Category: General
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Why am I blogging…?
Why am I blogging…?! I have a love of learning and am attracted to smart people, so when the opportunity to blog was presented to me by the Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Learning at Vancouver Island University, I thought, “why not…?” Then it hit me, “I can’t write well enough to put my…
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A Memo from the Faculty PLNNet future
The Faculty PLNNet project was introduced via a concept outline in the previous post. Here is another way to think about it, as a “memo from the future” to new faculty several years from now when we are past the pilot stage and into a more operational steady state. To: New faculty From:…
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Once upon a time…
A couple of years ago, I attended a teaching and learning session with Liesel Knaack Director, Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Learning…and learn I did! It was a great session, and thus began my relationship with Liesel and her terrific team—they support my teaching and learning enormously. Hi! my name is Micki McCartney. I…
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Community of Practice for Community Engagement at VIU
Last week, Robin June Hood, Director of the Community- Based Research Institute at VIU, and I convened the first community of practice (CoP) for community engaged faculty. A community of practice (CoP) is a group whose members share a concern or a passion for a topic and who deepen their knowledge by interacting regularly (Wenger,…
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Introducing the Faculty PLNNet (“planet”) project
In the Faculty PLNNET project we are beginning to explore how Faculty Professional Learning and Knowledge Networks can enhance teaching and learning at VIU in two complementary ways: develop student capability to engage in professional learning through knowledge networks, and enable faculty to advance their teaching activities ‒ and student learning ‒ by participation in…
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Book Review: The Courage to Teach
I have just read The Courage to Teach by Parker J. Palmer, an incredibly powerful text reflecting on the essential role of the teacher. The book calls for inward reflection on behalf of teachers to examine their own motives and intent when approaching their practice. Early in the text Parker notes; “Teachers possess the power…
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Kaltura Connect 2013: The Video Experience Conference
I was fortunately able to attend the annual Kaltura Connect conference this year held in New York City at Chelsea Piers, September 30th to October 1st, 2013. Connect brings together thought leaders and technologists for two days to talk about everything video in education, media and corporate. Key trends discussed this year included mobile &…
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To Tweet or Not to Tweet
As an emerging practitioner in higher education faculty development, I’m encouraged to tweet in order to cultivate my digital presence. This phrase, digital presence, it sounds so sleek, so haute couture, and so very 21st century. But why do I need to have a digital presence? Especially when I’m still working on my…what is the…
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Fast and Furious Learning – An Overview of Desire2Learn Fusion 2013 – Part 2
The Post Conference After three long days full or learning, there was still the Post Conference to look forward to. The Post Conference sessions offered two full days of interactive, in-depth sessions for all levels of Desire2Learn users. These sessions were just as interesting and engaging as the regular conference sessions. Here is an…
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Fast and Furious Learning – An Overview of Desire2Learn Fusion 2013 – Part 1
For the past few months I have been busy converting a multitude of courses from Moodle to Desire2Learn at VIU. When I heard that I was going to have the opportunity to go to Desire2Learn’s Fusion 2013 (Website).I was ecstatic! Not only was I going to learn a great deal I was going to have…