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Archives for September 2020

Peer Tutor Tuesdays’ with Tiffany Gu

September 29, 2020 by Sandra Matsuba Leave a Comment

NAME:            Tiffany Gu

PROGRAM:    Computer Systems Technology

 

What attracted you to becoming a Peer tutor?

I got a lot of help from the peer tutor last year so thought it is a good chance to give back to BCIT.

How has tutoring helped you?

When I was stuck with the lab, I came to them asking for some tips and tricks. They went over the lines of code with me one by one.

If you could give one piece of advice to a BCIT student what would it be?

Do some pre-readings and go to people for help when needed.

Do you have any successful online studying tips to share?

Have a tight schedule because it is hard to maintain the normal schedule in quarantine.

What would your dream job be when you leave BCIT?

To work as a software developer.

If you had a free day, how would you spend it?

Catch up on sleep.

Filed Under: Peer Tutor Tuesdays, Students, Tutoring

Science Literacy Week, September 21-25, 2020

September 18, 2020 by Sandra Matsuba Leave a Comment

This year’s theme is biodiversity.

Science Literacy Week showcases the diversity of Canadian science and the culture it’s embedded in. Libraries, museums, science centres, schools and not-for-profits come together to highlight the books, movies, podcasts and events that convey the excitement and influence of science in our everyday lives. It’s about each and everyone’s unique relationship with science and how they live it.

Join us in celebration by entering one or both contests for an amazing prize package valued at over $100.

Plant Press Contest. What plant am I?

Julia Alards-Tomalin has created a plant identification card game.

Every day at 9am during Sci-Lit week we’ll be posting one of Julia’s illustrations from the game on Instagram

Identify the plant with a comment by 8 pm that day for one entry. For an extra entry provide the plants Latin name in a separate comment.

At the end of the week we’ll make a random draw from all the correct entries and the winner will receive a super $100+ Sci-Lit prize pack provided by BCIT Applied Research.

About the Plant Press Game:

Julia Alards-Tomalin works as an instructor in the Renewable Resources department  at BCIT and teaches into both the Forest and Natural Areas Management diploma and the Fish, Wildlife and Recreation diploma programs. She is a double grad from BCIT with both a diploma in Forestry and a degree in Ecological Restoration. Her passion for teaching led her to complete the Provincial Instructors Diploma program and she is currently enrolled in a Masters of Education degree program at Simon Fraser University.

One of the things she enjoys the most about teaching  is coming up with creative and fun ways to interact and engage with the students. She was inspired at a BCIT professional development day, where she attend a session on making card games for learning by Alan Stewart. When she saw that BCIT had funding for creating various learning resources through the Open Education Resources Grant, she applied and was approved to create her own card game. Over several months she researched and brainstormed with colleague Stacey Auld on how to make an ecology themed card game. Julia decided to focus on Plant Identification as it is an area she is very interested in and passionate about. She was inspired by a series of whiteboard drawings created as a review tool for a final exam by FWR student Noah Haave in the Plant Identification course. These drawings helped form the basis of the ideas for the art for the cards, which she hand drew and painted, where each plant is drawn as a pun version of its name.

After the drawings were created, she approached MediaWorks for help in the creating of the formatting and style for the final version of the cards. She partnered with Amy Miedzwiecki who created the backgrounds, style and layouts to ensure that the cards could be printed on standard sized paper and used by people everywhere. Amy was inspired further to take this card game and modify it to an online version, so that people could play it without having to access a printer or having to touch/share the cards. Stacey Auld, Jace Standish and the students in the Forest and Natural Areas Management and Fish, Wildlife and Recreation programs were crucial in the playtesting and finalization of the rules for the game. Amy and Julia hope that both the physical and digital versions of Plant Press can help future students and others learn how to identify plants and inspire them to create their own games.

Seed Library Photo Contest

If you planted some seeds from the Seed Library last spring or summer and took some photos we’d love to see them and post them to our Seed Library guide!

Email your photos to agriffin11@bcit.ca – don’t be shy, send us the good, the bad and the ugly!

At the end of the week we will make a random draw from everyone who emailed for  a super Sci-Lit $100+ prize pack provided by BCIT Applied Research.

For more info and resources visit: https://libguides.bcit.ca/scilit

 

Filed Under: Contests, events, Faculty, online event, Photography, Students

FREE virtual social events in September for BCIT students

September 15, 2020 by Sandra Matsuba Leave a Comment

September 21 from 4:30 pm to 6 pm: BCIT Pride Social – Registration Link

Description: Think you’re an expert at Pride trivia? Know the ins-and-outs of Pride history, the Vancouver Pride Parade, famous LGBTQ2S+ activists and more? Then join the BCITSA Wellness team and BCIT Pride for a fun filled evening of trivia and virtual socializing. All LGBTQ2S+ community members and allies are welcome so bring your friends and test your knowledge for a chance to win amazing free PRIZES like e-gift cards and bragging rights as Pride Trivia masters!

