Category: Learning Design
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Spring Semester Start Tune-up
As the season for teaching, grading, and planning next semester’s courses is upon us, we recognize that preparing for the semester ahead can be a challenging task. To support you in this endeavour, we’ve compiled a schedule of effective tips. Dedicating about an hour daily to these activities will help set you up for success…
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Learning to Learn Online: An Open Educational Resource (OER) for Students and Instructors
For months now, members of the CIEL have been shouldering questions about how to help students be effective online learners. Now, thanks to some student authors and the power of Pressbooks, the world of higher education is privy to a timely resource that provides tips for students (and instructors!) as they continue to transition to…
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Vancouver Island Team-Based Learning Institute (August 14-16, 2019)
**Information for Non-VIU Guest Registrants** August 14-16, 2019 | Vancouver Island University | Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada Tine Reimers and Bill Roberson of Vancouver Island University, and Jim Sibley of University of British Columbia will be your facilitators for the Institute. As users of Team-Based Learning (TBL) and authors of numerous TBL publications, they have coached hundreds of post-secondary instructors in the use of…
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VIU Students Saved $483,000 in Textbook Costs Since 2015
Open Textbooks Remove Some Barriers for Students to Learn Over half of B.C. students do not buy the required textbooks for a course, and over a quarter of potential learners choose not to register for a class due to excessive textbook costs.* Since Fall 2015, 21 Vancouver Island University faculty members have been using open…
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University Faculty Members Visit Grade 8-12 Classes: Building Connections
In an effort to promote a stronger connection between local high schools and Vancouver Island University, a Grade 8-12 Classroom Visit Initiative was created and piloted in October and November 2018. The idea arose out of conversations with university faculty keen to observe the learning environments from which their students came. The idea was supported…
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Tao of Marking: Caring For Students through Unmarking Your Courses
Photo by David Emrich on Unsplash The Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Learning at Vancouver Island University is putting on a series of activities this year about marking and grading. We are asking faculty to examine their marking and grading practices, and consider how best to align these processes with perspectives and techniques that make caring for…
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Introducing VIU’s Open Education Working Group
Photo by James Sutton on Unsplash The VIU Open Education Working Group (VIU-OEWG) brings together key stakeholders from across the institution to provide advice and support for VIU’s open education initiatives, which include the creation, adaptation, and adoption of open educational resources while embracing innovative open pedagogies. Email maxwell.stevenson@viu.ca if you wish to join this meeting. Meetings happen…
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Student Digital Learning Experience: Requirements for Learner Success at Vancouver Island University
Digital technologies are an essential part of student learning. The student digital learning experience encompasses the required technology services, supports, infrastructure, access and learning tools for ensuring graduates of post-secondary institutions have the necessary digital skills, knowledge and abilities to thrive in the world. Students need a robust, reliable, flexible, and accessible digital learning experience for…
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Grade 8-12 and VIU Classroom Visit Initiative
The Grade 8-12 and VIU Classroom Visit Initiative was a new offering of professional learning for Vancouver Island University campus community members (faculty, support staff, administration) to visit local high school classrooms (grades 8-12) in School Districts 68 and 69 and The High School at VIU. The initiative is now over for signing up. Initiative…
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D2L FUSION Conference: Key Take-Aways for Higher Ed
D2L’s annual FUSION conference (Reach Every Learner) for its customers was held July 19-20 in Las Vegas. This is a summary of the key take-aways for higher education faculty and support staff with a focus on Brightspace (D2L’s learning environment). Much of this info is also found on this Summer 17 release page: https://www.d2l.com/products-releases/summer-2017/ Daylight – Responsive…
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VIULearn Looks Different! Updated to a Modern Responsive Design!
When Vancouver Island University students and faculty members log in to VIULearn for the first time this Fall 2017, they will experience a change in the look and feel of the learning environment. On April 30, 2017 VIULearn was upgraded to “Daylight”, a new interface design that allows for the same experience regardless of your…
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‘Daylight’ Has Come and Gone: VIU’s Experience Moving to D2L’s New Responsive Design Interface
On April 30, Vancouver Island University switched its learning environment, called VIULearn, to the “Daylight Experience” from D2L. Daylight is a change in the look and feel (colours, buttons, icons, text), but it really updates the learning environment to one that is designed to be responsive/resizable to varied screen sizes and mobile devices. Daylight is…