BCcampus News - September 20, 2023

What we're excited about this week: our blog posts!

First up, we're thrilled to present Melissa Ashman from Kwantlen Polytechnic University with this month's BCcampus Award for Excellence in Open Education. We also delve into the world of Generative AI with Gwen Nguyen, discussing the importance of GenAI literacy in higher education. Lastly, join us as we reflect on the role of open educational resources in B.C. private post-secondary institutions.

Happy reading!

Spotlight

📅 Studio23: Reignite Your Teaching and Facilitation Practice

November 1-2, 2023 | SFU Harbour Centre or Online

Did you hear the news?

Introducing Live Stream Tickets for Studio23! As part of our ongoing commitment to broaden Studio23's reach and provide greater accessibility, we're now offering the option to enjoy select Studio23 content online in a live stream format. This means that even if you can't make it in person, you can still experience Studio23 from the comfort of your own space.

For the full program and in-person experience, tickets are still available to attend Studio23 at SFU Harbour Centre in Vancouver, B.C. See you there!

Learn more: Studio23: Reignite Your Teaching and Facilitation Practice

Learning Opportunities

📅 FLO Lab: Drawn Into AI Angst: Can I really prove I am not a robot?

September 28, 2023 | 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Are you feeling anxious about the rise of artificial intelligence tools in the classroom? Do you worry you might become obsolete in the face of this technological advancement? How often have you had to “prove you are not a robot”?

Through creating and sharing simple comics, we’ll delve into our honest wonderings and worries about AI. This workshop will be a playful way to address concerns and questions about the impact of AI tools on our work and the future of our careers.

Learn more: FLO Lab: Drawn Into AI Angst: Can I Really Prove I am Not a Robot?

📅 Accessibility Bites Series

Monthly starting September 28, 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: Future Facing Assessments: How to Use AI in the Design of Alternative Assessment

October 2-6, 2023 | Asynchronous

In this FLO course, you will explore ways to incorporate AI tools such as ChatGPT and other generative AI technologies into assignments. You will explore how to work with AI tools rather than fight them by giving learners the option to use AI, teaching them how to use it responsibly, and helping them develop critical thinking, digital literacy, and creative skills.

Learn more: FLO MicroCourse: Future Facing Assessments: How to Use AI in the Design of Alternative Assessment

📅 FLO EdTech Sandbox Series

Monthly. Next session: October 11, 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 October session features Brenna Clarke Gray from Thompson Rivers University, where she will discuss the power of audio in the learning setting.

Learn more: FLO EdTech Sandbox Series

📅 FLO Friday: A Story of Ungrading: Reflections from an Ungraded Classroom

October 20, 2023 | 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Join us for this engaging FLO Friday session as we dive into the power of ungrading as a critical pedagogical tool. Get ready to explore the philosophy behind ungrading and gain valuable insights. Don't miss out on this interactive session where you can participate through polls, chats, and a fun breakout activity.

Learn more: FLO Friday: A Story of Ungrading: Reflections from an Ungraded Classroom

📅 FLO MicroCourse: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Your Syllabus

October 30 - November 5 | Asynchronous

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: FLO MicroCourse: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Your Syllabus

📅 Research Speaker Series

Monthly. Next session: October 31, 2023 | 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Learn more: Research Speaker Series

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

Open Education Updates

As students return to campus and vacations come to an end, OER activity has resumed at BCcampus and across the province. Three new and one updated open textbook were added to the B.C. Open Collection this month in Trades, ABE, and Sociology. To assist faculty and staff involved in OER creation and revisions, BCcampus' OER Production team is offering monthly 30-minute trainings on accessibility requirements along with a post that summarizes and links to recordings from past production workshops.

We also celebrate Julia Alards-Tomalin from BCIT for winning an OE Award in open pedagogy for Buds, Branches and Bark: A Guide to Winter ID in the Pacific Northwest. Second Edition.

Learn more about Open Education Updates for September 2023

See OpenEd updates for a complete list of what's happening at BCcampus.

Seeking Submissions

💻 BCcampus Rural and Remote Travel Grant

The BCcampus Rural and Remote Travel Grant is intended to support access to professional learning events for B.C. post-secondary educators and instructional support staff who do not have sufficient funds for travel and professional development.

Specifically, this grant is for people who wish to attend Studio23 at Simon Fraser University Harbour Centre in Vancouver, B.C., on November 1–2, 2023.

This grant will cover travel expenses up to $1,500 CAD. Free registration for the two-day event is included.

Learn more: BCcampus Rural and Remote Travel Grant

💻 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.

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

💻 Call for Proposals: Instructional Design for Health Care Assistant Supplement Updates

We invite applications for an instructional designer with experience in provincially standardized curricula to assist BCcampus, subject-matter experts, and an advisory committee with revising the Health Care Assistant Program: Supplement to the Provincial Curriculum Guide (2015) to align with the newly revised Health Care Assistant Program Provincial Curriculum.

Learn more: Call for Proposals: Instructional Design for Health Care Assistant Supplement Update

💻 Call for Proposals: Professional Learning in the Early Childhood Sector in B.C.

BCcampus is seeking experts in early childhood education and curriculum development to submit proposals and help develop professional learning for ECEs across the province.

Successful applicants will be offered contracts valued at up to $100,000 for their work. Payment will be tied to deliverables based on the service contract.

Learn more: Call for Proposals: Professional Learning in the Early Childhood Sector in B.C.

💻 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

💻 Job Opportunity: Senior Manager, Communications and Public Relations

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to join our team as Senior Manager of Communications and Public Relations. This role will be responsible for leading BCcampus public relations, communications, community engagement, and marketing efforts. Your expertise and strategic approach will play a vital role in advancing our organization’s objectives, enhancing our reputation, and promoting positive relationships with government and post-secondary partners.

This competition closes October 15, 2023.

Learn more: Senior Manager, Communications and Public Relations

💻 Pan-Canadian Digital Learning Survey

The purpose of the 2023 Pan-Canadian Digital Learning Survey is to explore critical issues in digital learning and to assess the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on digital learning at publicly funded post-secondary institutions in Canada. The survey will ask you to share your personal perspective and will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. The primary objective of the research is to provide institutional leaders and key interest groups in Canadian higher education with valuable information as they develop institutional strategies.

If you work at a post-secondary institution in Canada, you are eligible to take this survey.

Please complete and submit the survey no later than October 13, 2023.

Learn more: Pan-Canadian Digital Learning Survey

BCcampus acknowledges the səl̓ilwətaɁɬ təməxʷ (Tsleil-Waututh), Skwxwú7mesh-ulh Temíx̱w (Squamish), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), and W̱SÁNEĆ (Saanich) Peoples and the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations of the lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) Peoples on whose traditional territories we are privileged to live, work, and learn. Through our work we are learning to incorporate Indigenous epistemologies into our actions and understandings, supporting decolonization, reconciliation, and Indigenization to advocate systemic changes in the post-secondary environment of B.C.