Headlines/November 12, 1997

leaching and Learning Centre, continued

“Teaching can be very emotionally computers to develop an online ESL
demanding. Sometimes, an instructor just course to be offered to students overseas.
needs to talk about the struggle, to say “We have some extremely talented

I’m having a very difficult semester’, to people here who are © not afraid to try new a

research potential solutions,
and to talk to someone who
can empathize. The centre will
be a place of renewal for the —
many fine instructors we
have.”

Thanks to the Seanix
donation, the centre will also
allow faculty who are “early
adaptors” of technological
teaching methods to coach
their colleagues on the new
technology.

For instance, instructor
Wendy Burton is currently _
using the centre to experiment s==————_

with “real time” audio and . Elizabeth Asner in the TLC.

video computer applications teaching methods and technology but

and other new technologies so she can | we're not all so gutsy,” says Asner. “This
develop curriculum for her Adult centre will allow those very creative types

Education 380 (Instructional Technology) tg stay on the cutting edge but it will also
course. Next semester, she will introduce provide learning opportunities for the rest

her students, all'adult educators __ of us, hopefully with the help of more

themselves, to the potential of this new adventurous colleagues.”

technology for teaching. Asner stresses that the Teaching and
The English as a Second Language Learning Centre will act as an umbrella

department is using the centre’s - for all sorts of teaching-related

professional development, and that people

| should approach her with ideas for

workshops and seminars. She notes
that the centre is not just for faculty,

as many staff have a teaching

- component to their job and
may be interested in
improving their instructional
skills.

. “Some of the best
professional development
ideas have come from
faculty,” she notes. “I also
want to encourage people
from other areas, such as the
Disability Resource Centre,
the Harassment Prevention
office, and the prior learning
assessment group, to use the
centre as a means to educate
people about issues in their

_ area.
“My goal is to have the
centre be heavily used for a variety of

reasons, so that the issues

surrounding teaching are front and
centre on campus.”

There will be a Teaching and
Learning Centre subcommittee of the
University College Council.

Ss an Witter at Susan’ Ss 2