Learning Innovation: The Teaching & Learning Podcast

E77: Building Empathy and Confidence in the Classroom through Virtual Reality

Jill Burrows (psychology professor), Dean Kolebaba (instructor and Program Chair for the School of Justice Studies), and Lyle Ruggles (e-learning specialist) chat about the innovative teaching and learning pathways virtual reality (VR) is creating at Lethbridge Polytechnic.

This trio discuss how they have integrated narrative-driven VR into their classrooms, including what's worked, what hasn't, and what new developments they'll continue to adopt in the future. 

Jill, Dean, and Lyle share how VR technology is helping students practice public speaking and interpersonal communication skills in a safe environment, and how it’s helping to nurture greater empathy, compassion, and understanding for individuals struggling with mental health challenges (like autism and schizophrenia). 

During the show, guests and Donna (host) mention:

• General Arts and Science - Psychology and Sociology Diploma  
• Therapeutic Recreation - Gerontology 
• Criminal Justice Studies 
• Justice Studies 
• Justice and Human Services Programs 
• Wind Turbine Technician 
• Massage Therapy program 
• Ovation VR 
• Chris Milk TED Talk: How virtual reality can create the ultimate empathy machine 
• Sharecare 
• MetaQuest 

E76: BHM Student Panel 🇳🇬 Nigerian Edition 🇳🇬 — Navigating equity, community, and belonging in Canada

Monica, Aderiyike, Jude, and Divine — nursing students at Lethbridge Polytechnic — share their experiences of cultural identity and community support as they navigate (sometimes discriminatory) systems in Canada.

The group discuss resilience and the importance of community for mental health and belonging, along with what they appreciate about Black History Month at Lethbridge Polytechnic.

During the show, guests and host (Donna) mention:

• Practical Nursing at Lethbridge Polytechnic
• Yoruba tribe 
• Igbo tribe 
• LPSA – Lethbridge Polytechnic Student Association 
• Services Canada 
• Racial bias in pain assessment and treatment recommendations, and false beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites 
• Jollof rice 

E75: Research and Reconciliation — Fostering Healing and Community through Public Safety Applied Research

“Ultimately, my focus is on making space for perspectives that have historically been excluded and ensuring our work contributes to the systemic change.” ~ Dr. Kirsten Fantazir, Research Chair at Lethbridge Polytechnic 

Dr. Kirsten Fantazir (Instructor and Research Chair at Lethbridge Polytechnic), and Dr. Jami Albright-Tolman (Instructor and Researcher), share about public safety applied research projects that are fostering connection with Blackfoot communities, and preparing students for careers in public safety. 

Kirsten and Jami expand on Community Integration Through Art Pissatsinaskssini (CITAP), and how its Creative Circles can foster healing, trust, and reconciliation.  

CITAP brings together Indigenous elders, students, and community partners to share meals, art, and cultural practices—and challenge stereotypes about houseless and vulnerable populations. Kirsten and Jami highlight early results, ethical practices, and the importance of authentic relationships and Indigenous ways of knowing. 

During the show, guests and Donna (host) mention:

• CPSAR – Centre for Public Safety Applied Research 
• CITAP – Community Integration Through Art - Pissatsinaskssini
• Ninastako Cultural Centre 
• E05: Gamifying Grammar with Murray Bartley and Kirsten Fantazir
• E56: The positionality effect – Building empathy through reflection and transparency about your place in the world 
• Dude’s Club 
• Sir Robert Peel’s Policing Principles 
• Niitsitapi Eats and Treats 
• RAs (resident assistants)
• Tsimshian
• Haida
• RINSA 
• CI-CAN National Indigenous Education Symposium 
• First Thunder Wellness
• Criminal Justice at Lethbridge Polytechnic
• VR Core
• York Regional Police, Ontario 
• Bill C48 
• Social Determinants of Health

E74: Lethbridge City Scholars — Building Stronger Bridges Between Campus and Community

"We know WIL has this really magical ability to create a stronger connection between students and this community." ~ Perry Stein, City of Lethbridge Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships Manager

Dr. Natalie Barfuss (business instructor at Lethbridge Polytechnic) and Perry Stein (Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships Manager at the City of Lethbridge) share the overwhelming benefits of WIL for students and their communities.

Work-integrated learning (WIL) helps students develop skills like teamwork, collaboration, problem-solving, and critical thinking. These real-world skills help students step out more confidently into their careers. Because WIL allows students a glimpse into the community, these experiences can even kindle an interest in staying around Lethbridge after graduation.

Natalie also shares how instructors can dip their toes in WIL experiences. Hint—it's easier than you think!

