Lethbridge College is pleased to host a number of ongoing and special events on campus in the coming weeks.
Tuesday, May 1
Awards application deadline
This is the deadline for continuing and graduating students to complete their Lethbridge College awards application form. For students new to the college this fall, the deadline is July 1. This online application form means students can fill out one form and be entered into consideration for all the awards and scholarships that apply to their circumstances. Many awards consider more than academic record so please apply.
Thursday, May 3, to Thursday, May 24
May is Reflective Practice Month
With Convocation over, there may be fewer people on campus, but there’s no shortage of learning. May is Reflective Practice Month and the professional development calendar is overflowing with opportunities for faculty and staff, including the annual full-day conference, Refresh, noon-hour sessions to showcase various college departments and service areas, and other one-hour quick hits of learning.
Thursday, May 3, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Faculty and staff focus on teaching and learning
Faculty and staff will have an opportunity to focus on The Nature of Teaching and Learning: Take a Walk on the Wild Side, at Lethbridge College’s annual Refresh conference. This year’s themes include adaptation, cooperation, resiliency and communication. The keynote speaker is Trevor Ragan, an entrepreneur, creative developer, researcher and lecturer on growth mindset.
Friday, May 4, 8:15 a.m. to noon
CanvasCon spreads contagious creativity
The college will hold its first half-day conference on Canvas, LC’s learning management system. CanvasCon will be held in the Buchanan Library, and is open to all faculty and staff. Topics will include how to use Canvas on a phone or tablet; how to use Canvas for student group work; and how to create an engaging homepage for your Canvas course. Register here.
Friday, May 4
Largest global PD event comes to campus
Lethbridge College is once again proud to partner with KidSport Lethbridge and Taber in presenting a live simulcast of Leadercast, a professional development and training event broadcast live from Atlanta to more than 110,000 people around the world. Lethbridge College IB Theatre is where you can participate in this day focused on leadership. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. with the conference start at 8:30 a.m. A continental breakfast and lunch are included in the registration of $150.
Friday, May 4, 2 to 4 p.m.
Group career advising available
A Lethbridge College career and academic advisor will help you assess your own values, needs and preferences and how they relate to your career planning. In this group session, students or prospective students will complete a Strong Interest Inventory, which provides a starting point for an individualized discussion of ideas for your career path. Cost is just $15. Register in advance online. The next group advising session is scheduled for June 1.
Monday, May 7 to Friday, May 11
High school students get true college experience
About 200 high school students will receive an immersive college experience as Experiential Learning Week returns to the Lethbridge College campus. Students from 10 southern Alberta schools will take specially designed programming from a chosen college subject area. They will spend the week engaging with college instructors, as well as various campus facilities and services and will earn high school credits. Many students will also stay in residence during the week to further enhance the college experience.
Monday, May 7, to Friday, May 11
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week
Lethbridge College continues its ongoing efforts to promote mental health and wellness and to help staff develop tools to care for themselves and respond to the mental health needs of others. In May, for example, training opportunities open to all staff include Mental Health First Aid, May 1 and 2; QPR (Question Persuade and Refer) Suicide Prevention Training on May 9; and First Responder to Sexual Assault and Abuse, May 15 and 16. On an ongoing basis, staff are encouraged to take breaks in the work day, perhaps by visiting one of the social spaces created on campus in the summer of 2017. For ideas on how to manage stress, including access to Stress Coach Connects, staff can contact Shepell Counselling Services online or by calling 1-800-387-4765. Confidential assistance is accessible 24/7, 365 days a year.
Monday, May 7, 9 to 10 a.m.
How to tell 360-degree stories
Kris Hodgson, chair of the School of Media and Design, will discuss The Importance of Storytelling in this professional development opportunity in the Buchanan Library. He will invite a group discussion to identify opportunities in participants’ program areas to tell their own stories using 360-degree video.
Tuesday, May 8, to Friday, May 11, 8:30 a.m. to noon
Learn how to tackle challenging conversations
Lethbridge College is offering a workshop on Crucial Conversations. These occur when emotions are strong, stakes are high and opinions are opposing. Through this training, participants will learn a practical, strategy-based approach for having challenging conversations at home or at work, with supervisors, colleagues, students, family or friends. This workshop is provided free to staff, but you must register in advance.
Tuesday, May 8, 9 to 10 a.m.
PD on how to plan your professional development
Trudi Mason, learning and development consultant, and Dr. Tim Heath, Dean of the Centre for Applied Arts and Sciences, will lead a discussion in Buchanan Library about self-reflection, the process of planning, tracking, reporting and sharing your professional development.
Tuesday, May 8, Noon to 12:50 p.m.
