Online Instructor Workshop on Threshold Concepts

Attention U of GH Instructors:

We are inviting you to an online workshop – “Threshold Concepts: Portals to Thinking about Curriculum”, which will take place  on Tuesday, February 18, from 1:00pm to 2:00pm via Teams.

Threshold concepts are foundational ideas within a discipline that transform a student’s understanding of the subject. These concepts can be challenging to master, but once understood, they open new possibilities for learning and application, making them critical “portals” to deeper knowledge and skill development.

An example of a threshold concept is “correlation is not causation.” When students first encounter this idea, they may struggle to separate two variables that appear related from the assumption that one causes the other. Understanding this concept transforms their approach to evaluating research: it encourages them to critically analyze studies, recognize potential confounding factors, and avoid drawing hasty conclusions. Once they fully grasp it, their entire approach to interpreting research fundamentally shifts.

We’ve invited Dr. Andrea Webb, from the Faculty of Education, University of British Columbia, to facilitate this workshop. Dr. Webb organizes the biennial Threshold concepts Conference – more information can be found HERE.

The learning objectives for this online workshop are as follows:

• Identifying and defining threshold concepts and their importance in curriculum development.
• Exploring strategies for incorporating these concepts into curriculum design to promote transformative learning experiences.
• Developing actionable insights on how to help students overcome common challenges when engaging with these concepts.

Please click the link above to register. You will be emailed the Teams meeting link upon registration. 

As educators at U of GH, your input and perspective are invaluable in shaping a curriculum that fosters deep and meaningful learning for our students. We encourage you to attend and bring your questions, ideas, and experiences.

If you have any questions about the workshop, please feel free to contact Alice Kim, Chair, Psychology.

We look forward to seeing you there!