During the show, Perry, Natalie, and Donna (host) mention:

• ☀️SUMMER BONUS☀️ E58: LITL-Pod LIVE – Preparing learners and shaping community through Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) 
• Lethbridge Polytechnic
  • REB 
  • Bachelor of Nursing
  • Trades & Technologies
  • School of Business 
• University of Lethbridge
  • Mitacs
• University of Calgary 
• NorQuest College WIL Symposium
• CASA 
• Downtown BRZ 
• Universal Design for Learning
• Goal-setting theory
• City Scholars
• CEWIL
• Southgrow

 

E73: 🤖 AI literacy and Critical Awareness — Helping Students Stay Human on their Learning Journey

"Teaching is not only about giving information, right? It's not about giving facts or explaining concepts or putting things together. It's creating a certain environment where learning is happening and I still think that humans are better at this than AI.” ~ Dr. Olga Klymenko 

A recent study from MIT shows that over-reliance on LLMs for writing accumulates cognitive debt (weaker brain connectivity, less ownership over the finished product).  

Dr. Olga Klymenko, instructor and language expert, is grappling with how to address over-reliance on AI writing in her classroom. 

Olga doesn't believe in banning or even policing the use of AI. Instead, she believes the answer lies in choosing to engage—that is, aiming to be collaborators in the process of knowledge building. 

Olga shares her insights, including: 

• Cultural mismatch and underrepresentation of voices for Indigenous languages
• Cognitive costs of AI shortcuts and the fallibility of AI-plagiarism checkers
• Winning trust with students about AI-use (showing limitations; creating learner agency) 

During the show, Olga and host (Donna) mention:

• MIT Study: Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task 
• The small island state of Seychelles (Link lands you on Google Maps) 
• Seychelles Creole (Kreol Seselwa) 
• ChatGPT 
• University of Seychelles
• University of London 
• National University of Donetsk 
• Lethbridge Polytechnic 
• Navigating academic writing in the AI era: Lethbridge Polytechnic instructor offers insight 
• E49: Generative AI and instructional design: Emphasizing the process of learning over the product of learning 

E72: Architecting Our Future — Lethbridge Polytechnic's Strategy Amid National Shifts

Dr. Brad Donaldson, President and CEO of Lethbridge Polytechnic, unpacks how the institution is navigating national shifts in post-secondary funding, and what it means to take control of our collective future as a PSI in Alberta.

He shares practical strategies for ethical domestic recruitment, applied learning and research, and fostering a “critically kind” campus culture that empowers educators, supports students, and strengthens community impact.

During the episode, Brad and Donna (host) mention:

• E35: Interview with the President ☎
• Expert Panel on Post-Secondary Institution Funding and Alberta’s Competitiveness
• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
  • New International Student Program regulations take effect
• Alex Usher’s Higher Education Strategy Associates Blog (One Thought to Start Your Day)
  • That Alberta Post-Secondary Review, Again
• The President's View
• Alberta Labour Market Information
• Polytechnics Canada
• WIL: Work-integrated Learning
  • WIL at Future Skills Centre
• Lethbridge Polytechnic programs and courses

 

E71: 📚 Accidental scholars — Responding to teaching and learning gaps in the Trades

Ryan Mann, Faculty Development Facilitator at SAIT’s Centre for Academic Development and Innovation, and Eric Mitchell, an Automotive Services Instructor at Lethbridge Polytechnic, are actively responding to teaching and learning gaps in the Trades through innovative—and technically scholarly—work.

Despite the improvements they're making, Ryan and Eric don't really consider their work as scholarly—but framing it differently could amplify the impact.

Ryan and Eric are joined by the polytechnic's Jaddon Park (Academic Services Manager) and Craig McCarthy (Learning Experience Designer). The four discuss the value of reframing work as scholarly, the power of integrating student feedback, and the joy in discovering creative ways to pass along knowledge. 

During the show, guests and host (Donna) mention:

