Category: Past Events

DESC Book Club -Winter 2024 “Learning That Matters”

The cover of the Learning That Matters book

When: Five Fridays 3:30-5pm in N4206 (NW campus) – January 12, February 2, March 1 & 8, and April 5

Facilitated by Nathan Hall, LLPA Teaching Faculty / Educational Technology and Pedagogy Coordinator

Please join me as we work through Learning That Matters: A Field Guide to Course Design for Transformative Education by Caralyn Zehnder, Julia Metzker, Karynne Kleine, and Cynthia Alby (Myers Education, 2021)

12 copies will be available to borrow through the library; space is limited to 15 participants.

This volume is a practical “work book” that guides post-secondary instructors in designing a student-centred learning experience.

From the authors:

Meaningful learning opportunities “don’t just happen, they need to be intentionally designed. This book supports those who will undertake this vitally important work. [This book] is a pragmatic resource for designing courses that engage college students as active citizens. This ‘work’ book provides research-informed approaches for creating learning experiences and developing innovative, intellectually-engaging courses.”

Registration form

Tea and Bannock with Aunty Marny – November 8, 2023

Headshot of Elder Marny Point

Join us on November 8 from 10-12 pm for tea and bannock in the Indigenous Gathering Place at the New Westminster Campus to meet our New Elder in residence. Please feel free to drop by anytime. 

Marny Point is from the Musqueam band, of the Coast Salish people.  She earned both her degrees: A Bachelor of Education & Master of Educational Technology and is currently a Ph.D. student in LLED at UBC. Marny has taught for NITEP UBC’s Indigenous Bachelor of Education program as well as in the First Nation’s Endangered Language Program Instructor, teaching the traditional Musqueam language course, hən̓ q̓ əmin̓ əm̓ from 2002 until 2019. She understands how the connection to Indigenous languages; gives value, honour and a sense of identity, which cements Native Indigenous, people in place and culture. Marny is an avid fisherwoman – owning and operating her own gillnetter. Harvesting sockeye salmon from the Fraser River, as her dad and grandfather always did. Marny is actively involved in the education of the Indigenous youth and sits on many committees to ensure the betterment of Indigenous education. 

Stumbling Blocks and Stepping Stones – “AI in the classroom”

The ChatGPT main screen

Join your peers from across Douglas College as we share “Stumbling Blocks and Stepping Stones”: a monthly series celebrating our struggles and successes in teaching and learning.

Moderated by Tim Paul, Manager, Academic Technology Services and member of Douglas Educational Support Community (DESC), “Stumbling Blocks and Stepping Stones” is structured around 3 short faculty presentations and an optional 30-minute discussion time. Developed under the philosophy of professional development through collegial sharing, we hope that the experience of others will help you to find community, creativity, and the strength to explore new opportunities.

  • Theme: AI in the Classroom: Educator Experiences and Classroom Guidelines
  • Date: Tuesday, November 14
  • Time: 10:35-11:30 am

Our panelists will be:

  • Jim Palmer (Music, LLPA)
  • Nina Blanes (BSN, HS)
  • Doug Beech (Marketing, CBA)

In this session, our panelists will provide examples of how AI is utilized (and not utilized) in their classrooms, shedding light on their approaches to communicating with students about the responsible use of generative technology. Gain valuable insights and practical inspiration for your own teaching methods in this session. 

Visit the Stumbling Blocks and Stepping Stones page for the recording once the session is done.

Easy Transition To Blackboard Ultra – Fall 2023 Workshop Sessions

A man with a beard sitting at a table with a laptop in front of him

If you are teaching a face-to-face class in Winter, Summer, or Fall 2024, and will be using Blackboard to enhance or supplement your course, please register for one of the following Easy-Transition-to-Ultra sessions according to your availability. This opportunity will minimize the time and effort you need to make the transition. By the time you finish this 1-hour session, you will have the information to convert your existing Blackboard Original content into an Ultra Sandbox, Course Master, or upcoming course.

Select a registration date:

Tuesday, Oct. 10, 10:30 am

Wednesday, Oct.11, 1:00 pm

Wednesday, Oct.25, 10:30 am

Thursday, Oct.26, 1:00 pm

Friday, Nov.10, 10:30 am

Join us at the BUS Stop following the welcome-back BBQs 

A red bus at a bus stop. The bus has the dates August 29 and 31 at the top with Blackboard Ultra Support just under that. The times 1:30-3:00 pm are beside the driver's window and Bb@BBQ is the license plate.

