Presentations

Upcoming

  • MacKinnon, S.L., Drew, R. & Striker, N.T. (2026). Rediscovering Purpose Together: Human Inquiry, AI  & Asking “Why?”. Paper to be presented at the 2026 Teaching Professor Online AI in Education Conference, December 2026. 
  • MacKinnon, S.L., Drew, R., & Striker, N.T. (2026). Human Inquiry, Artificial Intelligence & Asking  “Why?”:  Rediscovering Our Purpose in Teaching and Learning. Paper to be presented at the  22nd Annual Teaching & Learning Conference, Elon University, August 2026. 
  • MacKinnon, S.L., Drew, R., & Striker, N.T. (2026). Artificial Intelligence, Human Inquiry, & Remembering to Ask “Why?”: Rediscovering Our Purpose in Teaching and Learning. Paper to be presented at the 13th Annual Digital Pedagogy Institute (DPI) Conference, August 2026.

Previous

Conferences and Presentations Offered

  • MacKinnon, S.L. & Striker, N.T. (2025). Peer Collaboration, AI Innovation, and the Future of  Learning in Higher Education. Interactive workshop for the 2025 Teaching Professor Online Conference: Ready, Set, Teach! July 2025. 
  • MacKinnon, S.L. (2024). Developing the Mindsets & Skills Needed to Infuse the Montessori Classroom with Curiosity & Inquiry. Featured workshop at the annual Canadian Council for Montessori Administrators conference, Scarborough, ON, November 22nd, 2024. 
  • Dickieson, B., Drew, R., & MacKinnon, S.L. (2024). Authenticity and AI in the Classroom. Workshop  in the Lunch and Learn Series, UPEI Teaching and Learning Centre, November 6, 2024. 
  • MacKinnon, S.L. (2024). Reigniting Curiosity and Inquiry in Higher Education. Two-day intensive, interdisciplinary IBL workshop requested by the Horizon Project at the University of Montreal, Charlottetown, PE, May 20-21, 2024. 
  • Dickieson, B. D.G., (2024). “Leadership and Pedagogical Innovation for IBL: 
  • Teachers’ and Students’ Emotional Skills”. Workshop Leader, Les Bourses Horizon Séjour de Formation on Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL), hosted by the Curiosity and Inquiry Research and Collaboration Lab (CIRCL). May 22, 2024.
  • MacKinnon, S.L. (2023). Using the Question Formulation Technique to Define a Problem During Engineering Research Design. Invited workshop, UPEI Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering (Tyler Gallant), November 24th, 2023. 
  • MacKinnon, S.L. (2023). Reigniting Curiosity and Inquiry in Higher Education. Host of three-part book discussion, UPEI, Charlottetown, PE, October 16th, November 8th, & November 22nd, 2023. 
  • Archer-Kuhn, B. & MacKinnon, S.L. (2023). Applying Inquiry-Based Learning in Higher Education: How to Practically Support Students Throughout Their Inquiry Journey. Half-day pre-conference interactive workshop at the 2023 Society for Teaching and Learning In Higher Education Conference, Charlottetown, PE, June 13th, 2023. 
  • MacKinnon, S.L. (2023). Reigniting Curiosity and Inquiry in Higher Education. Host of two-part book discussion, UPEI, Charlottetown, PE, January 24th & February 7th, 2023. 
  • MacKinnon, S.L. (2017). Getting Creative with Inquiry: What do you do when you can’t do it the way it “should” be done?. Workshop presented at Curiosity and Inquiry Based Learning in Higher Education: A Working Conference, Calgary, AB. 
  • MacKinnon, S.L., Boyle, S.L., MacLeod, S., Dickieson, B., & Jakubiec, B. (2017). Curiosity, Inquiry & SoTL: Using Questions to Explore and Address Issues in the Student Experience of IBL in Higher Education. Workshop presented at the 2017 International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Conference, Calgary, AB.

