![[University of Waterloo]](/goldbar.gif)
| Friday |
Monday, November 15, 2004
|
Editor: Chris Redmond credmond@uwaterloo.ca |
![[View from above shows attentive listeners]](/images/2004/1112planning.jpg)
A city
is planned: For two hours last Monday, about 40 students gathered in
the Environmental Studies courtyard, meeting in small groups to propose how
a new Kitchener neighbourhood should be developed, on land now
occupied by farms, a quarry pit and protected wetlands. Kitchener planning staff
are hoping that "through urban design, better neighbourhoods can be
created," says Andrew Mok of the Planning Student Association, which
helped sponsor the event. "They also hope to refer to the workshop
results as they prepare a master plan for the new neighbourhood."
The
event helped mark World Town Planning Day. There
will be fewer opportunities in future to create a neighbourhood from a
greenfield
site, and future workshops "should look at existing communities and how we
rebuild communities," says planning professor Robert Shipley.
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"Our job is to advance child literacy in Canada by joining the insights and expertise of researchers, practitioners, policy analysts, students and others who want to help children learn and love to read," says UW psychology professor Kathleen Bloom, the agency's director. The project has more than $1 million in funding from the Social Sciences and Research Council of Canada.
The alliance is building an open classroom model to offer research-based instruction on "How and Why to Read with Young Children." The model is being developed in collaboration with Research Works! members Tom Carey (UW systems design engineering professor and associate vice-president) and Tracy Penny-Light of Carey's office. TVOntario is also a partner in the project.
"The goal," says the news release, "is to bring research findings to those who work directly with parents and children to improve literacy skills and bring frontline expertise to students and faculty who study child literacy. The team is conducting focus groups with practitioners and students to ensure the methods used in the model, to bring knowledge back and forth between community and university, work for all stakeholders."
This term the alliance is developing one component of the open classroom model in the UW course, Psychology 393, Research Methods in Developmental Psychology. Students work in small groups to develop research studies that can answer important questions relating to child literacy, topics that will be included in the future open classroom model.
The students receive consultation and advice from community experts in child literacy: a parent, elementary school teacher, TVOntario children's programming specialist, the director of the Read to Me! Nova Scotia Family Literacy Program and a teacher of children with autism. Experts and students talk together on discussion boards and in chat rooms through UW's ACE instructional software.
"LT3 (Centre for Learning and Teaching Through Technology) has provided the materials and personnel to help quickly and efficiently launch this learning innovation," Bloom reported. "We have developed a community of learners and made progress toward the development of our open classroom model." For example, one group of students is investigating the effectiveness of provincial programs that give away children's books and other incentives to increase the likelihood that parents will read to their children from birth.
Geographic celebrations on WednesdayThe faculty of environmental studies and the University Map and Design Library will hold "GIS Day" on Wednesday, showing off UW projects in Geographic Information Systems. The day is being observed worldwide, says Eva Dodsworth of the library, "to educate millions of children and adults about how geography makes a difference in our lives through the technology of GIS".Poster and map galleries, open houses and live demos will mark the day between 1 and 4 p.m. Wednesday. Centre of the activity is the Environmental Studies courtyard. A demonstration starts at 1:30 in ES I room 221, and a workshop on "digital data availability" starts at 2:30 in the UMD library. I'll be saying more about GIS Day in Wednesday's Daily Bulletin. |
"Bicycle Safety/Concerns. Health Services, Health Educator preparing educational package for various events on campus (Student Life 101, Health Awareness Day and Residence Don's.) A section on bicycle safety might be incorporated into the Single and Sexy play for new students.
"Traffic Calming. Student's article in June Imprint advising students that the traffic calming devices on the Ring Road are not crosswalks. Another article will be submitted for the Fall Imprint.
"Driving on Campus. UW Police sent letter to area Taxi Cab Companies noting complaints received on campus and informing them of UW Parking and Traffic Regulations.
"Multi-Workplace JHSC. VP Academic and Provost approved extension of the appointments of JHSC members until August 31, 2004 or upon approval of revised JHSC Terms of Reference. Committee reviewing the possibility of establishing a Multi-Workplace at UW to include off campus locations such as Architecture in Cambridge and Gage Ave.
"Asbestos Removal. Main entrance of the Dana Porter Library and Engineering 3, rooms 2138 and 2139.
"Math & Computer Air Quality. Employees in the Math & Computer Building concerned with air quality. Sub committee formed to review concerns.
"Annual Injury and Fire Report. Injuries decreased marginally, falls remained the predominate type of injury. The number of alarms increased significantly due to commissioning new buildings and wilful false fire alarms.
"Parking Hagey Blvd. Signs have been posted by the City of Waterloo indicating there is No Parking on the roadway.
"Bill C45 Criminal Code. Amendments to the Criminal Code make organizations criminally liable for disregard of health and safety.
