Teaching & Learning

Editor's Note: Alex Bonadonna is the son of PAC Communications Specialist John-Paul (J.P.) Bonadonna (BA Hons. ‘00). This is a first-person account of joining his son, now a pilot, for his first-ever passenger flight.

By John-Paul Bonadonna

When my son Alex Bonadonna was in Grade 11, his strengths seemed to point him toward a fairly conventional path.

As a student excelling in STEM, engineering seemed like the obvious direction.

The only problem — he wasn’t particularly excited about it.

By Victor Romao

Long before Karl Jirgens earned a PhD, founded an international literary journal or stepped into a university classroom, a high school teacher helped him see writing in a different light.

“Writing is just another medium with its own peculiarities,” he says, recalling a lesson from high school teacher Alan Bevan that would help shape a career spanning literature, publishing, visual art and education.

By Victor Romao

Long before stepping into a senior academic leadership role on Canada’s West Coast, Justin Langlois developed the foundations of a multidisciplinary practice at the University of Windsor.

Langlois (MFA ’09, BA Hons. ’07), now associate vice-president, research and dean of graduate studies at Emily Carr University for Art+Design, has built a career that blends art, research and community engagement, an approach rooted in his time as a student in Windsor.

By Kate Hargreaves 

Before the age of 15, 45 per cent of Canadian teens will experience dating violence. 

For educators who find themselves on the receiving end of disclosures, knowing how to respond can be daunting. 

That’s what motivated a new guide to help teachers respond to sexual violence disclosures in trauma-informed ways. 

By Kate Hargreaves

For the fifth year running, the University of Windsor’s Master of Sport Management and Leadership program has ranked first in Canada. 

By Kate Hargreaves 

Being a teacher is about more than getting kids up to speed on their reading, writing and math. 

Teachers also support students as they solve problems, build relationships, set goals and manage emotions. 

These skills are part of social-emotional learning (SEL), which takes place every day in elementary and secondary schools. But PhD researcher Elizabeth Szymanski (BA, ECE, BEd, MEd) says that teacher candidates don’t necessarily feel prepared to take it on. 

By Lindsay Charlton

Brushing the dust off and sifting through some old boxes during a bit of spring cleaning led one staff member to discover pieces of departmental history tucked away in her new office.

Monique Ritz took over the role of undergraduate program and student support secretary last October. While cleaning out her new office, she came across boxes filled with books, papers, a CBC Radio-Canada tape and other archival materials connected to the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (FAHSS).

By Victor Romao

MBA students at the University of Windsor's Odette School of Business gained insights into artificial intelligence governance and built professional connections at MBA Connect in July.

The annual experiential learning event in July brought together MBA students, Odette faculty, corporate partners, alumniand community leaders to discuss emerging business issues and create networking opportunities.

By Kate Hargreaves 

Dr. Jim Potvin didn’t know much about ergonomics when he was first hired to help the General Motors (GM) transmission plant in Windsor improve worker safety. 

He needed a summer job and had heard that the plant hired engineering students. Potvin, however, was a kinesiology student. 

By Sara Elliott

For Victoria Lessard, being a part of the University of Windsor campus for a week was an eye-opening experience. 

The Grade 11 student from St. Anne's Catholic High School, along with 59 other students from across Windsor-Essex, learned about a wide range of science career paths at the 13th annual Science Academy.