Learn how to put Microsoft Teams to work
Benjamin Bennett, ITS customer services supervisor, will introduce all interested staff to Microsoft Teams, a new communication and collaboration tool available through Office 365. Staff can create their own teams, collaborate on documents, hold virtual meetings and more. This session will take place in the library, and is one of a series of Teaching, Learning and Caring (TLC) sessions happening on Tuesdays and Thursdays through May. No preregistration required.
Tuesday, May 8, noon to 12:50 p.m.
Race to learn the five Ws of communications
The college Communications team will lead any interested staff through a fun, interactive race to complete a news release like a pro and in a tight window of time. You’ll learn practical skills to help identify a good story and to bring attention to the newsworthy events and work in your department or centre. This session will be held in the Richard Oilseed room (CE1305) and is part of a series of Teaching, Learning and Caring (TLC) sessions happening on Tuesdays and Thursdays through May. No preregistration required.
Wednesday, May 9, 9 to 10 a.m.
Teaching with tablets
Joelle Reynolds, digital learning coordinator, and Tyler Wall, from the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Innovation, will demonstrate a variety of apps that can introduce new ways of teaching, by incorporating video into your assessments, grading papers, or demonstrating mathematical relationships. Participants should bring their own device including their account and password information. All are welcome to attend this learning opportunity in TE3213.
Wednesday, May 9, 6 to 8 p.m.
Webinar focuses on outdoor play for infants, toddlers
Early Childhood Education instructor Patricia Lynch-Staunton will lead a webinar on Meaningful Outdoor Play Experiences with Infants and Toddlers. These webinars are open to child care professionals, parents and anyone with an interest. While we embrace the benefits of outdoor play for preschool and older children, this session will focus on the importance of meaningful and authentic outdoor experiences for infants and toddlers, too. You must register in advance to access this webinar. Admission is $35. This is part of a series of ECE webinars that continue into early June.
Thursday, May 10, 9 to 10 a.m.
Explore open educational resources
This session on Open Educational Resources: A New Pathway to Student Success will explore the potential of free, online resources and how they can support student recruitment, retention and success by reducing the need to buy textbooks while ensuring a quality teaching and learning experience. This professional development opportunity will be held in the Buchanan Library.
Thursday, May 10, noon to 12:50 p.m.
Make the most of your college bookstore
The Bookstore team wants to share how they are part of student success and how they can support faculty and students with custom course packs, e-books and used textbooks. This fun session will lead participants through an exercise that identifies the student of 2018-2019, their buying patterns and needs, as a way of helping us support their success. This session will be held in the Bookstore and is part of a series of Teaching, Learning and Caring (TLC) sessions happening on Tuesdays and Thursdays through May. No preregistration required.
Thursday, May 10, 2 to 3 p.m.
Volunteer for a taste (and more) test
Volunteers will be using their senses to analyze a variety of vegetables and fish grown in the Lethbridge College Aquaculture Centre of Excellence (ACE) and greenhouse as part of a research project being conducted by the team in Culinary Careers. Volunteers will consider the look, smell, touch and, of course, taste of various products in their natural state (without butter or seasonings). If you’re interested in volunteering, see the requirements and find a contact link online.
Friday, May 11, 9 to 10 a.m.
Learn some learning design tools
Jackie Doherty, learning experience design manager, and Kelsey Janzen, a media specialist with the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Innovation, will introduce non-designers to their favourite easy-to-learn and free tools that can help create professional-looking documents, reports and presentations from scratch or template. This session will be held in the Buchanan Library and is part of a series of Teaching, Learning and Caring (TLC) sessions happening on Tuesdays and Thursdays through May. No preregistration required.
Monday, May 14, 9 to 10 a.m.
Explore the technology of 360-video
Digital Learning experts Kyle Snowdon and Lyle Ruggles will introduce participants to 360-degree video, including key concepts of video creation, hardware and software needs and possible applications for your audience. This session will be held in the Buchanan Library for all staff.
Monday, May 14, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Symposium offered on Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) department and the Learning Development Team have organized a SoTL Symposium, featuring Dr. Nancy Chick from the University of Calgary’s Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning. She will lead two sessions on SoTL. The morning session will feature a 60-minute keynote address on the importance and principals of SoTL. In the afternoon, she will lead a 90-minute workshop on how to start a SoTL project. Whether you’re experienced in SoTL or just beginning a project, you’re invited to participate in one or both sessions. The symposium will be held in the Garden Court Restaurant for all faculty. Please register online.
Tuesday, May 15, to Friday, May 18, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Brush up on your instructional skills
This Instructional Skills Workshop is for any instructors, whether new or experienced, or those who lead workshops or training. This provides concrete skills for practicing in a safe environment. For more information, contact Mel Hamilton.
