Learning Innovation: The Teaching & Learning Podcast

What does it take to become a professional baker? In this episode of Learning Innovation: The Teaching and Learning Podcast, host Kris Hodgson-Bright steps inside the bakeshop at Lethbridge Polytechnic to explore the challenges, creativity, and rewards of learning the baking trade through apprenticeship and work-integrated learning (WIL). Joining the conversation are culinary instructor Amanda Kaw...

In this episode of Learning Innovation, host Kris Hodgson-Bright chats with Shawn Pinder and Brandon Regier of Runner's Soul about how running connects to education, personal growth, and community. They share stories from triathlons, Ironman races, ultras, and local events while exploring goal-setting, discipline, mental toughness, and the value of celebrating small wins. Lethbridge Polytechnic ha...

Jill Burrows (psychology professor), Dean Kolebaba (instructor and Program Chair for the School of Justice Studies), and Lyle Ruggles (e-learning specialist) chat about the innovative teaching and learning pathways virtual reality (VR) is creating at Lethbridge Polytechnic. This trio discuss how they have integrated narrative-driven VR into their classrooms, including what's worked, what hasn't, a...

Monica, Aderiyike, Jude, and Divine — nursing students at Lethbridge Polytechnic — share their experiences of cultural identity and community support as they navigate (sometimes discriminatory) systems in Canada. The group discuss resilience and the importance of community for mental health and belonging, along with what they appreciate about Black History Month at Lethbridge Polytechnic. During t...

“Ultimately, my focus is on making space for perspectives that have historically been excluded and ensuring our work contributes to the systemic change.” ~ Dr. Kirsten Fantazir, Research Chair at Lethbridge Polytechnic  Dr. Kirsten Fantazir (Instructor and Research Chair at Lethbridge Polytechnic), and Dr. Jami Albright-Tolman (Instructor and Researcher), share about public safety applied research...

"We know WIL has this really magical ability to create a stronger connection between students and this community." ~ Perry Stein, City of Lethbridge Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships Manager Dr. Natalie Barfuss (business instructor at Lethbridge Polytechnic) and Perry Stein (Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships Manager at the City of Lethbridge) share the overwhelming benefits of WIL for st...

"Teaching is not only about giving information, right? It's not about giving facts or explaining concepts or putting things together. It's creating a certain environment where learning is happening and I still think that humans are better at this than AI.” ~ Dr. Olga Klymenko  A recent study from MIT shows that over-reliance on LLMs for writing accumulates cognitive debt (weaker brain connectivity...

Dr. Brad Donaldson, President and CEO of Lethbridge Polytechnic, unpacks how the institution is navigating national shifts in post-secondary funding, and what it means to take control of our collective future as a PSI in Alberta. He shares practical strategies for ethical domestic recruitment, applied learning and research, and fostering a “critically kind” campus culture that empowers educators,...

Ryan Mann, Faculty Development Facilitator at SAIT’s Centre for Academic Development and Innovation, and Eric Mitchell, an Automotive Services Instructor at Lethbridge Polytechnic, are actively responding to teaching and learning gaps in the Trades through innovative—and technically scholarly—work. Despite the improvements they're making, Ryan and Eric don't really consider their work as scholarly...

Beyond the obvious benefits exercise has on your body, research shows that it has powerful benefits on your brain, too—like improved memory, attention, and processing speed. Simon Schaerz (Exercise Science instructor at Lethbridge Polytechnic), David Selles (Physical Education student from the University of Lethbridge), and Tyler Duffy (Exercise Science student at Lethbridge Polytechnic) discuss e...

Instructor Kathie Ervin and Instructional Designer Craig McCarthy collaborated to revamp Kathie's Distance Learning (DL) course in the Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Therapeutic Recreation Gerontology program.  The goal? Create a more hands-on learning experience for DL students.  Kathie and Craig outline their revision strategy, share stories about student creativity and community, and explain why they...

Students Cory, Adam, Lenae, and Maddie share all about their Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) experiences at Lethbridge Polytechnic.  No matter the program, classroom theory comes to life when students are paired with real-world scenarios – and the lessons are invaluable. Students discuss favourite moments and key insights from their WIL experiences. They also exchange strategies for navigating chal...

Stone Pipe Days is a four-day event recognizing the pride, history, and culture of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) community here at Lethbridge Polytechnic. Jordan Head, Indigenous Cultural Advisor, is a key organizer for this year's Stone Pipe Days, and he joins us to share all about this special event. Jordan outlines the agenda (opening ceremonies, meals, guest speakers, films, a traditional powwow)...

