In the spring, we announced the 2023 recipients of the President’s Award for Innovation in Student Learning and Success.
The award acknowledges outstanding contributions from members of the NC community who have significantly impacted student engagement, learning, or success through innovative approaches and the creation of new opportunities.
This prestigious award not only celebrates the exceptional efforts of NC staff but also fosters an environment of innovation and knowledge sharing throughout our organization. Each year, five awards are given to individuals or teams who have successfully introduced innovations that address crucial student learning or success needs.
The 2023 recipients were granted $2,500, which they leveraged in various ways to advance their groundbreaking innovations, or, to pursue professional development opportunities.
As we approach the 2024 nomination process and welcome the recognition of new innovations, we caught up with this years’ NC Innovators to reflect on their achievements and the valuable opportunities they created for our students.
Niagara College Therapeutic Recreation Activities Collective (nc-TRAC)
Innovator/innovators: Professors in the School of Community Services Christine Wilkinson and Erin Wilkie, and nc-TRAC Program Manager Abby Silver
About nc-TRAC:
Niagara College’s nc-TRAC has been a haven for students since its reopening in fall 2022, offering a safe space for leisure activities and focusing on expanding its programs to support students across various College areas. Located at the Welland Campus, the centre promotes physical, social, cognitive, spiritual, and emotional health through therapeutic recreation activities, registered programs, special events, guided relaxation, meditation, and cultural programs.
How innovators leveraged the award funding to advance nc-TRAC:
The Award funding aided nc-TRAC in staff and student training, enhancing sensory activities, and expanding services to the Daniel J. Patterson Campus. The award funds also facilitated training for two Recreation Therapy students in evidence-based activities, enhancing therapeutic session availability.
Additionally, the award funds helped replenish nc-TRAC supplies, supporting stationary resources and procuring materials for student-led programs. This included popular stress management programs and stationary supplies for the Daniel J. Patterson Campus, significantly boosting student engagement.
How innovator/innovators hope to see nc-TRAC grow in the future:
With positive feedback, nc-TRAC aims for a regular presence at NC and beyond, focusing on community engagement and supporting partners and alumni. Interest from community agencies aligns with the College’s commitment to community contribution, benefiting both students and the global affiliates of NC through various avenues.
Recent nc-TRAC achievements and/or announcements:
nc-TRAC is launching at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus this fall, offering bi-weekly sessions starting in October. Faculty can now book the available nc-TRAC Classroom sessions. For more details, please contact Abby Silver at [email protected].
Read more about nc-TRAC here.
Developing Readers Program
Innovator: Program Coordinator/Professor in EA&AS program Barbara Morris
About Developing Reader’s Program:
The Developing Reader’s Program is a four-week experiential learning program that provides students in the Educational Assistance and Adult Supports (EAAS) program with real-world experience supporting literacy development in children. A way to engage students in learning and self-reflection, the program launched in Fall 2022 and gave 120 NC students the chance to engage in meaningful ways with students in kindergarten to grade two in preparation for their careers in education. Over 350 District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) students benefitted from additional reading development support. NC students also benefitted from supporting readers and experiencing the impact of their work as children advanced their reading skills.
How innovator/innovators leveraged the award funding to advance the Developing Reader’s Program:
The funds allowed Morris to purchase a book cart complete with levelled reading books that EAAS students can use when in the field.
How the innovator hopes to see the Developing Reader’s Program grow in the future:
Barbara is eager for the book cart to be housed in the NC libraries. This will enable students to use the books during their placements, engaging in meaningful interactions with elementary students throughout the program.
Barbara also hopes to expand the selection of books provided on the book cart. The book cart currently contains a series Hi-Lo texts (stories with engaging content for older readers, presented in easy-to-read text formats), and she aims to expand the reading program into the Adult Sector in the future.
Recent Developing Readers Project achievements and/or announcements:
The Developing Readers Project will continue for the Fall 2023 term. Students will have the opportunity to participate in experiential learning among Welland elementary schools where they will read with students to help them develop literacy skills.
Read more about the Developing Reader’s Program here.
The Library and Learning Commons Exploratory
Innovators: Director of the Library and Learning Commons at Daniel J. Patterson in Niagara on the Lake Campus, Gordana Vitez, and Library Facilitators, Information Literacy, Siscoe Boschman and Matt Bohun
About the LLC Exploratory:
The Library and Learning Commons (LLC) Exploratory is a digital media lab and makerspace equipped with the latest and greatest technology and software for any student to use. The spaces – curated and overseen by the LLC team – is home to software and equipment for filming and editing videos, recording audio, designing graphics, as well as virtual reality headsets and equipment for creating marketing material and prototypes including a 3D printer, button maker, and Cricut machine.
How innovators leveraged the award funding to advance the Exploratory:
With the award funds, Matt Bohun was able to attend the University of British Columbia Master of Educational Technology Conference’s (UBC MET) Inclusive Makerspace Conference. The focus of the conference was implementing equity, diversity, inclusion, decolonization, and anti-racism (EDIDA) frameworks in the design of inclusive makerspaces. Matt took part in several engaging workshops, made connections with other passionate librarians and educators, and attended thought-provoking panel discussions. Key learning included practical strategies for leveraging emergency technologies and creating welcoming physical spaces that remove barriers and encourage hands-on experience. Future development in the exploratory might include harnessing the power of predictive and generative AI in audio and video editing software production.
How innovators hope to see the LLCs’ Exploratory grow in the future:
The innovators ultimately hope to enhance and expand the service to support a rich offering of programming for students. They want to connect with as many students as possible by introducing their technology and demonstrating the possibilities for creativity and learning. Programming like the Information Literacy pop-ups will see library facilitators bring Exploratory equipment to students outside of the library, reaching students who might otherwise be unfamiliar with the space.
