Just a reminder about how important it is to take your holidays and flex days - even when it's busy around here.   And this means getting away from work in all ways - including digitally - when you can.   We need a healthy team with fresh perspectives!

Here's a photo of Karly (my youngest daughter) and I on top of Table Mountain a couple weeks ago.  Removed - mentally and digitally!

Goal Setting from your units . . .

In follow up to our EET meeting in June, I'm compiling the notes from your groups.  In addition to reading through the successes (there were many) and challenges (yes, there were a few),  I’ll be focusing on the goals each of the units within EET has set (or is setting) for 12/13 along with overall goals for EET.    

So far these overriding EET goals are on increasing the focus on Applied Research and on more integration between units.  You'll be asked for input on this as it comes together.

I'm missing information from AV and from Curriculum, so it would be helpful if you could follow up by the end of August (taking holidays into account) with the following from 11/12.   Point form would be great!

• Successes
• Challenges
• Goals for your unit

Thank you!

 

  

 

30-60-120 Project - What is this?

LC programs are currently structured in multiple ways, which causes problems with articulation both within the College and with other institutions.   The goal of this project is this:

• “The value of a LC credential, course, and credit will be standardized measures of learning which are understood by post-secondary institutions worldwide.”   The result will benefit students as it will increase opportunities for exchanges and in accessing increased learning pathways.  

It's called the 30-60-120 project because they are working towards having 30 credits / semester; 60 credits / year; and 120 credits / diploma. 

So think about the meaning of "credit".   Here credit is "defined as the amount of learning effort in a course, including the class / tutorial / lab / homework / group work time / and the amount of independent learning that a student must do to succeed in that course.  

This project involves the VPA/CLO, HR, EMLS, Finance, IPR, and CTLI (how’s that for acronyms :) and has broad implications for curriculum, tuition, workload, etc.

• Phase 1 is complete.  The RO has put the existing courses through a conversion process so they equal a standard course credit value of 1.5, 3 or 6 credits.  

• Phase 2 will involve determining levels of programming development and redesign required, etc.  

I have more details on this so just ask if you are interested.   This project has broad implications so it’s important all of us are aware that it’s happening.

EET Staff Go Above and Beyond . . . .

• Elio, Darwin, Tim, and Ryan have been working hard to ensure that the classroom technology upgrades are ready for instructors in September.  Did you know that almost every teaching space on campus will have a Smartboard and teaching station by the end of the summer?   We received additional unexpected funding for additional equipment in June, and this caused a change in AV plans for the summer.   Our AV staff, along with Facilities staff and contractors, have all stepped up to make this happen for instructors for September.   

  

• Jackie, Andy, and Christie really stepped up this week to design and facilitate two workshops for new instructors:  Course Design and Intro to Teaching.    

• Donna really put a lot into coordinating the move from TE3215 to TE3215.   The move happened quickly and Donna took care of many of the details very efficiently.

Orientation Activities for New Instructors

One of the new initiatives in EET this year is an escalated “required” orientation for new instructors.   This gap was identified through feedback from chairs and from focus groups we facilitated with instructors last spring. 

• Additional Instructional Skills Workshops (ISWs).   We offered one last week for six new instructors, and so far we’ve scheduled two more in August.   We’re also having to adapt the traditional model to accommodate increased numbers of instructors who need and / or want to participate in this workshop
• Course Design Workshop:  This provides instructors with initial support for designing their courses.
•  Intro to Teaching Workshop:  This is a condensed version of the ISW and is a requirement for casual / hourly instructors.
• Resources:  We’re also compiling resource information for new instructors, including a “manual” and digital information.

Technology needs for this teaching space?

Anybody thought about classroom technology needs for this teaching space?

Staffing Updates - July 25, 2012

• Instructional Design

o   Christie is moving from a term Instructional Designer position into a full-time continuing role effective August 1, 2012.  Congratulations Christie!   It’s great to have you become a more permanent part of our team.

o   Welcome to Angela Viola, our new instructional designer.  Angela has worked for a few days this past week, and is now away on holidays.   She’ll be back full-time in a couple weeks and will be working in a one-year term position. 

o   We’re planning to hire one more instructional designer as soon as possible.   This is a replacement – term - position for Diana as she transitions out of EET to focus on her consulting business.   When we hire for this position it will complete our ID team for the upcoming year.

o   Stacey is also back with EET working on a contract primarily with Practical Nursing courses.  We’re very fortunate to be able to contract experienced and competent people like Stacey to work on specific projects.

• Curriculum and PD:   
• We’re interviewing on Thursday morning for three additional positions:  Curriculum Consultant, PD Consultant, and one additional term Instructional Designer.  We’re trying to fill these positions as soon as possible.

•  Flexible Learning Coordinator position:  Erin (more details when she starts) is starting within EET on Monday, July 30.   I’ll post separately on this one, as it’s a new position. 

• Staffing in other units within EET right now is both consistent and strong. 

Transition Plan

Thanks for your patience this week as I've been planning to transition into the Interim Dean position.   I have at least an initial plan in place that will take us through the summer and into September, but I'll be evaluating as we go along and may make some adjustments.

To summarize,  I’ll be sharing my time between Centre and EET responsibilities / needs (see the schedule on the google doc) and will have to evolve with the position as things play out.   I’ve made the decision to try to keep EET moving with little change for now because most units are working very well.

My goal will be to ensure you have the support you need to be able to continue to move forward.   To achieve this goal, communication will be critical, so I’ll continue to meet with the leaders group on a regular basis.    That said, some of you will likely need to be more independent in your decision making and / or take on additional responsibilities.  I see this as an opportunity for growth for all of us, and we’ll have to work together to ensure things go well.

Please read on . . .

http://tinyurl.com/EET-transition

Thanks for your support through this.   All of us will need to work together to keep things moving and make things happen.   Exciting times, for sure!   If you have questions or concerns, please visit or email.

Karen

Staff Updates - July 5, 2012

Couple updates for you on staffing:

1.   Kathy is leaving EET to pursue other opportunities.  Her last day will be July 20.   We'll be advertising to fill this position again next week.  Best wishes to Kathy on her future endeavors. 

2.  We're currently interviewing for four other positions and if all goes according to plan, we'll have people in place starting in a couple weeks.   This includes the following positions:

• Curriculum Consultant
• Flexible Learning Coordinator
• Instructional Designer - Both full-time continuing and term positions
• PD Consultant - We've re-posted this position and will be leaving it open until we have qualified applicants.