A message from the Centre for Academic Excellence
There’s no question that Niagara College staff, faculty and administrators place students at the forefront of their work at the College.
On Oct. 24 and 25, this commitment was evident as the bi-annual Spotlight on Teaching & Learning Conference welcomed more than 100 staff, faculty and administrators on a journey of sharing, connecting and learning.
With 20 Niagara College presenters and five external speakers, sessions at the event covered a range of topics – from reflecting on indigenous issues, leading student learning abroad, and making mobile apps as part of classroom experiences, to enhancing student engagement, utilizing universal design for learning and maximizing course feedback.
Keynote speaker Dr. Barbara Oakley presented Learning How to Learn: Powerful Mental Tools to Help You Master Tough Subjects. Dr. Oakley delved into cognitive neuroscience to offer practical information about how we can better help our students – and ourselves – more easily master new and difficult material.
Beginning with her own challenges in math and her efforts to overcome them Dr. Oakley shared her own journey in learning. Exploring the world of the “monster” neuron made a complex topic into a fun and inviting adventure into the brain. She also shared key tips for retaining information and learning, including:
• Using metaphors and imagery to help simplify complex ideas and help students to connect those ideas to their pre-existing knowledge
• Helping students reduce procrastination by implementing simple strategies like the Pomodoro Technique
• Reinforcing the positive and very tangible neurological effects of good sleep and exercise
For those interested in seeing Dr. Oakley’s presentation, the Centre for Academic Excellence will make a recording of her keynote available on our website in the coming weeks. A copy of her book, Learning How to Learn, on which her talk was based, is also available for borrow through the library.
Anishinaabe Knowledge-Keeper Rick McLean helped to set the stage for the conference by leading an inspiring and powerful traditional indigenous opening and closing that shared the important message of gratitude and giving thanks.
It is with this gratitude in mind that the Centre for Academic Excellence would like to extend a big thank-you to everyone who helped to make the conference a success, including:
Session facilitators and panelists
Proposal reviewers
Session “buddies”
Benchmark Restaurant
Chartwells
Facilities Management Services
Information Technology Services
School of Media
Marketing and Communications
Student Services
Student Administrative Council (SAC)
We would also like to extend a special thank-you to our five external speakers:
Nancy Nelson – Conestoga College
Elaine Berwald – White Northern Lights Woman, Indigenous Learning Circle Facilitator
Kate McLoughlin – Blackboard Architect
Rick McLean – Anishinaabe Knowledge-Keeper
Dr. Barbara Oakley – Professor of Engineering, Oakland University
thank you also to NC’s executive team, who attended various parts of the conference, and especially President Dan Patterson who provided welcoming remarks. Their involvement and the presence of so many others demonstrates the commitment of Niagara College to creating applied, innovative, inclusive learning experiences for our students.
We look forward to seeing everyone again at the next Spotlight on Teaching & Learning Conference in 2020.
-The Centre for Academic Excellence
We would like to acknowledge and honour the ancestors of those on whose traditional lands we gather. Niagara College is located on traditional beaver hunting grounds, which was a shared territory of the Anishnaabe, Haudenosaunee, Attawandaron and other nations.