Recent LLC Exploratory achievements and/or announcements:
Recently, faculty in the School of English Language Studies have been using the space and the lightboard technology to create high-quality content for virtual learning. The lightboard technology project was first introduced by Business and Management Studies Professor, Nick Farnell, so faculty could create video content for teaching purposes. Additionally, Shauna Gupta, Professor in the School of English Language, who was one of 15 people selected to receive the first-ever President’s Award for Innovation in Student Learning and Success for her innovation with the lightboard, now seamlessly integrates into the LLCs’ Exploratory to further enhance student engagement and learning.
Over the summer, the Daniel J. Patterson Campus Exploratory underwent a review with the assistance of a CICE program co-op student. Throughout this process, the team leveraged a framework and concepts from the Inclusive Makerspace Conference to design a more thoughtful and welcoming workspace for all NC students and faculty. One example includes the welcoming signage. You can touch the 3D printer and position the equipment in a way that is barrier-free.
During the summer, Bohun also presented to Academic Deans, Associate Deans, and members of Centre of Academic Excellence (CAE) on the use of VR from the libraries’ perspective, leading to a faculty project around VR.
Read more about the LLCs’ Exploratory here.
Ontario BIPOC Counsellors Group
Innovator: Jamie Consoli, Counsellor in Health, Wellness and Accessibility Services
About the Ontario BIPOC Counsellors Group:
In a grassroots effort to address societal gaps, Jamie Consoli and fellow counselors from York University and Wilfrid Laurier University established the Ontario BIPOC Counsellors Group. This collective of counselors from various Ontario educational institutions meets monthly to provide virtual peer-to-peer support and foster connections among students. Originating during the pandemic, the initiative highlighted the urgent need for mental health care and underscored the disparities experienced by Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) seeking support, as well as the underrepresentation of racialized counselors.
How innovators leveraged the award funding to advance the Ontario BIPOC Counsellors Group:
The award funds will be used to invest in the cost of arranging a significant keynote speaker that the group would only dream of hearing speak in person.
How innovator hopes to see the Ontario BIPOC Counsellors Group grow in the future:
Since the group was formed during the pandemic, it has grown significantly simply via word of mouth. Not only are the innovators launching an active recruitment for more BIPOC-identifying post-secondary counsellors across Ontario, but they are hoping for a successful conference next spring. This conference will be a springboard for the group to further develop initiatives that will benefit BIPOC counsellors and accessibility counsellors across Ontario and their students.
Recent Ontario BIPOC Counsellors achievements and/or announcements:
The Ontario BIPOC Post-Secondary Counsellors group is planning its first ever conference at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus this spring, allowing the group to gather in person for the first time.
Read more about the Ontario BIPOC Counsellors Group here.
Project Portfolio Website – Business Analytics Capstone
Innovator: Nick Farnell, Professor in the School of Business and Management Studies
About the Project Portfolio Website:
Business and Management Studies Professor Nick Farnell was inspired by the old saying “show, don’t tell” when he came up with the idea behind the Project Portfolio Website, which aims to showcase the complex work of his Business Analytics Post-Graduate program students. The two-semester post-graduate program, comprised of 12 courses on statistics, strategic decision making, predictive analytics and data ethics, culminates with a capstone course on Practices in Business Analytics which partners student teams with real-world industry projects. The Project Portfolio Website displays the work from the student teams and highlights their industry partners and key components of the academic program.
How the innovator leveraged the award funding to advance the Project Portfolio Website:
Farnell used the award to invest in advanced technology, specifically an iPad Pro and accompanying accessories such as keyboards, adaptors, etc. This acquisition has significantly enhanced the platform’s virtual communication capabilities. Throughout this semester, the iPad has served as a valuable tool for hosting virtual meetings with industry partners.
Another crucial aspect of the platform is the ability to review student work across various devices. Following discussions, research, and analysis, the final step involves crafting an interactive visual presentation that immerses the project partner in the data. Traditionally, the platform has relied on PowerBI or Shiny for this purpose. However, previous limitations to PC desktops hindered a comprehensive view and it’s imperative to test website dashboards and ensure they display effectively on commonly used devices like iPads.
How the innovator hopes to see the Project Portfolio Website grow in the future:
The website’s primary objective is to remain the central platform for showcasing graduating business analytics students’ capstone projects. Beyond showcasing student work, the aim is to attract new external partners interested in collaborating on projects with students. There has been a strong history of successful partnerships, spanning from local nonprofits to global corporations, and the program continues to actively seek new organizations to engage with.
As for the technology components, Farnell is committed to ongoing experimentation within the classroom. This includes staying up to date with evolving analytics tools, programming languages, software, and systems, ensuring that student projects remain current and meaningful. On the instructional side, Farnell is dedicated to using available tools to enhance the overall student experience. This involves leveraging resources within Blackboard, implementing interactive demonstrations, and creating pre-recorded video tutorials for more technical assignments. Farnell also hopes to optimize teaching and learning experiences in the future by incorporating technologies like iPads paired with Apple TV, facilitating mobility in the classroom, and enabling students to actively engage with the content.
Recent Project Portfolio Website achievements and/or announcements:
At the time of the award project submission, the winter semester was nearing completion. Since then, Farnell has successfully incorporated all student projects, student profiles, and comprehensive details about each industry partner into the system.
This integration has proven to be a great method for displaying outstanding student work and emphasizing the program’s valuable industry collaborations. Additionally, the final presentations were live streamed through the website. As part of the analytics strategy, Farnell tracked pageviews and other website data, which now serves as a concrete example in discussions around leveraging Google Analytics.
Read more about the Project Portfolio Website here.
