Learning Opportunities 

📅 ETUG Fall 2023 Workshop: The Evolving EdTech User

November 10, 2023 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. 

The user experience for education technology has greatly evolved in the past few years, thanks to the pivot to online learning brought about by the pandemic. A range of hybrid approaches now exist for content delivery, and many more instructors than ever before are using technology to both assess and increase student engagement and accessibility. Learners’ actions, expectations, and goals have also evolved, leading to new opportunities and challenges for integrating edtech into learning. 

The Educational Technology Users Group (ETUG) Fall Workshop will meet online and examine these changes and the evolution of the edtech user. Presentations will focus on how student expectations have changed and how instructors can address them. The workshop will also look at faculty expectations when it comes to technology and the institutional support (e.g., teaching and learning centres, libraries) required to meet these expectations.

Learn more: ETUG Fall 2023 Workshop: The Evolving EdTech User

📅 FLO EdTech Sandbox Series

Monthly. Next session: November 15, 2023 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. 

In these two-hour livestream webinars, expert leaders will introduce and demonstrate cutting-edge, open, and free or low-cost educational technology tools, allowing you to experiment and gather exciting ideas for teaching activities. Our mission is to foster digital teaching innovation, encouraging faculty and staff to embrace emerging technologies with curiosity and openness, ultimately enhancing the learning experience for all.

Our November session features Lisa Gedak from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, where she showcase the power of Padlet. 

Learn more: FLO EdTech Sandbox Series

📅 Micro-credential Toolkit Story Spotlight: Education Pathways

November 16, 2023 | 12 - 1 p.m. 

Facilitated by story contributor Susan Forseille from Thompson Rivers University, this session will look at how micro-credentials intersect with education pathways. Susan will define Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) and apply it to micro-credentials. She’ll also explain the draft Critical Information Summary and its role in education pathways.

Learn more: Micro-credential Toolkit Story Spotlight: Education Pathways

📅 FLO Friday: Not ‘just’, but Just: Conversations on Diversity, Social Justice, and Culturally Responsive Teaching

November 17, 2023 | 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. 

This one-hour session will introduce you to useful resources and activities to learn from and hopefully use in your classroom. With examples of culturally responsive teaching practices, the workshop will invite you to reflect on your role as a change agent and to develop strategies for your teaching and learning context. We’ll examine the work of Drs. Özlem Sensoy and Robin DiAngelo on social justice; Dr. Betina Love on diversity in education; and Indigenous scholars such as Mi’kmaq educator Dr. Marie Battiste, Potowatomi educator Dr. Susan Dion, and Elder Willie Ermine, among others.

Learn more: FLO Friday: Not ‘just’, but Just: Conversations on Diversity, Social Justice, and Culturally Responsive Teaching

📅 Research Speaker Series

Monthly. Next session: November 21, 2023 | 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. 

Our fall 2023 Research Speaker Series offers participants and presenters an opportunity to learn and share knowledge and advocacy on research methods, approaches, and pedagogies when it comes to accessibility, access, Indigenous engagement, and equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in teaching and learning. 

Learn more: Research Speaker Series 

📅 FLO Lab: Anti-racism in Education: Strategies for Teaching in Post-Secondary Education

November 22, 2023 | 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. 

In this three-hour experiential session, you will explore the roots of systemic racism in post-secondary spaces and engage in discussions about how to create anti-racist spaces for teaching and learning. This session will also allow time for reflection and co-creation of strategies that focus on anti-racism. It is suitable for participants who are already exploring their teaching and/or course design practices and those beginning their journey in reflection and anti-racism.

Learn more: FLO Lab: Anti-racism in Education: Strategies for Teaching in Post-Secondary Education

📅 FLO Lab: Introducing a Climate-Kind Pedagogy Framework to Support Climate Education

November 29, 2023 | 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. 

In this three-hour session, you will be introduced to the novel climate-kind pedagogy (CKP) framework and its practical features. You will also explore key approaches to giving learners the competences for collaborative problem solving and decision making while encouraging action for ecology and cultural diversity. You will engage with tangible examples of CKP and explore ways to incorporate it in your own practice.

Learn more: FLO Lab: Introducing a Climate-Kind Pedagogy Framework to Support Climate Education

📅 Accessibility Bites Series

Monthly. Next session: November 30, 2023 | 12 - 12:30 p.m. 

