Learning Innovation: The Teaching & Learning Podcast

Nelson Lateeph, host of Under The Bridge – Tha Podcast, sits down with Donna and Jordana to talk about his experience moving to Lethbridge with his family from Cape Town, South Africa. Nelson is passionate about social development in the city, and has some practical ideas on how international students (and newcomers in general) can get more involved with their community to foster a greater sense o...

In this thought-provoking episode, we recognize Black History Month (BHM) with a meaningful panel discussion featuring Lethbridge College students: Sharon Boit, Susan Samaila, and Raihau-Milz Izonyobore. The trio discuss the significance of BHM events at the college, and share heart-felt dialogue about Black culture and identity, including influences like language, education, tradition, and inters...

Alexander McEwan, an aspiring K-12 teacher set to graduate with his bachelor's degree in Education from the University of Lethbridge, shares about his unique teaching practicum last semester at Chinook High School.  Along with running an AI research project, Alex explored creative ways to introduce his students to generative AI. Using tools like Class Companion and ChatGPT, Alex showed his student...

“Recognize that unlearning is the highest form of learning.” – Rumi  Liz Cernigoy, chair of Lethbridge College's nursing program, and nursing instructor Danielle Aitkens expand on the recent effort to rebuild the college’s nursing curriculum with a focus on EDI. The pair explore ideas around how we teach, and how students learn so that more learning styles can be accommodated.   By teaching from a...

Jaclyn Doherty, dean of Lethbridge College’s Centre for Teaching, Learning, and Innovation, celebrates our 50th episode with us! She and Donna commiserate over past episodes and discuss the evolving strategies that influence Jackie's efforts to foster an agile and collaborative culture within CTLI.  This episode is dedicated to our dear friend and colleague, Melissa Reed Boogaart. She was a warm a...

Kristin Bond and Craig McCarthy, instructional designers at Lethbridge College, join the pod to talk about their experimentation using generative AI to help build course rubrics. The pair discuss how ChatGPT saves hours on tedious, low-level tasks, and creates opportunities for more creative, higher-level thinking in course development. Craig and Kristin pose thoughtful questions about a more refl...

Trudi Mason, dean of Justice and Human Services; Lowell Yellowhorn, manager of Indigenous services, and Mark Smallbones, instructor and placement advisor with the School of Justice Studies, discuss the massive community effort in developing Lethbridge College’s Indigenous Policing Microdcredentials.  This six-course suite was created by several key stakeholders with unique lenses, including member...

Warren Anderson and Spencer Wenzel from Westwind School Division, and Eric Mitchell, an automotive instructor from Lethbridge College, share how the STEM collaboration has evolved between Westwind School Division and the college. The trio discuss their roles in the collab, and dive into detail on the resources they're developing – specifically the STEM kits that are helping to make learning sticky...

Kelly Thompson, Lethbridge College business instructor, is making waves in the third iteration of her project management class–where students are building, managing and implementing group projects (typically fundraisers for local charities). Kelly is joined by her former student, Josh Helmer, and the pair discuss the far-reaching impacts this hands-on teaching style has for learners, instructors,...

Marni Hope Miisomii'kitsikaakii (Long Time Offering), Lethbridge College’s Indigenous student support and events coordinator, shares about Truth and Reconciliation events happening around campus. Marni emphasizes the far-reaching impacts of these efforts, and ways we can personalize and practice applying Truth and Reconciliation principles daily.  During the podcast, Marni and guest-host, Jordana,...

Rosemary Shannon, Instructor and Chair of Lethbridge College’s Massage Therapy Program, shares her use of narrative instruction that's bringing learning to life for her students. Rosemary uses illustrative language to guide her students in developing hands-on skills from day one. This method not only saves Rosemary hours in demonstration time, but it’s also helping her students gain confidence in...

Dr. Tai Munro, Sustainability Professor at MacEwan University, and Dr. Jaddon Park, Educational Development Specialist at Lethbridge College, share how sustainability is a common throughline connecting us all – from agriculture to accounting! Tai and Jaddon discuss the social and cultural implications of striving for holistic sustainability, and how it can empower both instructors and students to...

Guests from Lethbridge College gather to share about an innovative Peer-to-Peer Mentorship initiative from the college's Learning Café and Student Affairs. Laura Coad (she/her), Integrated Support Specialist/Academic Writing Strategist, Elizabeth Eremenko (she/her), Academic Strategist Math and Science, and Kelly Bari (she/her), Coordinator First Year Experience, discuss how this initiative is sup...

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 quest...

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...

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 h...

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.  References: B...

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 fo...

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 c...

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, new...

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 Sorensen from Lethbridge College, Jon Newman from Olds College, Rob Horlacher from the University of Lethbridge, and Rich McCu...

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. References DCM – Digital...

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...

Rich McCue, manager of the University of Victoria’s Libraries Digital Scholarship Commons, joins us to talk about Makerspaces in academia. Makerspaces are physical and virtual 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...

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 learnin...