Areas of Expertise | Projects

Globally-Networked Learning + Online Learning

Areas of expertise:

• Multi-site Program and Course Design, Implementation, and Evaluation

• Collaborative Assignments, Projects, and Outputs

• Partnership Development

• Technology Management

• Ethical Engagement across Global North-Global South between Higher Education, Community, and Civil Society

• Integration with Asynchronous Learning Environments

Projects:

• Co-Founder, Global Classroom for Democracy Innovation (2020): Integrated curricular and co-curricular project focusing on developing student capacity to engage in democratic processes and democracy education. In partnership with: Participedia; Stellenbosch University; Centre for Critical Development Studies, University of Scarborough; Vancouver Design Nerds, and Hart House. Role: Project Manager

• Building Inclusive and Critical Global Classrooms (2020): Development of pre-global classroom resources, training, and recommendations for faculty, staff, and students at the University of Toronto. Joint project with Professor Bettina von Lieres, Assistant Professor, Centre for Critical Development Studies, University of Toronto Scarborough. Role: Lead.

• Hart House Global Commons (2016-2023): An award-winning co-curricular program at the University of Toronto which brings together students from Canada, Colombia, France, South Africa, and the U.S.A to engage in real-time dialogue, learning, and perspective-sharing on pressing global issues. Role: Lead.

  • Year - theme (click theme below to view discussion guide):

    • 2016 - The Rise of a New Nationalism | 2017 - Achieving Peaceful and Justice-based Pluralism | 2018 - Building Better Societies: Gender Equality Matters | 2019 + 2020 - Climate Change and Climate Justice | 2021 - Innovations in Democracy

Presentations:

• 2023 - International Virtual Exchange Conference

• 2023 - International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching adn Learning (ISSOTL)

• 2022 - International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSOTL)

• 2021 - International Association of Student Affairs and Services (IASAS)

• 2019 - American Association of Colleges and Universities Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement Meetings, Fort Lauderdale, U.S.A.

• 2018 - University of Toronto SLPx - TEDx-Style Conference of Student Life Professionals, Toronto, Canada

• 2018 - Inclusive Internationalization Summit, Toronto, Canada

Marco has worked with the following higher education institutions to develop globally-networked programs, courses. summer institutes, and intensives:

Experiential Learning

In its simplest form, Experiential Learning (EL) can be described as learning by doing. At its best, EL activates the uniqueness of each learner and provides the conditions required for them to explore, reflect upon, and apply new learning, in a variety of scenarios.

Areas of Expertise:

• Supporting youth / student exploration of campus and community engagement opportunities.

• Supporting youth / students event design, implementation, and assessment for a wide range of public-facing panels, lectures, discussions, dialogues, and other event formats.

• Supporting youth and student development of holistic and critical leadership skills beyond classroom learning.

Projects:

2018-: Hart House Music Student Group. Role: Advisor

2016-: Hart House Global Commons Student Group. Role: Advisor

2013-2016: U of T Language Exchange. Role: Founder, Lead

2009-2010: Katimavik Vancouver. Role: Project Leader

2009: Literacy Through Hip-Hop. Role: Instructor

Facilitating Creativity and Community

Areas of expertise:

• Effectively engaging and building with youth, students, and community partners.

• Organic partnership development built on a relational framework.

• Creation of engaging events, workshops, and educative opportunities for a wide range of participants and age ranges.

Projects:

Hip-Hop Education (@ Hart House): Engaging with Hip-Hop both as a pedagogy and a culture to amplify and learn from the lived experiences of students and community. Hip-Hop education matters because it represents a powerful way to feel connected to ourselves and the people around us. Community, creativity, self-expression, and learning are all integral parts of Hip-Hop’s DNA. These pillars complement and expand on the existing goals of Hart House. We strive to enrich the lives of our students through the creative engagement with arts, culture, dialogue, recreation, wellness, and community-engaged learning. Role: Co-lead, Producer

Producers’ Circle: The Producers' Circle brings together beatmakers, producers, and music creators primarily from the U of T community in an informal and open space to share beats, songs, tracks, techniques, questions and ideas. The aim of these sessions is to create a supportive music production community of practice, dedicated to creative expression and artistic development. Whether starting our or a seasoned producer, it is meant to be an inclusive environment for music producers of all levels or anyone interested in music production. Role: Creator, Host, Facilitator

Music @ Hart House: Hosting and organizing a wide range of musical performances, concerts, alternative formats, and co-presentations with campus and Toronto and global community partners. Open Mics, Concerts. Workshops, and Jam Nights. Post-COVID-19, this will involve community-building and greater opportunities for collaboration and shared resources. Role: Advisor, Producer.