Many of you are thinking about transitioning to Blackboard Ultra in the not-too-distant future, perhaps even this Fall. To provide you with some additional help before the term starts, we will be holding a BUS (Blackboard Ultra Support) Stop event for faculty needing some specific support. 

Think of it as a bit of social: Go to the BBQ, then drop by the BUS Stop for dessert and conversation with your peers about Blackboard Ultra. Have some pressing questions you need answered? Pop by! Cathy Mills (Sport Science instructor and BB Ultra Faculty Liaison) and the Learning Designer team will be there to review your questions, and give you some solid advice on how to move forward. 

Here are the details: 

BUS Stop: Coquitlam campus, room B2250; August 29, 1:30-3:00pm. 

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/bus-stop-coquitlam-tickets-645475985047  

BUS Stop: New West campus, Lower Café/Douglas Room (N1200); August 31, 1:30-3:00pm. 

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/bus-stop-new-west-tickets-645517589487  

And, even if you feel good to go, drop by for some dessert and a chat anyway. We’d love to hear how your transition to Ultra went. 

Workshop: Universal Design for Learning – What is it and how much extra work is it really?

Someone uses their hands as they talk. There is a laptop on the desk in front of them beside a notebook and mobile phone.

Due to the success of the session in May, DESC is offering two more sessions: one on the New Westminster campus and one on the Coquitlam campus. Please sign up soon to reserve your spot. 

Join DESC (Douglas Educational Support Community) for this introductory session on UDL and how small changes to instructional delivery can create a significant impact on both the student and the instructor experience. Be prepared for an interactive experience (using UDL principles) with your phone/tablet. There will be an opportunity to ask questions throughout. 

New Westminster 

Coquitlam 

Your facilitators will be: 

Justine Charrier, Coordinator and Accessibility Specialist in Accessibility Services. She began her career at Douglas in 2015 working in the Vocational Education & Skills Training (VEST) department. Her background in Accessibility having worked in both the public and private sectors aided in the support she was able to offer students, staff and faculty. She transitioned into the Accessibility Services department in 2018 and has provided support to students, staff and faculty with regards to Assistive Technology, Accommodation Planning and Coordinating. Justine has been asked to advise on many issues surrounding accessibility such as; best practices incorporating UDL in curriculum, technology solutions, and accessible planning during renovations; to name a few. While completing her Masters of Education with a specialty in Curriculum and Instruction for Post-Secondary, her focused research project was A Comprehensive Post-Secondary Educator’s Guide to Accessibility Using Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Principles. Justine strives to provide a space where students feel supported and equal access is provided. 

Rowan Lupton, Accessibility Specialist in Accessibility Services.  Rowan has worked in Accessibility Services in postsecondary for fifteen years.  She has also taught EASL and study skills classes.  She has been a keen student of UDL since completing her Masters in Education and is currently working on incorporating UDL for equity and to support executive functioning into her work with students. 

Sustainable Development Goals Canada at Douglas College

Karen Atwal, Steven Bishop, Katharine Shipley, Colin Cheng, and Janice Sestan

A small group of organizers with a lot of supporters organized the first UN SDG Week Canada event at Douglas College yesterday. The World Café featured short talks and dialogue from the following instructors who have incorporated UN SDGs into their curriculum:

  • Assembling with Purpose – Electronics and General Assembly program’s partnership with Purpose Society’s Digital Inclusion Hub. – Karen Atwal
  • Urban Orienteering– Multiple SDGs – Jovian Radeshwar
  • Global Citizenship, COIL and SDGs– Janice Sestan
  • Indigenous Peoples and the Sustainable Development Goals – Dr. Carling Beninger
  • UN experience with Women Peace and Security assignment in Mali – SDG #5 Gender Equality – Marie-Therese Atsena-Abogo
  • Chemical Oceanography and Saving Howe Sound – SDG #7 – Brenda Addison-Jones

Introduction: http://api.ca.kaltura.com/tiny/tax8x

For the full week program, related Douglas College and SDG resources, upcoming events and more, see: https://padlet.com/embed/i8wyrbgi9wif5ceu

Better Together Dialogues – Episode Two with Dylan Le Roy

Dylan Le Roy is a Student Affairs and Services Counsellor at Douglas College, and provided a much-needed “Managing Uncertainty with Gratitude” session for the Better Together – Partners in Learning Conference May 2-6, 2022 at Douglas College. Dylan’ sessions was delivered in-person, and streamed to remote participants as well.

