New learning projects funded, part 1

from the Centre for Teaching Excellence

This year the call for Learning Initiative (LIF) and Program Initiative (PIF) Fund proposals included both single proposal submissions and a new initiative introduced by Dr. Geoff McBoyle, associate vice-president, academic. The new initiative invited faculty members to submit theme-based proposals in three areas: Student Engagement in Learning (SEL), Community Service Learning (CSL), and Teaching and Technology. The themes were identified through an iterative process of consultation with Dr. Ken Coates, dean of arts, faculty members from the Teaching Based Research Group and the Teaching Excellence Council, and graduate students.

In all, eight projects were funded. Here are the first four. The second group of four will be noted in a future Daily Bulletin.

The CSL theme proposal, submitted by Diana Denton (Speech Communication), Lowell Ewert (Peace and Conflict Studies), Cheryl Rose (Social Innovation), and Nancy Waite (Pharmacy) entitled “Learning to Serve, Serving to Learn: The Beginning of a Cross-Campus Community Service Initiative”, addresses an educational approach that integrates service in the community with intentional learning activities that encourage students’ critical and reflective thinking, and civic responsibility. (PIF)

The SEL theme proposal, submitted by Jean Andrey (Geography), Paul Guild (Management Sciences), Sally Gunz (Accounting), Rohan Jayasundera (Physics and Astronomy), and Vivian Schoner (CTE) entitled “Slide in the Academy –Toward Evidence and Remedy” will explore the extent of student engagement in learning. Issues to be explored are knowledge growth, learning skills and practices, motivation and interest. Results will be used to inform development of a survey diagnostic tool that assesses engagement in learning. (LIF)

Yulia Gel (left), Abraham Bovas, Stefan Steiner, and Sean Scott (Statistics and Actuarial Science) entitled “Development of E-Learning Techniques for Teaching Forecasting and Regression” assesses the effectiveness of various novel E-Learning techniques for teaching time series and applied regression analysis in undergraduate courses in statistics. Specifically, the E-Learning tool will be designed to illustrate key methodological time series and regression analysis concepts as these apply to real-life problems through students’ use of self-learning and self-assessing modules of case studies. (LIF)

Shannon Dea and Tim Kenyon (Philosophy) entitled “Small-group work in a Learning Commons: Effects on Learning Outcomes and Student Engagement Among Philosophy Majors” will test and compare three models of small-group work in a new departmental learning commons for philosophy instruction. The study looks at learning outcomes, student engagement over time, retention of philosophy majors, and the alumni identification with UW Philosophy. (LIF)

Back to top

Glad to be a grad? Wear the button!

September is coming, bringing a fresh wave of new students — and to welcome them, old students are being encouraged to flash their "Glad to be a Grad" buttons during Orientation Week, September 2 - 5.

A letter will be sent out to all on-campus alumni next week from Jason Coolman, director of Alumni Affairs. People who received the bright yellow buttons last year are encouraged to pull them out and pin them on. New people will receive a button along with Coolman's letter. Anyone who was overlooked can request a button by email, or by phoning extension 37320.

"By wearing the . . . 'Glad to be a Grad' button each day of Orientation Week, you will identify yourself as a UW alumnus, show your pride in the university and establish a bond with our new students," the letter continues. "Alumni Affairs staff will be scouring the campus throughout the week, awarding prizes to alumni spotted wearing their button! Visit alumni.uwaterloo.ca/gradbutton to see last year’s winners. We will update this page with this year’s winners throughout Orientation Week.

"In an effort to reduce waste, please keep your button and wear it during future “Glad to be a Grad” button campaigns."

Back to top

Beavers sets new Canadian swimming records

Swimmer Keith Beavers, a UW kinesiology grad student, has set two new Canadian records at the Beijing Olympics. He swam two preliminary races on Wednesday: first the 200-metre backstroke, then the 200-metre individual medley. In the backstroke he came 15th of 40 swimmers and set a new personal best time (1:58.84). In the medley he came 8th of 46 and set a new Canadian record of 1:59.19.

Since he finished in the top 16 in each event, Beavers moved on to the semi-finals Thursday morning. There he finished 12th in the men’s 200-metre backstroke. Although he did not make the finals, he did set a new Canadian record time of 1:58.50 in the event. In the 200-metre individual medley he finished eighth overall, with a time of 1:59.43 — qualifying him to swim in the finals on Friday morning. Since he plans to retire from international competition after the Olympics, Friday’s race will be his last. (Source: Josh Brown, Waterloo Region Record.)

A final note: it's five years ago today that the Big Blackout happened, a time when most of us can remember exactly where we were and what we were doing when the power went off. At UW, many of us were at our computers. Here's how the Daily Bulletins of August 15 and August 18, 2003, told the story.

CPA staff

Back to top