This is Learning Innovation: The Teaching and Learning Podcast – also known as LITL-Pod. In the spirit of EDI and Niitsitapi’ksimpstaan (Real Thinking), we play host to a spectrum of guests from the Teaching and Learning community. As we highlight and explore innovation in education, we hope to kindle warm conversations, expand perspectives and foster lasting partnerships today, tomorrow and beyond! Listen here, on Podbean, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

The future of learning starts now.

If you or someone you know would like to appear as a guest on LITL-Pod, please contact Jordana Gagnon.

Dr. Lindy Ledohowski, COO at Wizeprep, Dr. Alec Couros, educational technology & media professor at the University of Regina, and Tatiana Kloster, faculty development lead and academic student support lead from Lethbridge College join the podcast! The trio discusses the good, the bad, and the exciting potential ChatGPT is creating in our teaching and learning ecosystems. They pose thoughtful questions on intelligently integrating language models into the curriculum – not only to accommodate learners and facilitate critical thinking but to mitigate limitations and address ethical implications this technology inherently brings with it.

Seanna Uglem (Career Development Coordinator) and Tanya Weder (Multimedia Production Instructor) join us from Lethbridge College to shed light on the importance of the Student Core Competencies (SCCs) and how learners are naturally developing these critical life skills within curriculum. SCCs (such as critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, communication, etc.) are among the soft skills employers are looking for in future employees, and so, integrating SCCs into curriculum is equipping learners for greater professional success as they transition into the workforce.

Dr. Brenda McDermott, Manager of Accessible Testing at the University of Calgary joins us to discuss her team’s research project – Artificial Intelligence and Academic Integrity: The Ethics of Teaching and Learning with Algorithmic Writing Technologies. Dr. McDermott shares her thoughts on the possibilities of how AI text generators like ChatGPT have the potential to empower – but also seriously hinder – learners, especially when considering equity, diversity and inclusion.

Students Alaina Tolman, Amy-Lee Lateeph, Jojo Kariuki, and Stefan Joseph gather around the mic to discuss Black History Month and how it has shaped them as BIPOC students. The guests emphasize the importance of honouring and celebrating the efforts and accomplishments of those who came before, and consider how they will forge their own identities in the college community and beyond.

Andie Hanson (she/her), Access Specialist from Lethbridge College, shares on new software her department is piloting called Accommodate by Simplicity. This tech shows promise in helping to better support students challenged by disabilities, as well as streamlining workflow for staff and faculty. Innovative solutions like this are one of the many steps being taken to help level the playing field for all learners at Lethbridge College.

Camina Weasel Moccasin (Indigenous Curator at the Lethbridge Galt Museum and Archives), Kris Hodgeson-Bright (Lethbridge College faculty member) and Nelson Rabbit (Lethbridge College student alumnus) share their work in retelling the story of the Battle of Belly River from a) a Blackfoot perspective and b) the lens of virtual and augmented reality. It’s been a major endeavour for the group, with challenges and triumphs along the way! The trio speaks about last year’s 152nd-anniversary event and the importance of honouring and respecting the varied Indigenous perspectives of this epic story.

Brad Donaldson, president and CEO of Lethbridge College, joins us to talk about leadership, learning, and the nature of innovation. In this down-to-earth conversation, Brad expands on the beauty of approaching every opportunity with a mindset of curiosity and ‘purposeful experimentation’. We learn about his leadership goals, his ‘WHY’ at the college, and we hear about some of Brad’s favourite, newly discovered spots in the city he now calls home: Lethbridge!

In this special panel-style episode, a full roster of guests joins us to talk about their joint passion: Makerspaces! Guests share about their challenges, triumphs – and of course, the exciting new developments in these “innovation incubators”. The VIP list includes Jessie Sorenson from Lethbridge College, Jon Newman from Olds College, Rob Horlacher from the University of Lethbridge, and Rich McCue from the University of Victoria!

Kris Hodgson-Bright, a faculty member from Lethbridge College, shares about his applied research project: Immersive Storytelling on the Battle of Belly River. Kris collaborated with Indigenous Elders, student alumni, faculty, and other key community members to build this powerful medium that will help bring forward the Indigenous perspective on this iconic historic event.

Lowell Yellowhorn, manager of Indigenous Services at Lethbridge College joins us to talk about Global Citizenship and how some Elders and Indigenous leaders view post-secondary education as the ‘New Buffalo’. Lowell delves into the history of what the buffalo meant to the Blackfoot people and shares his thoughts on how higher education is vital for better, brighter futures for the next generation – especially for Indigenous peoples.

Rich McCue, manager of the University of Victoria’s Libraries Digital Scholarship Commons, joins us to talk about Makerspaces in academia. Makerspaces are physical places where students, staff and faculty are free to experiment, explore ideas – and make some pretty cool stuff! They support active learning and promote innovation in everything from eco-friendly products to more immersive Dungeons and Dragons experiences!

Tune in, hit play and get inspired as Danielle Simard, an instructor in the Centre for Business, Arts and Sciences at Lethbridge College, and one of her students, Tracy Sjovold, discuss the impact of student-led assessments. This innovative, authentic assessment method is showing promise in fostering real-world life skills, not only in developing critical thinking and promoting more active learning but also in holding students accountable to empower their own learning experiences.

