Dr. Carolyn Steele is an Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream in the Department of Humanities at York University. Dr. Steele’s research specializes in the NFB’s educational production unit Studio G, interactive and immersive art forms, the digital humanities, and modes of experiential education, especially community-based. Her interactive digital productions have received accolades nationally and internationally. She created the Humanities capstone course (Doing Culture HUMA 3207/4207 6.0), in which students gain real-world experiences in the cultural sector through course placements and community-focused projects, as well as Digital Humanities Sandbox (HUMA 4908 6.0) Digital Culture in the Humanities (HUMA 3140 6.0).

For several years, Dr. Steele has partnered with York University’s Media Creation Lab and Canadian virtual artist Bryn Oh in the development of a high-impact humanities course exploring immersive art forms in virtual and augmented reality (VR, AR), and Second Life (In Other Worlds HUMA 2205 3.0).

Grants
Received approximately $600,000 Academic Innovation (AIF) and Experiential Education grants to develop high-impact learning experiences. These include the SDGs-in-the-Curriculum Hub and Toolkit, and Envision YU.

Research Interests

• Humanities Award for Teaching Excellence - 2020
• Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching - 2020
• President’s University-Wide Teaching Award - 2022

Approach to Teaching

I focus on experiential education and knowledge/skill transfer. My courses are project-based, rather than essay/exam-focused, and offer rich hands-on learning opportunities. Regardless of the topic of the course, I seek to integrate real-world relevancy into my course design, which is grounded in a decolonial, social justice approach to learning.

Current Courses

Dr. Carolyn Steele is an Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream in the Department of Humanities at York University. Dr. Steele’s research specializes in the NFB’s educational production unit Studio G, interactive and immersive art forms, the digital humanities, and modes of experiential education, especially community-based. Her interactive digital productions have received accolades nationally and internationally. She created the Humanities capstone course (Doing Culture HUMA 3207/4207 6.0), in which students gain real-world experiences in the cultural sector through course placements and community-focused projects, as well as Digital Humanities Sandbox (HUMA 4908 6.0) Digital Culture in the Humanities (HUMA 3140 6.0).

For several years, Dr. Steele has partnered with York University’s Media Creation Lab and Canadian virtual artist Bryn Oh in the development of a high-impact humanities course exploring immersive art forms in virtual and augmented reality (VR, AR), and Second Life (In Other Worlds HUMA 2205 3.0).

Grants
Received approximately $600,000 Academic Innovation (AIF) and Experiential Education grants to develop high-impact learning experiences. These include the SDGs-in-the-Curriculum Hub and Toolkit, and Envision YU.

Degrees

Professional Leadership

Co-lead - Teach and Learning Working Group of York's Sustainability Taskforce
Co-lead - SDGs in the Curriculum Project
Co-lead - Envision YU

Research Interests

Awards

• Humanities Award for Teaching Excellence - 2020
• Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching - 2020
• President’s University-Wide Teaching Award - 2022

Approach to Teaching

I focus on experiential education and knowledge/skill transfer. My courses are project-based, rather than essay/exam-focused, and offer rich hands-on learning opportunities. Regardless of the topic of the course, I seek to integrate real-world relevancy into my course design, which is grounded in a decolonial, social justice approach to learning.

Current Courses