Teaching
I believe that play and fun have a rightful and important role in in the classroom. But much to the detriment of both faculty and students, discussions about fun and closely related concepts are notably absent from the scholarship of learning in higher education. Together with my colleague T. Keith Edmunds, I created the concept of ludic pedagogy in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic. From the Latin ludere, “to play,” this model focuses on creating positive, fun experiences while maintaining academic rigour. Ludic pedagogy combines the related concepts of fun, play, playfulness, and positivity to establish a context for a positive, effective learning environment.
My teaching portfolio includes a variety of skills-based courses, such as Listening (Special Topics) and Public Speaking, as well as those that are more exploratory such as Communication Ethics and Nonviolent Communication.
In each of these courses, I use a variety of approaches to using technology (for feedback, in-class research, or out-of-class preparation), and interactive activities (such as using Instagram for introductions in first year, anonymous participation, and an exercise in getting as frustrated as possible when creating challenging origami designs in fourth year).
I am a keen user of new technologies such as Mote (for student feedback) and Perusall (for socially-informed reading and discussion).
I am the recipient of a variety of teaching awards, including the UOIT Faculty Teaching Award (twice), the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities Teaching Award (twice), and the university's Student Mentorship Award (2020).
In 2019, I taught Ontario Tech's first alternative delivery course which included a 3-day, off-site camping trip to explore course concepts in a new and supportive environment.
I serve as a leader in higher education pedagogy by sharing how I practice teaching and how I cultivate the best teaching and learning environment possible. - Dr. Sharon Lauricella
Media Appearances
Lauricella, S. & Small, E. (2022, 19 November). This is not a TikTok trend: Undergraduate student mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. AWARD: Top Paper, Undergraduate College and University Section. National Communication Association annual convention, New Orleans, LA.
Lauricella, S. & Edmunds, T. (2022, 26 May). Introducing fun, play, positivity, and playfulness into online learning: The ludic framework. Redefining Learning and Education in a Digital Age, Faculty of Education, Ontario Tech University.
Lauricella, S. & Kay, R. (2022, 25 May). Shifting reading to a social constructed activity: A case study on Perusall. Redefining Learning and Education in a Digital Age, Faculty of Education, Ontario Tech University.
Kay, R. & Lauricella, S. (2022, May 25). Examining the benefits and challenges of using Discord in online higher education. Redefining Learning and Education in a Digital Age, Faculty of Education, Ontario Tech University.
Craig, C., Jovanovic, P., Kay, R., & Lauricella, S. (2022, May 25). Exploring teaching strategies for virtual reality in higher ed. Redefining Learning and Education in a Digital Age, Faculty of Education, Ontario Tech University.
Lauricella, S. (2022, 24 May). “You’re toxic, I’m slipping under”: Student connections via mental health on Twitter. Redefining Learning and Education in a Digital Age, Faculty of Education, Ontario Tech University.
Kay, R. & Lauricella, S. (2022, 24 May). Exploring the use of audio feedback in online learning: A case study. Redefining Learning and Education in a Digital Age, Faculty of Education, Ontario Tech University.
Lauricella, S. (2022, May 24). Feminism is not a joke. But it can be funny. Feminist Pasts and Futures. York University Centre for Feminist Research.
Lauricella, S. (2022, May 20). “Mental health is so important! Good luck! 🍀 Don’t be sad! 🥲”: Student life via TikTok before, during, and… still during COVID-19. Canadian Communication Association (Federation for the Humanities and Social Science Congress).
Lauricella, S. (2022, May 17). “Students feel more dignified”: Alternative grading and self-assessment in Online Courses. OTESSA (Federation for the Humanities and Social Science Congress).
Lauricella, S. (2022, May 11). Keynote address: Ungrading 101: Five (feasible) ways to buck the grading grind. Duke University Pandemic Pedagogy Research Symposium.
Lauricella, S. & Edmunds, T. K. (2022, February 3). An introduction to Ludic Pedagogy: engagement, creativity, and fun in higher education. 4th Annual ISSOTL Conference: Lausanne, Switzerland.
Lauricella, S. (2021, 9 December). “This is a tough time for you, but we aren't gonna help at all”: Student TikTok videos 😳 during the COVID-19 🤧pandemic. Innovations in Education Conference, MacPherson Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario.
Lauricella, S. (2021, October 27). Grading for equity, diversity, and inclusion: How to reconsider assessing students. Maskwacis Cultural College Continuing Education, Four Nations of Maskwacis, Alberta.
