TLC News

Last week, the beautiful World Music Room at SFU Woodwards hosted FCAT’s event, Leaning into Learning: An FCAT exchange forum on dynamic teaching practices. The 40 participants, were able to engage and interact with their colleagues regarding teaching and learning in a very upbeat and visually-striking environment.

The forum began with welcoming remarks by facilitators of the event, Stuart Poyntz, FCAT Teaching Fellow, Kathryn Ricketts, TLC FCAT Educational Consultant, Jennifer McRae and Deanna Rogers, Experiential Education Project Coordinators, followed by a message of “diversified teaching and learning” from VP, Academic, Jon Driver. Sure enough, the event not only encouraged diversity in teaching and learning, it also demonstrated it. The first five, fast-firing presentations were based around Pecha Kucha format and highlighted dynamic exemplars of innovative teaching practices. Next were the concurrent workshops wherein three faculty members presented a course/problem overview, then the participants asked clarifying questions and provided suggestions and strategies.

The day ended with mobile dialogues which allowed the participants to drive the discussion to any topic they are most interested in. Some of the topics discussed were engaging with the complexity of text, teachers as curators of information, value of reflective journaling in class, and classrooms as incubator of practice.

Eighteen graduate students participated in the spring 2013 Certificate Program in University Teaching and Learning (CPUTL). As the above photo illustrates, the graduation ceremony on April 9 was a true celebration. Peter Liljedahl (centre, wearing a jacket and an elegant gray vest), Associate Dean, Graduate Studies, and associate professor in the Faculty of Education, addressed the graduands.

The CPUTL program was led by Russell Day (left), a senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology, along with Kathryn Ricketts and Erin Aspenlieder, both TLC educational consultants. Here they pose with Jay Park, a graduate student in Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, who proudly displays his graduation certificate while Kathryn exercises a stabilizing influence.

SFU Surrey was a busy place on March 7 when students, potential students, family members, and other interested individuals from the community attended the annual open house to view displays by academic departments and service units. The TLC display looked distinctly nautical, with a spinning compass, staff members dressed like sailors, paper boats, and a treasure chest filled with chocolate coins. Here’s the photographic evidence of an entertaining and informative evening.

TLC staff members Vea Banana and Kathy Borneman played key roles in organizing the display and then donned sailor’s caps to engage with visitors.

President Andrew Petter was one of many visitors to spin the compass. In return for answering questions or completing activities, participants were granted the right to reach into a treasure chest full of chocolate.

Dozens of visitors wrote responses to questions like “What is your passion?” and “Who has helped you to succeed?” on paper fish and stars, which were then posted on a large board. The result was a visual demonstration of the importance and impact of teaching and learning.