A photo of Dylan LeRoy at the Better Together Conference in 2022. He is sitting at a desk with a metal bowl placed on the desk in front of him,

▶ Recorded dialogue with Dylan Le Roy and Steven Bishop

People and resources mentioned by Dylan

Better Together Dialogues- Episode One with Jacob Goldowitz

Jacob Goldowitz is one of the Learning Designers at Douglas College, and was a big part of envisioning and organizing the Better Together – Partners in Learning Conference May 2-6, 2022 at Douglas College. The conference sessions were delivered in-person, and virtually. Stay tuned for more episodes

Recorded dialogue with Jacob Goldowitz and Steven Bishop

Better Together – Partners in Learning

In Spring 2021, the Facilitating Faculty Online (FFO) working group organized a College-wide event made possible by efforts from instructors in each Faculty, Student Affairs & Services, Accessibility Services, the Library, the Learning Centre, Indigenous Student Services, The Training Group, ATS, and the Learning Designers, and support from many other areas in the College.

Here is a list of the sessions


Monday, May 2


Tuesday, May 3

  • 1:30-3:15 pm: Tumbled Smooth by the Rapids: Rediscovering & Reconnecting in the Wake of Turbulence – Ross Laird https://www.rosslaird.com/ @ S1812/1814 or livestreaming REGISTER here
  • 3:30-4:30 pm: Gratitude as a practice to manage uncertainty and foster wellbeing – Dylan LeRoy @ S1812/1814 or livestreaming REGISTER here


Wednesday, May 4

  • 9:00am-12:00 pm: Bandwidth Tax of Uncertainty: Helping Students Reclaim Cognitive Capacity Post-COVID and Beyond – Cia Verschelden https://bandwidthrecovery.org/ @ S1812/1814 or livestreaming REGISTER here
  • 1:00-2:00 pm: Douglas College Climate Action Panel – SMT, S&T, Facilities, and Student panelists @ s1812/1814 or livestreaming REGISTER here
  • 2:30-4:00 pm: Teaching with Technology Café – World cafe style event with Faculty, Library, and CEIT presenters @ NW Cafeteria REGISTER here
  • 4:00-6:00 pm: Wine and Cheese Reception @ NW Library REGISTER here


Thursday, May 5

  • 9:00-9:45 am: First Steps with a COIL Project: Considerations and Preparation – Janice Sestan @ COQ C1008 REGISTER here
  • 10:00-10:45 am: PechaKucha Morning – Jill Fellows, Lawrence Becker, and Sandra Polushin/Justine Charrier present their topics in PechaKucha style @ COQ C1009 REGISTER here
  • 11:00-11:45 am: Panel: Student Research in Health Sciences with panelists: Mike Miller, Patricia Visosky, Ivanna Smetanska, and Tracey McVey @ COQ C1008 REGISTER here
  • 12:30-2:00 pm: Frameworks for Going Open: Human-Centred Futures for Higher Education – Robin DeRosa and Rajiv Jhangini – https://robinderosa.net/about/ https://thatpsychprof.com/ on Zoom (online) REGISTER here
  • 2:00-3:00 pm: Concurrent sessions – via Zoom (online)
    1. We Know What You’ve Done There: Writing Tutors respond to instructors’ assignment guidelines – Holly Salmon & Peer Tutors REGISTER here
    2. Student Voices on Online Learning – Sandra Polushin & Students REGISTER here
  • 3:30-4:30 pm: Lessons Learned and Paths Forward – Senior Management Panel – @ COQ Boardroom and via Zoom (online) REGISTER here

Friday, May 6

Plus…..refreshments, book draws, Better Together radio programs, and more!

Full information including speaker bios, updates, and locations can be found on DC Connect via this link:
https://collegedouglas.sharepoint.com/sites/dcconnect/department_faculties/academicsupport/ats/Pages/Better-Together-Partners-in-Learning.aspx

This College-wide event is being made possible by efforts from instructors in each faculty, Student Affairs & Services, Accessibility Services, the Library, the Learning Centre, Indigenous Student Services, The Training Group, ATS, and the Learning Designers, and support from many other areas in the College. We recognize and appreciate the following groups/people for their funding and support of the Better Together conference:

  • College-wide Faculty Development Fund
  • Student Affairs & Services
  • Learning Resources’ Professional Development Fund
  • Vice President, Academic & Provost
  • Foundation and Alumni Relations
  • Human Resources