Invited Talks

  • Striker, N.T. & MacKinnon, S.L. (2026). Peer Collaboration, AI Innovation, and the Future of Learning in Higher Education. Invited Talk at the 18th annual Transforming the Teaching & Learning Environment virtual conference, February 2026. 
  • Drew. R. E., (2025). Training Your Second Brain: What AI Can and Cannot Do for You. Invited Talk, International Student Office. Sept 9th, 2025.
  • MacKinnon, S.L. (2025). Infusing the Modern Day Montessori Classroom with Curiosity & Inquiry. Keynote speaker at the Fredericton Montessori Academy event The Power of Montessori in Atlantic Canada, June 4th, 2025. 
  • MacKinnon, S.L. (2024). Expanding Maria Montessori’s Vision: Infusing the Modern Day Montessori Classroom with Curiosity & Inquiry. Keynote speaker at the annual Canadian Council for Montessori Administrators conference, Scarborough, ON, November 22nd, 2024. 
  • Dickieson, B. D.G. (2024). Finding Your Motivation. Guest Lecture for Ryan Drew’s UPEI 1020-01: Inquiry Studies, UPEI. Oct. 29th, 2024.
  • Drew R. E. (2024). Animating a classroom with IBL: pedagogical activities. Invited talk, Les Bourses Fellows Horizon Louis Gagnon (avec University de Montreal). May 22nd, 2024.
  • MacKinnon, S.L. (2024). Reigniting Curiosity and Inquiry in Higher Education Part 2. Invited teaching talk. Acadia University, Online, January 10th, 2024. 
  • MacKinnon, S.L. (2023). Reigniting Curiosity and Inquiry in Higher Education Part 1. Invited teaching talk. Acadia University, Online, November 9th, 2023. 
  • MacKinnon, S.L. (2023). Reigniting Curiosity and Inquiry in Higher Education. Invited book club talk. Animal Welfare Community of Practice, Online, November 2nd, 2023. 
  • MacKinnon, S.L. (2023). Reigniting Curiosity and Inquiry in Higher Education. Invited teaching talk. Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB, October 24, 2023. 
  • MacKinnon, S.L. (2023). What it means to be a Learning Leader. Invited talk, Association of Atlantic Universities Annual Meeting, Universite de Moncton, NB, September 19, 2023. 
  • MacKinnon, S.L. (2023). Reimagining the Classroom, Invited Session Chair and Commentator, Acadia University Festival of Teaching and Learning, Wolfville, NS, August 28, 2023.  
  • MacKinnon, S.L. (2023). Reigniting Curiosity and Inquiry in Higher Education. Invited book club talk. Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB, August 14, 2023. 
  • MacKinnon, S.L. (2018). Let’s Get Curious. Welcome address for the Reigniting Curiosity and Inquiry in Higher Education Working Conference, Charlottetown, PE. November 2018. 
  • MacKinnon, S.L. (2018). Getting back to basics: Reigniting Curiosity in Children and Adults.Invited talk at the 2018 Summerside Arts in Motion- Chautauqua Festival, Summerside, PE, July 2018. 
  • MacKinnon, S.L. (2017). Reigniting the “Desire to Inquire”: The Role of Risk, Trust & Curiosity in Transformational Learning. Invited Address to the University of Calgary Psychology Department, Calgary, AB.
  • MacKinnon, S.L. (2017). Reigniting the “Desire to Inquire”: The Role of Curiosity in Transformational Learning. Invited Address to the University of New Brunswick Psychology Department, Saint John, NB. 
  • MacKinnon, S.L. (2017). Turning Students into Learners: “The Curiosity Project” & First Year Inquiry Studies. Invited Keynote Address at the Curiosity and Inquiry Based Learning in Higher Education: A Working Conference (A Collaboration between the University of Calgary and University of Prince Edward Island), Calgary, AB. 
  • MacKinnon, S.L. (2015). Reigniting Curiosity in the Classroom: “The Curiosity Project”. Workshop presented at the Right Question Institute’s “Students Are Not Asking Questions”: A Working Conference to Address a Fundamental Problem in Education, Boston, MA, USA. 
  • MacKinnon, S.L. (2015). Students Aren’t Asking Questions: Bringing the Question Formulation Technique to Life in the Classroom and Beyond. Workshop conducted at the UPEI Let’s Talk Teaching Day.  
  • MacKinnon, S., Silva-Opps, M, Sullivan, N., Starkman, C., Ralling, A., McIntosh, E., Mills, C, &  
  • Clowater, K. (2014). The Curiosity Project: The Benefits and Challenges of Creating Transformational Learning Experiences Through Intrinsic Motivation and Writing in Arts and Science Faculties. Workshop conducted at the Association of Atlantic Universities Teaching Showcase, Sydney, NS, October 2014.