Tuesday, May 15, 9 to 10 a.m.
Instructor will share research on using cell phones to support students
Instructor Jeff Hamilton’s teaching has changed a lot over the past three decades. What was once primarily lecture driven is now flipped classes. This year, he’s researching the impact of using cell phones to support students, and he will share preliminary results during this session in Buchanan Library. This presentation will employ pre- and post-surveys and large and small group discussions.
Tuesday, May 15, noon to 12:50 p.m.
Learn how to promote learning through role-playing
Dave Maze, an instructor in Criminal Justice, will lead a session called Almost Real Life: Role-playing with Live Actors in Applied Learning on how student role-playing allows students to apply their skills in a simulated but safe environment. He’ll discuss how this is applied in the Criminal Justice course on crisis intervention and share collaboratively developed guidelines for role-playing to ensure a safe environment for all participants. The session will be in the Trades, Technologies and Innovation Facility TT1909, and is part of a series of Teaching, Learning and Caring (TLC) sessions happening on Tuesdays and Thursdays through May. No preregistration required.
Tuesday, May 15, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Explore Canada’s Indigenous and non-Indigenous history
The Kairos Blanket Exercise is a participatory workshop to explore how the colonization of what is now known as Canada has affected the people who lived here before settlers arrived. The exercise explores the nation-to-nation relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada, how this relationship has been and continues to be damaged, and how we can work toward reconciliation. You must register in advance for this session in Residence Hall RH1000. Lunch will be provided.
Wednesday, May 16, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Take a follow-up to Crucial Conversations
The college is offering a one-day Crucial Accountability course, as a follow-up to the popular Crucial Conversations workshop. This is for anyone looking for tools to strengthen accountability, accelerate problem solving and improve relationships and productivity. You must register in advance for this session in TR1801.
Wednesday, May 16, 9 to 10 a.m.
Learn the what and why of SoTL
This interactive session explores the “what” and “why” behind the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) and invites participants to share a topic or idea that could become a future SoTL project. The first part of the session will raise awareness and understanding of SoTL. In the second part, the SoTL team will share key resources in developing projects and touch on the funding application process. This session is in Buchanan Library and is led by instructor Melanie Hamilton and digital learning research lead Andy Benoit.
Thursday, May 17, 9 to 10 a.m.
Learn to build resilience in yourself and encourage it in others
Accessibility Services coordinator Karma Black will lead a workshop on “Learning to become resilient by walking on a tightrope.” This session will explore how staff can engage in resiliency practices and promote such practices for a diverse student population. This session will be in the Buchanan Library.
Thursday, May 17, noon to 12:50 p.m.
Escape the Classroom and engage your students
Join Criminal Justice instructors Kirsten Fantazir and Murray Bartley in this session to learn how to increase student attendance and engagement by linking learning to popular games and cultural trends. This demonstration of an escape room can be applied to any course. This session will be held in AN1750 and is part of a series of Teaching, Learning and Caring (TLC) sessions happening on Tuesdays and Thursdays through May. No preregistration required.
Thursday, May 17, 6 to 8 p.m.
Designing a space to encourage outdoor play
Dr. Beverlie Dietze, the director of Learning and Applied Research at Okanagan College, and Fiona Barton, a landscape architect, will lead a webinar on How Outdoor Play Space Design Influence Intriguing, Interconnectedness and Inquiry-based Programming. The flow of a space and the natural elements in it can influence a child’s desire to engage and can help take play to a level that is rich with exploration and learning. Tickets are $35 and must be purchased online by May 15. This is part of the Early Childhood Education Professional Development Webinar Series and is open to professionals, parents and anyone with an interest in childhood development in the early years.
Friday, May 19, 9 to 10 a.m.
Learn strategies for conflict management
Participants in this session will learn specific skills and strategies to manage difficult conversations with confidence, to master the conflict cycle process, discover their own conflict management style and describe strategies to confront conflict mindfully using a confrontation model. This session, in Buchanan Library, will be led by Suzanne Petryshyn, a General Studies instructor.
Monday, May 21
Closed for Victoria Day
Lethbridge College campus will be closed for the Victoria Day holiday.
Tuesday, May 22
Staff invited to three sessions on success and innovation
Education consultant and speaker Ken Steele will offer three presentations for college staff. The presentations will be held in the IB Theatres. These are the topics:
- Rethinking Higher Education: Teaching for Learner Success, 9 to 10:30 a.m.
- Supporting Student Success beyond the Classroom, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- The Innovation Mindset: Nurturing a Culture of Innovation on Campus, 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 23, 9 to 10 a.m.
