Communication
We'll be
using Slack for our
class discussion forum this term. (New to Slack? Video
introduction here.)
Rather than emailing Elizabeth, post your question on
Slack or a direct message (DM) to Elizabeth on Slack
Slack set-up:
Course Policies
Safe Space Statement:
We are committed to nurturing a
space where students, teaching assistants, lecturers, and
professors can all engage in the exchange of ideas and
dialogue, without fear of being made to feel unwelcome or
unsafe on account of biological sex, sexual orientation,
gender identity or expression, race/ethnicity, religion,
linguistic and cultural background, age, physical or
mental ability, or any other aspect integral to one's
personhood. We therefore recognize our responsibility,
both individual and collective, to strive to establish and maintain an environment
wherein all interactions are based on empathy and mutual
respect for the person, acknowledging differences of
perspectives, free from judgment, censure, and/or stigma.
In keeping with the professional
culture of teaching and learning, the Faculty of Education
community believes that our teaching and learning spaces
should model such professional environments. As a
community, we are committed to creating authentic
opportunities where understanding of teaching
and learning is co-constructed between instructors and
students. In order for us to create
these learning environments, we are expected to
demonstrate awareness of, respect for and commitment to
the behaviours and actions of professionals. As members of
the Faculty of Education community, we are expected to be
accountable to ourselves and others and to be engaged,
collegial and accessible. By doing so, we are more fully
able to share together in the types of critical dialogue,
creative thinking and reflective practice expected of
professionals.
Scent Free Environment:
This classroom and
associated office hours are a scent
free environment. You must refrain from wearing
perfume, cologne and body spray in these spaces out of
respect for people with neurological & respiratory
issues that may be affected by these scents.
Academic Integrity:
McGill University values academic integrity. Therefore,
all students must understand the meaning and
consequences of cheating, plagiarism and other academic
offenses under the Code of Student Conduct and
Disciplinary Procedures” (see www.mcgill.ca/students/srr/honest/ for
more information).
Accommodations:
Students with disabilities who require accommodations
should discuss their needs with at least one of the
instructor and/or the Office for Students with
Disabilities (https://www.mcgill.ca/osd/).
Students who are pregnant and/or caring for a dependent
also often may find it helpful to receive academic
accommodations. McGill's guidelines for accommodations
for students who are pregnant and/or caring for a
dependent may be found at https://www.mcgill.ca/study/2018-2019/university_regulations_and_resources/graduate/gi_accommodation_pregnancy_caring_dependants
Missed Class Policy:
To make up a missed class without penalty, you must
inform me via DM on Slack with more
than 4 hours notice that you
cannot attend the class in question. If there are
other students missing the class I will pair you up to
make up the group discussions. Missed worksheets
should then be completed at home and submitted at the
start of the next class.
I do not require doctor's notes for missed classes,
because they are a drain on the health care system
(and sick students)! I also want to explicitly note
that I believe mental health is an equally valid
reason to miss a class. Other valid reasons for
missing class include: bereavement, personal crises,
care for a dependent, and presenting at an academic
conference.
Snow Day Policy:
In
the rare event that McGill closes the campus for a
snow day, we will still have class at the usual time
--- but online! I'll set up a Google Hangouts or
similar videoconference for class; information will be
posted on Slack. The snow day policy may be
invoked in the case of a strike on campus, pandemic, or
other extenuating circumstance.
Land Acknowledgment
This
course takes place on land which has long served as a
site of meeting and exchange amongst Indigenous
peoples, including the Haudenosaunee and Anishinabeg
nations. Want to help with decolonizing this land? Decolonizing
means returning the land to Indigenous groups. If you have the means,
you can help decolonizing efforts by donating to legal
efforts to return
land back to Indigenous groups and/or protecting Indigenous
lands.