Conference Posters

  • Dolphin, O. & MacKinnon, S.L. (2013). Going beyond resilience: Learning to Thrive over the course of  four years of undergraduate study. Poster presented at the Canadian Psychological Association National Conference, Quebec City, PQ.

Conference Presentations

  • MacKinnon, S.L., Rooseboom, T., & Smith, P. (2026). Beyond Resilience: Students’ experiences of  becoming thrivers after academic failure/challenge. Paper to be presented at the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Conference, June 2026. 
  • MacKinnon, S.L.  & Striker, N.T. (2026). The Future of Feedback: Student Perspectives on AI and Peer Approaches. Paper to be presented at the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Conference, June 2026. 
  • MacKinnon, S.L., Drew, R., Striker, N., Rooseboom, T., Smith, P., & Dickieson, B. (2026). Rediscovering Purpose Together: Keeping Humanity at the Heart of Teaching and Learning in the Age of AI by Asking “Why?”. Paper to be presented at the UPEI Teaching Community Conference, May 2026. 
  • Striker, N.T. & MacKinnon, S.L. (2025). The Feedback Equation: Peer Collaboration, AI Innovation, and the Future of Learning in Higher Education. Paper to be presented at the 32ndAnnual Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Summit at The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Kennesaw State University, September 2025. 
  • Striker, N.T. & MacKinnon, S.L. (2025). The Feedback Equation: Peer Collaboration, AI Innovation, and the Future of Learning in Higher Education. Paper to be presented at the 2025 Digital Pedagogy Institute, University of Waterloo. August 2025. 
  • Striker, N.T. & MacKinnon, S.L. (2025). The Feedback Equation: Peer Collaboration, AI Innovation, and the Future of Learning in Higher Education. Paper accepted for presentation at Science Atlantic, Fredericton, NB. May 2025. 
  • Drew R. E. (2024). Can you drum on the moon?: Integrating music education and inquiry-based learning. Presentation at Music and the Mind: Maritimes, Charlottetown, PEI. August 8th, 2024.
  • Drew R. E. (2023). Terra Inspira: Arts- and Inquiry-Based Learning as Catalyst for Climate Curiosity in PEI, Canada. Presentation at The Second International Conference on Small Island States and Subnational Island Jurisdictions, Oranjestad, Aruba. Oct 22nd, 2023.
  • MacKinnon, S.L. (2023). Using Inquiry to Enhance Student Engagement and Critical Thinking: The Question Formulation Technique and Reading with Purpose. Presentation at the 2023 Society for Teaching and Learning In Higher Education Conference, Charlottetown, PE, June 15th, 2023. 
  • MacKinnon, S.L. & Archer-Kuhn, B. (2022). Eight Fundamental Principles That Will Help Reignite Curiosity and Inquiry-Based Learning in Your Classroom. 2022 Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Summit, Kennesaw State University, Oct. 6-7. 2022. 
  • MacKinnon, S.L. & Archer-Kuhn, B. (2021). Trust is Key in Inquiry-based Learning in Higher Education: How do we build it between Students, Instructors & the Larger Community? Paper at the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning 2021 conference, Perth, AU, October 26-29, 2021. 
  • MacKinnon, S.L. (2021). “Reading with Purpose”: Activating curiosity and inquiry skills to enhance reading motivation, understanding, and discussion participation. Innovations in Teaching presentation at the 2021 Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Summit, Kennesaw University, October 8, 2021. 
  • Beltrano, N. R., Archer-Kuhn, B., & MacKinnon, S. L. (2021). A Rapid Systematic Review on Inquiry-Based Learning and Trust in Higher Education. Paper presented at the Taylor Institute Conference on Learning and Teaching. University of Calgary. May 2021. 
  • Archer-Kuhn, B. & MacKinnon, S.L. (2021). Creating a pedagogy of trust in higher education inquiry-based learning environments. Paper presented at The Qualitative Report’s 12th Annual Conference (TQR2021 online). Jan 12-15, 2021. 
