I first stood in-front of a class in the early 90’s. This was back when we still had chalkboards, and “no smoking” signs in the classrooms. Having a handful of papers (remember paper?) shoved in my face accompanied by the imperative, “here, teach that!” represented the totality of my training. So, I did what we…
As we gradually return to the classroom after almost two years of online teaching, you may be thinking about your teaching practice, perhaps creative ways to combine both in-person and online learning. If you are interested to develop a course in a blended format, and not very sure where to start, I hope to pique…
As 2021 was drawing to a close, I found myself reflecting on the challenges and successes of the past year and anticipating a more normal 2022. As we began the New Year, it was clear that it would not be normal, and I began to wonder what normal even is? The pandemic continues to challenge…
This week, Lesley and Seanna have teamed up to share some new thoughts on engagement. In the right hands, amazing things can be done with online activities, discussions, and assessments. The BIG DEAL though: yours are not the only hands. Engagement is grown by everyone in the class by taking our time in knowing and…
This blog post was originally written by Dr. Tannis Morgan, Advisor, Teaching and Learning and Researcher, Open Education Practices at BCcampus. We would like to thank Dr. Morgan for allowing us to repost her blog. You can find her other posts and work on her website: https://homonym.ca/ Link to original post How to teach online using…
Interacting successfully in diverse groups is recognized as a key competency for students globally in the 21st century (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 2005). Our globally diverse campus seems to be an ideal learning environment for the development of intercultural skills, as students with a wide range of international experiences study in our…
You have a team project in your course this semester. Should you encourage students to form their own teams? Or should you put them into groups? Will it make any difference in the overall outcome of the project? As you consider your decision, you might imagine the possible results of each scenario. If you put…
In a recent chat with a colleague and friend, he asked “what is the difference between the different labels for online learning, for example the difference between hybrid and blended and when does it meet criteria for fully online.” His question reminded me that for some this confusion about terminology alone is intimidating and a…
by: Gina Buchanan I am delighted to feature Alena Buis for our faculty profile series in our monthly newsletter. I had the opportunity to chat with Alena earlier this month and I am excited to share her story with you. “September 4, 2019. I arrived this morning for the first day of classes and parked…
In previous posts on Creative Learning, I summarized the spiral process of creative learning and the 4P’s: Projects, Passion, Peers and Play by Mitchel Resnick. In this post, I would like to contextualize some strategies that you can use to foster creative learning. Don’t forget to check out this open online course: Learning Creative Learning…