Written by Jen Wrye with the assistance of Generative AI I had the opportunity to attend the 2024 Professional and Organizational Developers’ Network (POD) conference in Chicago, Illinois. This was my second time going to POD and it is sure to make as big an impact on my practice this time as it did the…
introducing the Artificial Intelligence Student Exploration Group (students click DISCOVER tab in Brightspace to enrol) NIC and CTLI are excited to announce the launch of a new self-enrol Brightspace course for students interested in exploring generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and its applications in education. This group provides a collaborative space for students to learn and…
21 IMPORTANT CHECKLIST ITEMS TO ENSURE YOUR BRIGHTSPACE COURSE IS READY for STUDENTS! Here is a handy-dandy checklist of 21 important items to ensure your course is ready to for learning. Completing and checking off these 21 items will ensure your course is ready for your students. Each item has a resource to learn more.…
Grading is one of the most stressful and time-consuming parts of teaching. The endless hours spent assessing papers and assignments often come with a mix of frustrations, exhaustion and even self-doubt. The pressure to grade fairly, efficiently and meaningfully can feel overwhelming, especially when it’s easy to feel buried under a mountain of assessments. But…
Alternative grading practices encompass a range of approaches designed to move beyond traditional point-based systems, fostering meaningful learning and growth. These methods reimagine how student progress is assessed, focusing on collaboration, improvement, and deeper engagement with the material. Grading for growth emphasizes ensuring students demonstrate continuous improvement and competency development throughout their learning journey. These…
AVAILABLE IN THE DISCOVER AREA OF BRIGHTSPACE Make getting started in Brightspace easier! The NIC Brightspace Basics asynchronous online course provides a flexible professional learning experience specifically focused on mastering the technical intricacies of online course development within Brightspace. It equips instructors with practical insights and skills necessary to navigate the platform effectively, streamlining the…
Creating a Better User Experience for the B.C. Open Collection Link to IMPROVED BC Open Collection: https://collection.bccampus.ca/ BCcampus has created a better user experience for their fantastic open collection of teaching and learning resources. From the article intro: If you’re an educator in B.C.’s post-secondary system, chances are you’ve heard about the B.C. Open Collection,…
If you are looking for adding more interactive content to your Brightspace courses, come join the NIC H5P Studio Space! NIC has a space for instructors to quickly build small interactive content items for adding to a Brightspace course. This free space is housed on a WordPress site that NIC has set up for all…
I first encountered the term “desirable difficulties” in Marsha Lovett’s (2023) book How Learning Works. I was intrigued by this seemingly contradictory statement about teaching and learning. Lovett spoke about how making learning challenging for students can be beneficial. Surely, I am not going to make learning too difficult especially in a way that is…
For Health and Human Services and Trades and Technical Programs Are you ready to transform your students’ learning experience? How many of your students believe learning myths, such as highlighting is the best way to learn? Or that cramming the night before a test will result in success? Cognitive psychology research suggests these methods…