"Latex Allergies. There is no policy on campus; however, latex gloves in first aid kits will be changed to non latex gloves. Further information on allergies will be made available to the UW Campus.
"Federation Hall. Alcohol Committee decided that glass bottles will be restricted from the dance floor area of Fed Hall and plastic cups used.
"Injury reports: Emergency Shut Off Switches on all lathes and milling machines in the Engineering Student Shop are being upgraded. Reviewing lifting of 40 kg salt bags. Removal or relocation of unsafe ceiling mounted low hanging television sets in the Bombshelter.
"Fire reports: Contractor working at the back of Columbia Icefield building cut through a gas line. Curtains within lounge room were deliberately set on fire in Ron Eydt Village. The fire was extinguished with a fire extinguisher. Quick response by the residence dons ensured that there was minimal damage sustained to property. Suspects were apprehended by UW Police. The Safety Office, UW Police, Plant Operations, Registrar's Office reviewing exam procedures.
"The worker members of the Committee conducted annual inspections of buildings which included: CLT, HS, MH, MKV, REV, TH, UW, V1, BW, COM, CS, GSC, TC, CPH, DWE, RCH, DC, E2, E3, EIT, LIB, MC and SCH Loading Dock."
For more information, Hurley can be reached at ext. 3587, e-mail sahurley@uwaterloo.ca.
| WHEN AND WHERE |
|
Electronic Portfolio Landscapes day-long
showcase
(8:30 to 4:30), Dana Porter Library.
Senate graduate and research council 10 a.m., Needles Hall room 3001. Women's Activism Fair sponsored by introductory women's studies course, Wilfrid Laurier University concourse, 11:30 to 3:30. UW senate monthly meeting 4:30, Needles Hall room 3001. Agenda includes discussion of the report of the Provost's Task Force on Undergraduate Student Financial Support. Engineers Without Borders and UW Debating Society debates on issues related to development, 5:30, Davis Centre room 1304. Debian Interest Group 6 p.m. Math and Computer room 4058. 'Control Room; film showing sponsored by Federation of Students, 8 p.m., Humanities Theatre, free. Communitech Business and Technology Forum: Bruce Coxon, CEO of Lavalife, Tuesday 12 noon, Waterloo Inn, information online. Centre for International Governance Innovation presents David Malone, president, International Peace Academy, "UN Reform: Oxymoron?" Tuesday 12 noon, 57 Erb Street West, reservations rsvp@cigionline.ca. Institute for Quantitative Finance and Insurance seminar: Steve Shreve, Carnegie Mellon University, "A Two-Person Game for Pricing Convertible Bonds", Tuesday 2:30, Rod Coutts Hall room 205. Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology program information meting Tuesday 4 p.m., Davis Centre room 1304. Staff association "meet and greet" session Wednesday 4:30 to 6 p.m., University Club. Design at Riverside: Official opening of new gallery space in the Architecture building, Wednesday 7 p.m. Engineering Awards Dinner Thursday 5:30, Bingemans, details online. |
Coming this Friday, from UW's continuing education office, is a one-day course on "Customer Service". Says a flyer: "All types of organizations need to provide the very best customer service possible. It isn't good enough for organizations, just to survive; they need to thrive and flourish as they deal With processes, people and products/services all at the same time. This interactive workshop will enable you to reflect and state what exceptional customer service implies; list the ingredients of quality customer service; identify and discuss relevant 'moments of truth'; analyze how to reward employees who provide excellent customer service; suggest ways to improve/enhance customer service initiative; discuss how to make complaints a sales tool and improve customer satisfaction; deal with difficult customers; create a personal action plan related to customer service." It says instructor Patsy Marshall "has led numerous training programs at the University of Waterloo and in many other settings. She has held various positions in both the public and private sector. Currently she is President of her own training and development company." There's more information on the continuing ed web site.
The UW Recreation Committee, dedicated to finding ways for UW staff and faculty to fill their spare time, keeps coming up with new events. Nancy O'Neil of the Student Life Centre, who is the UWRC's mainspring, reports that there was an outing to Athinula's Mexican and Mediterranean Restaurant on Thursday night, and that "Abba All Nite" this Saturday is a sellout. "Tickets are still available for the bus trip to the Samko toy outlet in Toronto on Saturday, November 27. Tickets for the ever-popular and traditional Nutcracker Ballet performed by the Ontario Ballet Theatre in the Humanities Theatre December 8 are available up to Thursday by e-mailing uwrc@admmail."
Anne Bieth, who worked in the co-op education and career services department from 1979 to her retirement in June 2000, died November 8. . . . "Open enrolment" for winter term courses begins today for graduate students (it started two weeks ago for undergraduates). . . . November 15-19 has been designated International Student Week across the country, with the theme "Canada Partnering with the World". . . .
CAR