One of the college's new teaching studios. (Supplied by Lethbridge College)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge College faculty find innovative ways to offer a “different kind of semester”

Sep 2, 2020 | 10:30 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – As much as the COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges for educators, it has also afforded some opportunities to approach teaching and technology in new ways for Lethbridge College.

There will be a mix of in-person and online classes this year with academic and trades programs being offered in a flexible mixed learning environment.

The College’s Centre for Teaching, learning, and Innovation (CTLI) has been working since March to create alternative delivery models.

“We have spent the summer teaming up with departments across the college, such as Student Affairs, IT and Web Services, to build tools and resources, adjust services, troubleshoot systems and processes and test out new software so both faculty and students have the support they need for a successful learning experience in the fall,” says Jaclyn Doherty, Dean of the CTLI. “We know we won’t always get it perfect, but we’ll do our best to meet them where they are at when they need it the most.”

A new Learning Innovation website has been created to help faculty members put together lesson plans and structure their courses.

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Instructors will be able to utilize video cameras, tripods, and microphones for recording lectures, Go-Pro cameras can offer students in trades of environmental sciences the first-person point of view of hands-on techniques, and tablet computers will become more commonplace.

The CTLI has converted private breakout rooms in the learning commons into teaching studios where instructors can capture lessons using a variety of technologies.

“The resources provided for instructors by CTLI have been incredible,” says Kris Hodgson-Bright, Digital Communications and Media instructor. “The sessions for online and blended course design have created some exciting and innovative ways to deliver content where students are interacting and presenting back to the class, as well as using other active learning strategies that will keep the conversations going.”

“They’ve also helped me to become more familiar with Zoom and ways to teach classes synchronously or asynchronously, to ensure students can work through content in the style that suits them best.”

Students in several trades programs were welcomed to the college this week while most other programs begin classes on September 9.