Learn the steps to errorless learning
Instructor Donna McLaughlin will lead this session on errorless learning, which uses carefully planned successive approximations, reinforcement and environmental manipulation to communicate teaching. You’ll have an opportunity to use errorless learning to teach your colleagues. Maybe we don’t have to learn from our mistakes. This session will be held in Buchanan Library.
Wednesday, May 23, noon to 12:50 p.m.
Learning Café serves up bite-sized study skill supports
Join Dianne Fjordbotten, coordinator of the Learning Café, as she shares bite-sized strategies to help students with their study skills. They can also customize their services to your course material. This session, called Appetizers from the Learning Café, will be held in the café’s writing and presentation area in Buchanan Library. This is part of a series of Teaching, Learning and Caring (TLC) sessions happening on Tuesdays and Thursdays through May. No preregistration required.
Wednesday, May 23, 6 to 8 p.m.
Webinar on advocating for outdoor play
Lethbridge College Early Childhood Education instructor Bora Kim will share information on the importance of outdoor play to child development and learning, current issues in outdoor play and ways to advocate for it in this webinar. The webinar is part of a series organized by the college and is open to professionals, educators, parents and anyone with an interest in early childhood development. The cost is $35 and you must register in advance.
Thursday, May 24, 9 to 10 a.m.
Animate your course content with an iPad and simple tools
Learning experience designer Jonathan Legg will share how to turn your course or service content into fun, educational whiteboard animation using only an iPad, iPad stand, whiteboard and pens. Anyone can do it; just bring your content. This session will be held in the Buchanan Library.
Thursday, May 24, noon to 12:50 p.m.
Learn about FOIP and how it relates to Lethbridge College
Institutional planning specialist Melissa Vander Heide will lead a learning session on Alberta’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy legislation, and how FOIP relates to our work at Lethbridge College. Don’t get Caught in the Act will be held in TR1801, wrapping up a series of Teaching, Learning and Caring (TLC) sessions happening on Tuesdays and Thursdays through May. No preregistration required.
Thursday, May 24, and Friday, May 25
College hosts conference for continuing care educators
Lethbridge College is hosting the 15th annual Canadian Association of Continuing Care Educators (CACCE) conference at the Coast Hotel and Conference Centre. This year’s theme is Interprofessional Education and Innovative Teaching Strategies. Conference registration information is online. Several sessions will be led by Lethbridge College experts. Here are their names and topics:
- Janet Yorke, chair of the Practical Nursing program and soon to be associate dean of the Centre for Health and Wellness - Exam Blueprinting to Strengthen Practices in Education
- Ashley Cesar, instructor, School of Allied Health – Utilizing Interprofessional Learning Experiences to Bridge the Learning Gap
- Sheri Wright, chair of SPHERE; Harmoni Jones, health promotion coordinator; Marie Laenen, instructor in SPHERE – Interprofessional Peer Connection Through Volunteering
- Sheri Wright, Marie Laenen – Interprofessional Collaboration Through Simulated Learning
- Karla Wolsky, chair of the School of Allied Health – Utilizing Humor in the Classroom For Student Learning
Tuesday, May 29, 6 to 8 p.m.
Connecting Children to Nature: A Call to Action
In this webinar, Mary Lou Lummiss, a faculty member in the Early Childhood Education program at Fleming College in Peterborough, Ont., will help participants explore the concepts of creating a culture of care and connectivity for people and for the living systems that support and nurture us. The webinar will explore David Sobel’s research “Play Motifs,” which are design principals that support children’s deeper connections to the natural world. This webinar is part of a series organized by Lethbridge College ECE faculty and is open to professionals, educators, parents and anyone with an interest in early childhood development. The cost is $35 and you must register in advance.
ONGOING EVENTS AND INITIATIVES
Summer camp registration continues
May brings the unofficial start of summer with the Victoria Day long weekend. That means it’s time to think about summer camps for children and youth. Lethbridge College offers a wide range of camps to suit all interests, from sports and gaming to fashion and dance. Visit us online to see the full range of options being offered this summer.
Learning Café open for spring semester students
The Learning Café is open for the spring semester Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Students can book appointments to work with an Academic Strategist.
Instructional assistance is available based on the following schedule:
- Math, science and study skills – Monday to Friday
- Writing and APA – Monday to Thursday
- Online writing feedback is available using the Writing Dropbox
To book an appointment, students can drop by the Learning Café inside Buchanan Library, email or call 403-382-6952.
Student advisers here to help all summer
Career and academic advisers are on campus and happy to meet with students through the summer to help support their success.
Hours in May through July are:
- Booked appointments, Monday to Friday, 8:30 am. To 3:30 p.m.
- Drop-in meetings, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Additional drop-in hours will be added in August. Please visit the team online to see updated information. A group career advising session will be May 4. You can register online.