Select Conference Presentations
Lauricella, S. & Edmunds, T. K. (2021, March 10). COVID-19 stressors invite a serious look at fun in higher education. Inside Higher Education. Retrieved from https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2021/03/10/importance-injecting-fun-and-humor-classes-opinion
Edmunds, T. K. & Lauricella, S. (2021, 23 April). Ludic pedagogy: Schooling our students in fun. Faculty Focus. Retrieved from https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/philosophy-of-teaching/ludic-pedagogy-schooling-our-students-in-fun/
McMurtrie, B. (2021, October 14). Teaching: Your pandemic teaching tips. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved from https://www.chronicle.com/newsletter/teaching/2021-10-14
Caillou, A. (2021, May 18). “Cheugy,” ces millenariaux demodes. Le Devoir. Retrieved from https://www.ledevoir.com/societe/602321/reseaux-sociaux-cheugy-ces-millenariaux-demodes
Ontario Tech University and Assiniboine Community College show how to have fun in online learning. (2021, May 10). Teach Online, Contact North. Retrieved from https://teachonline.ca/pockets-innovation/ontario-tech-university-and-assiniboine-community-college-show-how-have-fun-online-learning {This article was featured in the Academica Top Ten: https://www.academica.ca/top-ten/acc-ontario-tech-instructors-collaborate-ludic-learning}
Ripton, J. (2021, April 27). How text and voice apps are changing student engagement. eSchoolNews. [Featured quotes]. Retrieved from https://www.eschoolnews.com/2021/04/27/how-text-and-voice-apps-are-changing-student-engagement/2/
Renfrow, J. (2021, March 31). Instructors embrace voice technology to better student engagement. Fierce Education. [Featured quotes]. Retrieved from https://www.fierceeducation.com/best-practices/instructors-embrace-voice-technology-to-better-student-engagement
Broken Language. (2021, March 27). Spirituality ‘n hip hop. Podcast. Season 2, Episode 2. Apple Podcasts. (Audio Interview).
Lauricella, S. (2020, December 6). Online experience will benefit Ontario Tech Students in Future. DurhamRegion.com. [Opinion-editorial]. Retrieved from: https://www.durhamregion.com/opinion-story/10275754-online-experience-will-benefit-ontario-tech-students-in-future/
The Department [Podcast]. (2020, March 2). Season 1, Episode 2. (Audio interview).
Lauricella, S. (2020, April 5). Final episode of Durham Region’s own Schitt’s Creek April 7: Sharon Lauricella says comedy series is about love, loss, and hope. [Opinion-editorial]. Durham Region Metroland. Retrieved from: https://www.durhamregion.com/opinion-story/9921466-final-episode-of-durham-region-s-own-schitt-s-creek-april-7/
Dey, K. (2020, March 30). Gen Zers and Millennials can help us fight coronavirus despite bad rap for taking pandemic lightly, experts say. Media/Entertainment/Arts WorldWide. [Featured quote]. Retrieved from https://meaww.com/despite-coronavirus-guidelines-gen-zers-millennials-fight-spread-misinformation-experts
Lauricella, S. (2020, February 12). Snap and chat: A visionary perspective on social media trends. (Opinion-Editorial). Durham Region Metroland. [Opinion-Editorial]. Retrieved from https://www.durhamregion.com/opinion-story/9851241-snap-and-chat-a-visionary-perspective-on-social-media-trends-in-the-2020s/
Lauricella, S. (2019, November 7). Get outside and listen: Ontario Tech faculty member has a creative approach to teaching and learning. [Opinion-Editorial]. Durham Region Metroland. Retrieved from: https://www.durhamregion.com/opinion-story/9675535-get-outside-and-listen-says-sharon-lauricella/
Lauricella, S. (2019, December 4). Putting the concept of final exams to the test: Ontario Tech researcher says there’s a better way to evaluate academic achievement. (Opinion-Editorial). Durham Region Metroland. [Opinion-Editorial]. Retrieved from https://www.durhamregion.com/opinion-story/9747764-putting-the-concept-of-final-exams-to-the-test/
Chhetri, P. (2019, May 3). Gentleman Jack’s LGBTQ content may be great but TV still lacks a proper conversation around representation. [Featured quote]. Media/Entertainment/Arts WorldWide. Retrieved from https://meaww.com/lgbtq-tv-shows-and-representation-gentleman-jack
Chhetri, P. (2019, May 8). Avengers Endgame’s nod to LGBTQ wasn’t enough but there’s hope and here’s why. Media/Entertainment/Arts WorldWide. [Featured quote]. Retrieved from https://meaww.com/avengers-endgame-lgbtq-representation-change-millenials-captain-marvel-the-elementals-movies-he-man
Sunil, A. (2019, April 30). How black feminist writers contributed to Beyonce’s “Homecoming” celebration of African culture. Media/Entertainment/Arts WorldWide. [Featured quote]. Retrieved from https://meaww.com/beyonce-homecoming-netflix-documentary-beychella-coachella-black-culture-african-authors-feminism
Want to know how I do it? Here are two of my syllabi.
These syllabi aren't the same as hanging out in one of my classes, but they will give you a good sense of the spirit of my teaching, together with how I do it.
The Struggle is Real: Communication for Conflict Resolution and Peace
This is a fourth-year course. It gives a lot of freedom for creativity and for students to express themselves in the way(s) that they think are best for them. This course uses ungrading and includes an explanation of what ungrading is and why I do it. All weekly "readings" are available free online -- no textbook.
Please contact me directly for a copy of this syllabus.
Communication Ethics
This is a third-year course. It uses all open sources and does not require a textbook. In this class, students used Medium to post responses to case studies. This course uses ungrading and includes an explanation of what ungrading is and why I do it. Please contact me directly for a copy of this syllabus.