This project, which focuses on enhancing student engagement in a particular type of class—the five-day block week course—will involve, engage, and benefit instructors from across the faculties while simultaneously allowing me to enhance my educational leadership skills. My initiative addresses a specific teaching and learning opportunity of interest to all faculties that already offer block week courses or that plan on offering them in the future. It will help instructors strengthen their teaching practice while improving student learning through increased engagement in these intense, accelerated classes. My project, which addresses several of the objectives and strategies identified in the Integrated Framework for Teaching and Learning, and which draws upon some of the goals outlined in the Academic Plan, further aims to raise the University of Calgary’s profile, both nationally and internationally, as an innovative institution that fosters excellence in teaching.

The major purpose of my Teaching Scholars Project, entitled “Enhancing Educational Leadership, Student Engagement, and Community Ties: The Untapped Potential of Block Week Courses” was to enhance student experiences and teaching approaches within the block week context at the University of Calgary. The generous funding, moral support, and knowledgeable feedback and guidance provided by the Taylor Institute and our unique Teaching Scholars Community of Practice enabled me to host workshops for colleagues teaching these unique and often challenging intensive courses. The workshops offered a rich opportunity for networking and exchanging ideas.

Since 2016, I have identified all courses currently taught in this format at the University of Calgary, and I have reached out to faculty across the disciplines. With the help of skilled research assistants, I have more recently identified block week and similar courses taught elsewhere in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, and global connections continue to be established. I have moreover created a website with resources for block week instructors, conducted interviews with students and faculty, and presented the findings of my research at local, regional, national, and international conferences. I was profoundly honoured when I received an award for my presentation at the University of Calgary’s annual conference on learning and teaching. I am currently reviewing my findings and writing articles for publications in various SoTL journals. The project has given me the tools to establish lasting connections that will be impactful far beyond the project end date in June 2019.

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