Bridging the Equity Gap with Evidence-Based Teaching

Date/Time
Date(s) - 11/07/2024
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Led by Mike Di Gregorio, Sumi Voora, & Allessandra Sferrazza

TopHat

Elevate your understanding of the dynamic intersection of education, technology, and equity in an interactive workshop with Top Hat! We know active and student-centered learning have been shown to improve student outcomes time and time again. Active learning in particular benefits all students, but offers disproportionate gains in reducing or eliminating achievement gaps for first-generation and underrepresented minorities, yet the adoption of evidence-based teaching practices has been uneven at best. Drawing on L. Dee Fink’s book ‘Creating Significant Learning Experiences’ and James Lang’s ‘Distracted: Why Students Can’t Focus and What You Can Do About It,’ we’ll explore how educators can leverage technology to apply these strategies and foster learning environments that are inclusive, engaging and equitable, even in the largest classrooms. We’ll discuss how our latest solutions are making it easier to transform course delivery while improving student support and engagement. Find out how these developments are impacting the learning journey and how technology is equipping faculty to address diverse student needs at scale.

Mike Di Gregorio leads the professional services & instructional design teams at Top Hat, and has been with the company since 2015. Before joining Top Hat, he was a very proud member of the McMaster University community, completing his PhD in Political Science at Mac where he was also a Sessional Instructor.

Sumi Voora is on the professional services team at Top Hat and has been with the company since 2019. She supports faculty, staff and centers for teaching and learning across North America with implementation, course design and optimization of Top Hat’s dynamic courseware. Prior to Top Hat, she held research and teaching assistant positions as a proud member of the McMaster Community, where she completed her undergraduate and graduate studies.

Allessandra (goes by “San” for short) is a Customer Success Manager at Top Hat, serving institutions and faculty primarily across Ontario and the East Coast. She serves as the primary contact for faculty and staff at McMaster University. She is committed to providing unwavering support to professors, helping them optimize their Top Hat experience and ensure their students benefit to the fullest. She has been with Top Hat for two years and possesses exceptional knowledge of the platform. Based in Hamilton, she’s also a proud McMaster University alumni!