  • Archer-Kuhn, B. & MacKinnon, S.L. (2020). Understanding Trust in Higher Education Inquiry-Based Learning Classrooms. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning China International Global Vision & Local Practice Conference. August 21-23, 2020.
  • MacKinnon, S.L. (2020). Reading with Purpose: Increasing engagement, understanding, discussion, and retention using active questioning during reading. Teaching Community Conference, Charlottetown, PE. May 5, 2020.
  • MacKinnon, S., & Archer-Kuhn, B. (2020). Building Trust: Supporting the shift from student to invested learner. National Conference on Students in Transition – National Resource Center, University of South Carolina, South Carolina, USA, virtual platform. October 13-16, 2020.  
  • Archer-Kuhn, B. & MacKinnon, S.L. (2019). Addressing Social Justice Through Inquiry-Based Learning. Paper presented at the European Association of Schools of Social Work Conference, Madrid, Spain, June 2019. 
  • Archer-Kuhn, B. & MacKinnon, S.L. (2019). Developing Trust in Students, Professors and the Process within Short-term Higher Education Inquiry-based Learning Environments. Paper presented at the Annual University of Windsor Teaching and Learning Conference, Windsor, ON. May,2019. 
  • Archer-Kuhn, B. & MacKinnon, S.L. (2019). Risk and trust in higher education inquiry-based learning environments: Student and faculty experiences. Empirical paper presented at MacMaster University’s MacPherson Institute’s Research on Teaching and Learning Within and Across the Disciplines Conference. Hamilton, ON. 
  • MacKinnon, S.L. & Archer-Kuhn, B. (2019). Building trust to support intellectual risk-taking in the classroom: The power of inquiry. Empirical paper presented at the British Psychological Society Annual conference, Harrogate, UK. May 1-2, 2019.
  • McCloud, P. & MacKinnon, S.L. (2018). Student Experiences of the Mindsets that Shape Learning Overcoming Fear of Failure, Over-Competitiveness, Lack of Trust, and valuing Quantity over Quality. Paper presented at the Science Atlantic Undergraduate Psychology Conference, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS. May 2018.
  • Archer-Kuhn, B. & MacKinnon, S.L. (2017). Innovative Teaching Strategies to Engage Students in Inquiry-Based Learning. Pecha Kucha presented at 2017 Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education conference, Halifax, NS. 
  • Boyle, S.L. & MacKinnon, S.L. (2017). Speed Bumps & Roadblocks: The Barriers and Challenges to Maintaining Curiosity and Inquiry Over Time. Paper presented at the 2017 Inquiry-based Learning Student-Led Conference. Calgary, AB. 
  • Boyle, S.L. & MacKinnon, S.L. (2017). Examining skill transference in the Curiosity Project. Paper presented at Curiosity and Inquiry Based Learning in Higher Education: A Working Conference. Calgary, AB. 
  • MacLeod, S. & MacKinnon, S.L. (2017). Transformative Learning Through Intrinsically-Motivated Inquiry: “The Curiosity Project”. Paper presented at the 2017 Inquiry-based Learning Student-Led Conference. Calgary, AB. 
  • MacKinnon, S.L. & Boyle, S.L. (2016). Speed Bumps or Road Blocks? Students’ Perceptions of Barriers to Learning & Developing Academic Resilience. Paper presented at the Association of Atlantic Universities Teaching Showcase. October 2016. 
  • MacLeod, S. & MacKinnon, S.L. (2016). Transformative learning: A phenomenological examination of university students’ experiences in a curiosity-focused classroom. Paper presented at the UPEI Multidisciplinary Graduate Student Research Conference. Charlottetown, PE.  
  • MacKinnon, S.L. & Starkman, C. (2014). Curiosity: What’s the Point of Getting Out of Bed Without It?. Presentation at the Fiona Papps Psychology Colloquium, UPEI. Charlottetown, PE.