EDI Seminar: Dr. Shannon Accettone
Apr 7, 2025
10:30AM to 11:20AM
Date/Time
Date(s) - 07/04/2025
10:30 am - 11:20 am
Title: Accessibility in Laboratory Education
Date: Monday April 7, 2025
Time: 10:30-11:20am
Room: ABB 102
Host: CCB EDI Committee
Abstract:
Dr. Shannon Accettone is an Assistant Professor and Associate Chair of Forensic Science at Trent University. She received her BSc in Chemistry and BEd in Intermediate/Senior Chemistry and Biology from Ontario Tech University. She obtained her PhD in analytical and materials chemistry from the University of Western. She started her teaching career in 2016 at the University of Trent and the University of New Brunswick. Dr. Accettone now holds the two highest teaching honours at Trent University: The Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Decanal Award for Teaching Excellence in the Sciences. She was the 2024 winner of the Margaret-Ann Armour Award for Early Career Chemistry Education. Her current research interests are pedagogical strategies in small and large-scale analytical and forensic chemistry classes, curriculum design for interdisciplinary authentic learning practices in analytical and forensic chemistry, and best practices for student assessment in analytical and forensic chemistry.
Biography:
Laboratory-based teaching is a fundamental and core component of chemistry education at the post-secondary level. However, for students who are differently abled or experience various degrees of impairment to senses such as vision and hearing, the laboratory space can prove difficult to navigate. The goal of this project is to break down barriers experienced by many students in the chemistry laboratory teaching space at Trent. Through the principles of universal design for learning (UDL), this project aims to support students with visual impairments, colour vision deficiencies, hearing impairments, physical impairments, and those who require the presence of service animals within the laboratory space. Specific focus will be placed on current initiatives to support students who require the presence of service animals within the laboratory.