Open Doors on Teaching

Open Doors on Teaching is a professional development opportunity designed for university instructors who want to enhance their teaching practice through observation and dialogue. This initiative invites faculty members to step into the classroom of an award-winning educator, experience their teaching approach firsthand, and gain insights into effective strategies that engage and inspire students. 
Instructors can register to visit the classroom of select members of the President’s Teaching Academy (recipients of the President’s Teaching Award). Following the observation, participants join a reflective discussion with the instructor and peers to share impressions, ask questions, and explore practical ways to apply new ideas in their own courses. Open Doors fosters a culture of openness, collaboration, and continuous improvement; helping instructors learn from each other and enrich the student learning experience. 
January 21, 2027 
Andy Dicks, Professor, Teaching Stream, Chemistry, FAS 
CHM249H: Organic Chemistry (https://www.chemistry.utoronto.ca/undergraduate/current-students/undergraduate-courses#chm249h1-accordion-1) 
Class content: TBD 
Class: 3pm-4pm (in-person, SS 2117, Sidney Smith Building, 100 St. George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3) 
Post-Class Discussion: January 22, 2027 (LM 118, Lash Miller Building, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6), Time to be confirmed
Number of Students: 130 
Teaching Styles: Content delivery combined with interactive student problem-solving 
CHM249H is designed for Chemistry program students (specialists, majors and minors) who require an introductory class in organic chemistry. The course builds upon a pre-requisite taken during first-year studies, and has an associated weekly laboratory component.