curriculum levels for educators and students. This thread explores what meaningful educator and student partnerships can look like in various teaching and learning contexts.   
• Learning Spaces and Technology: Technology facilitates the discovery of knowledge, expression of voice and collaboration across space and time. Physical and virtual learning spaces are critical components of our academic communities, which influence how educators and students collaborate, connect, adapt, and access teaching and learning. This thread explores the impact of learning spaces and technologies on our teaching and learning communities, cultures, and practices. 
• Mental Health and Wellbeing: The construction of safe, caring learning environments that embrace diversity and collaboration is essential for nurturing creativity and the development of resilient and flourishing individuals and communities. This thread examines how teaching and learning communities, approaches and practices can promote mental health and wellbeing across multiple organizational levels.
• Sustainability: Universities are strongly positioned to address opportunities and challenges related to sustainability, locally and globally. This thread explores how educators and students can contribute to teaching and learning practices and approaches related to sustainability, as well as how we promote sustainable teaching and learning practices, across diverse postsecondary contexts.    
• Teaching and Learning Research, Scholarship and Inquiry: Scholarship, research and inquiry related to supporting teaching and student learning across multiple organizational levels can lead to transformative change. This thread explores the possibilities, challenges and outcomes related to supporting engagement in teaching and learning research, scholarship and inquiry.