This fall we are introducing a new series called Accessibility Bites. You often hear others talk about accessibility, but you’re not quite sure how to put it into practice (or maybe you just haven’t had a chance). These sessions are for you! We will go over topics like assistive technologies, image descriptions, PowerPoint, social media, and Word documents. 

Learn more: Accessibility Bites Series

📅 FLO MicroCourse: Bringing the Practice of Positionality into Teaching and Learning

December 4-8, 2023 | Asynchronous

Positionality refers to the dynamic relationship between an individual and their various personal and social identities, including gender, race, class, ethnicity, ability, and place. As facilitators, developing a positionality statement becomes a critical self-reflective practice that shows how your biases, histories, and intersectionality influence your teaching.

In this FLO MicroCourse, we will explore positionality statements and their role in the context of teaching and learning. We will also examine personal, place-based, and social identities and reflect how these layers influence your teaching practices.

Learn more: FLO MicroCourse: Bringing the Practice of Positionality into Teaching and Learning

📅 FLO Friday: Where to Position Positionality in Your Work

December 8, 2023 | 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. 

This FLO Friday session will build on several earlier BCcampus conversations about positionality. The University of British Columbia defines positionality as the dynamic relationship between an individual and their various personal and social identities, including gender, race, class, sexuality, ethnicity, ability, and place, among others. In this session you will discuss and evaluate the pedagogical role of your positionality statement. You will then develop and share a student-focused reflective activity that connects your positionality statement to the aim of helping students recognize and reflect on their own and their peers’ backgrounds and perspectives.

Learn more: FLO Friday: Where to Position Positionality in Your Work

A complete list of our upcoming events, archives, and resources are available on our website. 

Recommended Reading 

📘 Developing Policies for Generative Artificial Intelligence at Post-Secondary Institutions: What We Need to Consider

As post-secondary institutions grapple with GenAI in education, a report from the Canadian Digital Learning Research Association provides insight into where we are today and what the future could look like. The report’s findings and recommendations can help post-secondary institutions develop policies, develop support systems for educators, and create opportunities for ongoing discussions about ethical practices for GenAI in higher education.

Learn more: Developing Policies for Generative Artificial Intelligence at Post-Secondary Institutions: What We Need to Consider

Check out the latest news from BCcampus on our blog. 

Seeking Submissions

💻 Call for Open Content: Digital Literacy Project Phase 2

In partnership with the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills and the Digital Learning Advisory Committee, BCcampus is pleased to be leading the development of a collection of open materials to support digital literacy in B.C. post-secondary institutions. This collection will be made available to learners through an online repository.

We seek content submissions for inclusion in the collection that fulfill the requirements of the eight areas of digital literacy competencies identified in B.C.’s Post-Secondary Digital Learning Strategy. 

Learn more: Call for Open Content: Digital Literacy Project Phase 2

💻 Call for Proposals: BCcampus Research Fellows for 2024–2025

We invite research proposals from B.C. public post-secondary educators who are committed to exploring and improving student learning and eager to conduct and share research with others.

Our current area of research focus includes:

• Learning and teaching design, strategies, and practices
• Open educational practices
• Student access, accessibility, and engagement
• Indigenous research and practices

BCcampus Research Fellowships have an 18-month term, and grants are up to $6,000 each. 

This call for proposals closes November 7, 2023.

Learn more: Call for Proposals: BCcampus Research Fellows for 2024–2025

💻 Equity Sequence: Building Equality Better 

In partnership with the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, BCcampus is offering free access to Equity Sequence training to anyone in the public B.C. post-secondary sector. Space is limited and provided on a first-come, first-served basis. 

The Equity Sequence training takes place in an online, gamified learning platform and community. The learner encounters informative video content, engages in self-reflection and sharing with the community, and puts their new skill to use on case studies before applying the Equity Sequence to their own work.

Learn more: Equity Sequence: Building Equality Better

BCcampus offices are situated on the unceded territories of the səl̓ilwətaɁɬ təməxʷ (Tsleil-Waututh), Skwxwú7mesh-ulh Temíx̱w (Squamish), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), W̱SÁNEĆ (Saanich), and the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations of the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) Peoples. As both individuals and an organization, we continue to learn and build relationships as we actively respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.