• SAIT: Southern Alberta Institute of Technology 
  • Centre for Teaching and Learning 
  • Academic Development and Innovation 
  • Automotive programs
  • Apprenticeship and Trades 
• Lethbridge Polytechnic 
  • CTLI: Centre for Teaching, Learning, And Innovation
  • ICP: Instructor Certification Program
  • NIOP: New Instructor Orientation Program
  • SoTL: Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
  • LC Extension
  • Community of Practice
  • OER: Open Educational Resources
    • Making the switch from textbooks to OERs: How (and why) one instructor made the change
  • Automotive Services Technician Apprenticeship 
  • Automotive Systems certificate 
  • Introduction to the Trades 
  • Electrician Apprenticeship  
• UDL: Universal Design for Learning 
• EAL: English as an Additional Language 
• ChatGPT
• Alberta Minister of Advanced Education 
• AIT: Apprenticeship and Industry Training 
  • Registered Apprenticeship Program 
• STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics 
• The Fast and the Furious 
• Gone in 60 Seconds 
• Calgary Corrections Centre 
• Integration of Trades-Based STEM Education in Canadian K-12 Schools by Josh Hill 
• Kahoot 
• Bright Space (learning management system)
• LITL-Pod episodes: 
  • E69: How to make online learning feel like in-person community – A creative course revision at Lethbridge Polytechnic 
  • E66: 👍 Researcher’s Guide to the Galaxy – How to practically (and painlessly) share your research project, create meaningful impact, and find your community as a Networked Scholar 
  • E55: Environmental Psychology and Conservation – An instructor's creative course-build through the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning 
  • E47: Updates in STEM – Sparking real-world connections between K-12 and the Trades to foster early career passions 
  • E29: How to Develop, Validate, and Disseminate Your Teaching and Learning Research Project through The Scholarship for Teaching and Learning (SoTL)

Download Ryan's AI guidebook here: A Guide to Generative AI for Educators

E70: 🧠 Exercise cognition research — Examining how physical activity shapes the brain

Beyond the obvious benefits exercise has on your body, research shows that it has powerful benefits on your brain, too—like improved memory, attention, and processing speed.

Simon Schaerz (Exercise Science instructor at Lethbridge Polytechnic), David Selles (Physical Education student from the University of Lethbridge), and Tyler Duffy (Exercise Science student at Lethbridge Polytechnic) discuss exercise cognition and its profound impacts on the brain—specifically, on executive functioning.

Exercise cognition research could also be pivotal in helping prioritize physical education (PE) programs—especially in K-12, where PE's importance can often be minimized.

During the show, guests and host (Craig) mention:

• Lethbridge Polytechnic 
  • Exercise Science Program 
    • Exercise-physiology class 
    • Research Methods in Kinesiology class 
  • DCM Program 
• University of Lethbridge 
  • Physical Education Program 
• Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by John J. Ratey 
• Embodied Cognition Theory 
• Central Governor Model and Fatigue 
• Cerebral hemodynamics 
• Synaptogenesis 
• Physical Activity and the Development of Executive Function in Healthy Children: A Bioecological Perspective by Simon Schaerz 
• Pedagogical knowledge model: 
  • Content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, and curricular knowledge 
• Progressive overload 
• Executive Function
• Zone of Proximal Development
• HPEC: Health & Physical Education Council 
• SSHRC: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council 
• ECSS: European College of Sports Science
• Tyler's games to promote executive functioning:
  • Tic-Tac-Toe
  • Pattern Pursuit
  • Red Light, Green Light

 

E69: How to make online learning feel like in-person community – A creative course revision at Lethbridge Polytechnic

Instructor Kathie Ervin and Instructional Designer Craig McCarthy collaborated to revamp Kathie's Distance Learning (DL) course in the Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Therapeutic Recreation Gerontology program. 

The goal? Create a more hands-on learning experience for DL students. 

Kathie and Craig outline their revision strategy, share stories about student creativity and community, and explain why they think the project was so successful. The pair also share tips on how other instructors can revamp their DL courses. 

During the episode, Donna (host) and guests mentioned:

• Therapeutic Recreational Gerontology 
• CTLI – Centre for Teaching and Learning 
• UDL – Universal Design for Learning 
• WIL – Work-Integrated Learning 
  • E68: WIL-Power – Connecting classroom theory with hands-on, Work-Integrated Learning 
• Student feedback audio on Kathie's TRG course

E68: WIL-Power – Connecting classroom theory with hands-on, Work-Integrated Learning

Students Cory, Adam, Lenae, and Maddie share all about their Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) experiences at Lethbridge Polytechnic. 

No matter the program, classroom theory comes to life when students are paired with real-world scenarios – and the lessons are invaluable.

Students discuss favourite moments and key insights from their WIL experiences. They also exchange strategies for navigating challenges like imposter syndrome – sometimes it helps to don a "suit"!

During the show, guests and Donna (host) mention:

• Acronyms/definitions:
  • WIL: Work-Integrated Learning 
  • RN: Registered Nurse 
  • NESA: Nursing Education in Southwestern Alberta
  • Imposter syndrome
• Lethbridge Polytechnic
  • Wellness Services
  • Programs: 
    • Ecosystem Management 
    • Nursing (NESA)
    • Criminal Justice – Corrections 
    • Child and Youth Care 
  • Wildlife Analytics Lab
    • E63: Wildlife Analytics Lab – Lethbridge Polytechnic's hub of innovation and collaborative conservation
• WIL community connections:
  • Alberta Chapter of The Wildlife Society  
  • Galbraith Elementary School 
  • Family Ties