Dr. Erika Smith (Educational Development Consultant at the University of Calgary), Richard Hayman (Associate Professor and Digital Initiatives Librarian at Mount Royal University), and Constance Sheriff (Research Services Librarian at Lethbridge Polytechnic) explore the daunting task researchers face in sharing their work with their audiences.  Erika, Richard, and Constance explain how using strat...

"It's my dream. It's our dream. It's the polytechnic's dream. But it's a dream of our elders that we keep going." ~ Marcia Black Water, Indigenous Coordinator for the Centre for Business, Arts, and Sciences  Marcia Black Water (Indigenous Coordinator for CBAS), Jessica Fox (English and Blackfoot Instructor), and Sandra Atwood (Indigenous Studies Instructor) partnered to create A'paitsitapisksinima...

Black History Month is a time to pause, rest, and reflect on who you are, and what makes you special as a Black person. Lethbridge Polytechnic students Noel, Michelle, Janet, and Tony explore what Black culture means, and how they navigate mental wellness as students. This lively group argues about how they find healing and talks about how they love to share culture – the food, the fashion, the mu...

The only of its kind in Canada, the Wildlife Analytics Lab (WAL) specializes in wildlife cementum (mineralized tissue covering tooth roots) analysis. Through this process, technicians can determine wildlife age and life history to better inform resource conservation practices. WAL has numerous implications for transformational research (including becoming the new standard for aging wildlife), and...

Like probiotics are for your gut, mycorrhizal fungi are for soil in vitalizing millions of microorganisms! Dr. Adriana Morrell, Instructor and Mycology Lab Scientific Lead from Lethbridge Polytechnic shares about her sustainable research project on soil reclamation. Adriana's aim? Identify effective treatments to spur biologically diverse and productive outcomes after a disturbance (like coal mini...

“The key thing that we keep emphasizing, you'll hear us say it over and over again, is we have to be where industry is, and where industry wants to be next.” ~ Andrew Dunlop, Associate Vice President of Research at Lethbridge Polytechnic Dave McMurray, Applied Research Manager at Lethbridge Polytechnic, and Andrew Dunlop, Associate Vice President of Research at Lethbridge Polytechnic discuss the i...

Do you have a sense of duty, urgency, and community? The justice field wants YOU! 🫵 Whether you're fresh out of high-school, or you're a workforce veteran considering a career switch, there are so many opportunities for you in the justice field – our special guests want to share them all with you! Joining this episode are Constable Allie Enkirch from Lethbridge Police Service (LPS); Constable Kir...

CTLI leaders Christie Robertson (Associate Dean), Lexi Schaerz (Learning Experience Design Manager), Jaddon Park (Academic Services Manager), and Mark Davids (Accessibility Services Manager) discuss our recent transition from a college to a polytechnic. The group expand on what this change means for CTLI, and how our mandate – though largely the same in striving to create the most meaningful learn...

LITL-Pod hits the road–well, technically just across campus– to hear about Work-Integrated Learning (WIL)! Guests Kristen DeMone, Natalie Barfuss, and Stephanie Wierl, share how WIL helps instructors create industry connections in the community gives students a safe space to navigate working with real clients This trio answers questions about WIL from a live audience, and they dig deep into why WI...

“How can we produce food... and reduce our footprint?” – John Derksen, Chair of the Aquaculture Centre of Excellence John Derksen, Chair of the Aquaculture Centre of Excellence, and Dr. Nick Savidov, Senior Research Scientist at the Aquaculture Centre of Excellence take us on a deep dive into aquaponics!   They explain how their aquaponics facility works, including their state-of-the-art biofiltra...

Doctor Bhuvinder Vaid, an Education Developer from Capilano University, and Doctor Gwen Nguyen and Britt Dzioba who are Advisors on the Learning and Teaching team at BCcampus, join the pod for a sustained conversation around positionality. This trio dives deeply into this concept, and explores how positionality is a practice that can break down equity barriers and help students feel a greater sens...

Joshua Hill, an instructor at Lethbridge College, shares about his exciting course-build on Environmental Psychology and Conservation.  Josh explains how this course can help students better understand the psychological motivations in choosing certain behaviours over others in wildlife settings and interactions. Because the topic is so broad, Josh found it challenging to wrangle his ideas into a m...