• 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,…

  • Introducing the Faculty PLNNet (“planet”) project

    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…

  • Metacognitive Teaching Strategies: Ways to Help Students Learn about Learning

    This past week I hosted a community of practice group for teaching faculty members on the topic of metacognition. They were asked to skim/read over a variety of articles/videos/web summaries (see bit.ly/17fHXHD for the resources). We then made a list of the various ways we could incorporate metacognitive activities into our classrooms. Here is a…

  • Metacognition: Valuable Resources on Thinking about Thinking

      I am fascinated by the field of metacognition. I am fascinated by this notion of ‘learning how to learn’ because I don’t think I really understood learning until I became a teacher. I know I didn’t understand the learning process and I know I didn’t truly know how to reflect and monitor my learning…

  • Mobile Education – Lessons from 35 Education Experts on Improving Learning with Mobile Technology

    Mobile Education – Lessons from 35 Education Experts on Improving Learning with Mobile Technology

    Mobile Education – Lessons from 35 Education Experts on Improving Learning with Mobile Technology from Studio B Productions, Inc. This is a great presentation (which actually reads like a book) providing a number of excellent ideas for using educational technology to improve student learning and experiences.  A group of 35 experts from around the world,…

  • Book Review: The Courage to Teach

    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…

  • Ten Tips for Producing Online Educational Videos

    Ten Tips for Producing Online Educational Videos

    At the recent Kaltura Connect conference Wendy Collins, VP, Digital Strategy for Infobase Learning presented on Taking Online Video to the Next Level: 10 Tips for a More Engaging and Effective Video Experience.  This presentation was filled with ten great tips for preparing for your next video project. 1. Ensure the best possible quality –…

  • Kaltura Connect 2013: The Video Experience Conference

    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 &…

  • How to compress images in PowerPoint when it seems like things are getting sluggish.

    If it seems like your PowerPoint files have gotten very heavy & extremely slow to publish, then compressing the images might help. An image can really add up the memory usage fast. There is a function in PowerPoint that can allow you to compress your images. By setting PowerPoint to compress your pictures, you can…

  • To Tweet or Not to Tweet

    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…

  • TEACH – Primetime TV Show Showcases Teachers

    Rarely do you find primetime television spending two hours showcasing the struggles of teachers and providing an indepth view of what it is like (really like) to be an elementary or secondary teacher in today’s classrooms while experiencing meaningful learning in students. On Friday, September 6, CBS aired a 2 hour documentary called “TEACH“….and it…

  • CIEL First Ever Open House October 10!

    On Thursday October 10, the Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Learning (CIEL) will have an open house of its facilities, resources, services and personnel from10 a.m. until 4 p.m. We are located on the 5th floor of the library. The Centre is planning a very active open house intended to give the Vancouver Island…