Tune in, hit play and get inspired as Melanie Hamilton, Lethbridge College’s SoTL research lead (and Chair of SoTL Canada!) shares about her favourite four-letter word: SoTL! This scholarship not only clarifies research and makes it more accessible, but also helps instructors renew and reform their teaching strategies. All it takes is a dash of passion and a splash of curiosity – and you can spark your very own research project, with all the support you need from the friendly SoTL community.

Tune in, hit play and get inspired as we learn all about the unique and promising K-12 STEM Collaboration project between Lethbridge College (LC) and Westwind School Division. Guests Kevin Wiber (the college’s Associate Dean of Trades), Joelle Reynolds (learning experience designer from LC’s Centre for Teaching, Learning and Innovation (CTLI), Brianne Hutchinson (instructional designer from CTLI at LC), and Warren Anderson (educator at Magrath Elementary School from the Westwind School Division) expand on their roles in the project, and how this collab is providing educators with resources to support authentic learning experiences through the Trades in the Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects.

Tune in, hit play, and get inspired in this extended Tech Talks episode as Tyler Wall and Jordana Gagnon banter about Tech tools that you can use today. Today’s tech focus is on tools that take our reality and digitize it. During the podcast, Tyler shows Jordana tools that are currently in the marketplace.

Here is a list some of those tools:
Colmap Free
Meshroom Free
Zepher Free’ish

Tune in, hit play, and get inspired as Tyler Wall and Jordana Gagnon banter about Tech tools that you can use today. Today’s tech focus is on news tech tools for sanity, balance and wellness. During the podcast, Tyler shows Jordana tools that are currently in the marketplace.

Here is a list of those tools:
1440
ALLSIDES – Balanced News
Ground news
Charlie
SocialBubble

Tune in, hit play and get inspired as we hear from Dr. Paula Burns, President & CEO of Lethbridge College in this very special podcast episode. Prompted by questions and comments from staff, students and faculty, Paula speaks about her experiences at Lethbridge College over the past nine years. She talks about the importance of creating capacity for change, the beauty of perspective (especially in viewing challenges as opportunities), and the characteristics of good leadership.

Tune in, hit play and get inspired as Simon Schaerz (instructor in the Centre for Business, Arts and Science) and Amanda Mohamed (a student researcher in the Exercise Science program) talk about their passion for movement! Through research and work-integrated learning, Simon and Amanda are exploring how immersive technology can inspire lasting and accessible fitness – especially in youth.

Tune in, hit play, and get inspired as Kirby England (Environmental Sciences instructor) and Lowell Yellowhorn (Indigenous Services interim manager) share their efforts in braiding Indigenous knowledge and western science into Lethbridge College’s Environmental Science curriculum. Kirby and Lowell talk about the rich history of traditional ecological knowledge, the power of language in preserving local culture, and how relationship-building is key to traditional ways of learning and knowing.

Tune in, hit play, and get inspired as Benjamin Northcott — faculty member and practice coordinator for the NESA Bachelor of Nursing Programs at Lethbridge College — talks about new curriculum developments. Drawing from a variety of social theories and practices, he touches on the challenge of distilling and designing information into deliverable, accessible and measurable methods. Benjamin’s passion for improving the student experience shines through, and it’s his mission to help learners master foundational skills and practices to influence long and happy careers in the nursing field.

Tune in, hit play, and get inspired as Shanda Webber, Manager of Indigenous Services at Lethbridge College, talks with Donna about Lethbridge College’s Niitsitapi Strategy that will launch on March 18, 2021. The conversation will travel through several important topics and themes related to the strategy, its origins and development. Topics such as Indigenous education and pedagogy, and the term Indigenization, as well as community building, engagement, mutual understanding, mutual appreciation, and Indigenous perspectives on innovation.

Tune in, hit play, and get inspired as Tyler Wall, Digital Learning Specialist, talks with Donna about innovation and his approach to problem solving and helping Lethbridge College instructors find digital solutions to particular problems.

Tune in, hit play, and get inspired to leave your comfort zone with these two passionate educators. Murray was a cop for a hundred years and Kirsten researches intrinsic motivation. Together, they completed a promising study on the effects of gamification and motivation in adult learners. Kirsten is always happy to collaborate and her email is kirsten.fantazir@lethbridgecollege.ca

Tune in, hit play, and get inspired as Dr. Amy Hodgson-Bright talks with Donna about her path to Lethbridge College, her passion for literature and innovative teaching, HyFlex, and bustin’ moves on the weekend! 

Tune in, hit play, and get inspired as Donna talks with Allen Ledyit (Instructor, Child and Youth Care, Lethbridge College) about passionate teaching and learning, supporting people through personal crises, building community, and…bagpipes!

Tune in, hit play, and get inspired as Donna and Erin, Associate Dean of Lethbridge College’s CTLI, discuss everything from flexible learning and student micro-credentials to competitive dog dancing.

This episode was produced by Donna McLaughlin and Mike Smith.