Report Library
Final Examination Scheduling (2025)
This report was prepared for the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Teaching and Learning (SCUTL) in response to ongoing questions about the efficiency and evolving practices of final exam scheduling at SFU. The analysis includes data from Spring 2018 to Spring 2025, comparisons with practices at other universities, and recommendations for improving SFU’s exam scheduling process. The analysis suggests that there does not appear to be a clear pattern of in-person examinations being 'frontloaded'—that is, occurring more frequently at the beginning of the final examination period. This lack of a consistent trend also holds true when focusing specifically on large courses (over 100 students) or first-year (100-level) courses.
Learning Spaces: Instructor Consultation (2025)
Seeking to align future learning space planning with the practical needs of instructors, the Space Utilization and Planning Advisory Committee (SUPAC) partnered with LEAP. LEAP consulted with instructors of large (over 100 students) and medium-sized (30-50 students) classes to learn about their experiences in current spaces and to gather their vision for future classrooms. This included their preferences for classroom modalities, technology, and design. The consultations revealed that many classrooms have significant deficiencies, including unreliable Wi-Fi and power, cramped seating, and insufficient student desk space, among other insights.
Open Educational Resources & Practices (OERP) Survey (2024)
Collaboratively developed by the and LEAP, the Open Educational Resources and Practices (OERP) survey sought to understand how SFU instructors and staff use Open Educational Resources (OER) and Open Educational Practices (OEP), and their perceptions of open pedagogy. The survey was open to all instructors who taught from Summer 2023 through Spring 2024. Among other findings, the survey provided insights into the frequency of OER/OEP use, identified key benefits and challenges, and highlighted the specific support instructors needed.
Class Size Trends for Selected Undergraduate Courses (2018-2024) Report (2024)
This report was requested by Dr. Sheri Fabian and summarizes information about class size trends between the academic years 2018–19 to 2023–24, including only the following faculties and departments at her request: Faculty of Applied Science (FAS), Beedie School of Business (BUS), Faculty of Education (EDUC), Faculty of Science (SCI), Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology (BPK), Criminology (CRIM), and English (ENGL). The analysis specifically on summarizing and comparing class sizes of courses that follow a "typical" delivery structure (i.e., lectures, seminars, online courses) with more than 5 students.
Blended Learning Assessment (BLA) (2022)
In Spring 2022, SFU piloted blended courses, a new format combining in-person and online instruction to provide greater flexibility. To gather feedback on this new model, LEAP launched the Blended Learning Assessment (BLA) survey. This two-part survey captured instructors' experiences before the term began and collected feedback from students, teaching assistants, and instructors at the end of the semester. The survey results provided key insights into the benefits and challenges of the blended course format from the perspectives of all three groups.
Learning Experience Transition Survey (LETS) (2021)
To prepare for the transition from fully-remote learning to more in-person classes starting in Fall 2021, LEAP launched the Learning Experiences Transition Survey (LETS) to capture student perspectives. The survey, which reached both undergraduate and graduate students, was designed to understand their views on returning to campus and to identify successful elements of remote learning that should be continued. Among other topics, the survey explored student preferences on synchronous versus asynchronous learning, which course activities should be held online or in person, and which course components they found most valuable during the remote learning period.
Student Online Learning Experiences (SOLE) Survey (2020)
In March 2020, 91ÅÝܽ (SFU) transitioned to remote learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To help instructors prepare for this new environment, LEAP launched the Student OnLine Experiences (SOLE) survey. This project gathered direct student feedback on what was working well and what could be improved. The resulting report highlighted successful teaching practices, identified areas where students were struggling, and offered insights to help instructors refine their teaching plans.
General Education Curriculum Review (GECR) (2020-2023)
As part of SFU's General Education Curriculum Review, LEAP consulted with SFU faculty members, advisors, and the library. This comprehensive analysis evaluated how well the Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth (WQB) course model meets the university's curricular and student experience goals. The review also assessed the support systems available to students, instructors, and staff to ensure student success in meeting these general education requirements. The findings informed the recommendations of the General Education Curriculum Review Committee, which were subsequently approved by the Senate in 2023.