 

September 23 from 5 pm to 6 pm: Get Crafty: Learn how to make your own Covid-19 mask – Registration Link

Would you like to learn how to make a face mask? With the update of Covid-19 government guidelines recommending the wearing of face coverings in public spaces where social distancing is challenging, knowing how to make your own reusable personal protective mask is a handy skill to have at your fingertips. In this virtual craft night you will join other BCIT students and learn how to make your own simple hand-sewn cloth face mask. We will share tips and tricks on how you can add fun design & artistic features to your mask to let your personality shine through. All crafting abilities are welcome – this class is great for beginners and craft-aholics alike.

 

September 28 from 5 pm to 6 pm: Get Crafty: Learn the Art of Making Clay Home Decor – Registration Link

Do you like custom-made, one of a kind home decor? Then this class is for you. At this virtual craft night, we will teach you how to make your own marbled polymer clay coasters. We will be sharing some (easy-to-recreate) clay jewelry techniques, plus a step-by-step guide for making your own DIY clay coasters and home-decor on a budget. You will get so many compliments on these, you’ll wonder why you never tried it before! All crafting abilities are welcome – this class is great for beginners and craft-aholics alike.

Filed Under: online event, Students

AskAway Fall Term (Sept-Dec) – Dates and Hours of Service

September 9, 2020 by Sandra Matsuba Leave a Comment

BCIT AskAway Chat with A Librarian Service

Our Students Can Get Help Online with:

  • research
  • citations
  • using the library
  • finding materials
  • journal databases
  • troubleshooting access to Library materials
  • other library topics

Link to BCIT AskAway Chat: https://www.bcit.ca/library/askalibrarian.shtml

AskAway is especially useful to our remote, off-campus students and is available late evenings and on weekends.

AskAway Fall Term (Sept-Dec) – Dates and Hours of Service

Fall Term (Sept-Dec) – Dates and Hours of Service

Service Opens: Tue, Sept 8, 2020
Service Closes: Fri, Dec 11, 2020

AskAway Hours of Service

Monday-Thursday: 9am – 9pm
Friday: 9am – 5pm
Saturday: 11am – 5pm
Sunday: 10am – 9pm

BCIT Librarians will be Online

Monday-Friday: 10 – 4pm
Tuesday: 6 – 7pm
Thursday: 5 – 7pm

AskAway will be closed on the following Stat Holidays

Closed: Mon, Oct 12, 2020
Closed: Wed, Nov 11, 2020

About AskAway

  • AskAway is a chat reference service for BC’s post-secondary institutions.
  • AskAway sessions are in real-time, and are staffed by Librarians from post-secondary institutions in B.C.
  • Librarians from post-secondary institutions in B.C.

Filed Under: AskAway, Services, Students

Learning Opportunities @ the Library

September 8, 2020 by Sandra Matsuba Leave a Comment

Synchronous and Asynchronous

The BCIT Library’s mission is “to strengthen learning, teaching, and research at BCIT through innovative and effective resources, partnerships and services.”

The Library offers Instruction and Support as listed below:

Information Literacy

Information Literacy is a set of abilities requiring individuals to “recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.” (American Library Association, 2016).

Information Literacy courses are 1 to 2 hours and can be booked through your program’s liaison librarian.

 

Digital Literacy

Digital Literacy refers to the ability of individuals using digital technologies to find and manage information (a.k.a. information literacy) and beyond to include communication with others, collaboration and teamwork, social awareness in the digital environment, understanding of e-safety and creation of new information (a.k.a. Digital Citizenship). Digital Literacy is underpinned by critical thinking and evaluation.

The BCIT Digital Literacy suite of self-directed online courses are available for Self-Registration in the Learning Hub. Each module is individually badged when successfully completed.

 

Emerging and Advanced Technologies

MediaWorks is a collaborative production facility offering help to students, faculty, and staff, by offering instruction and support with the following: Video and audio editing, Various Software, PowerPoint, poster creation, Laser cutting, Vacuum Former, Cricut, and much more. Best to book a virtual appointment.

 

Peer tutoring / writing support

The Learning Commons is a collaborative framework of peer-mediated services designed to support students and help them succeed at BCIT. These sessions are virtual drop-ins. The scheduled is posted on the website.

 

BCIT Digital Memories

The BCIT Archives & Special Collections contain the official and unofficial BCIT community created materials, documenting the history of BCIT and its role in local and provincial history.

The Archivist teaches how the full-text data can add to research and how these documents can be used in teaching. Digital content in the online database is added to continually. Sessions are booked with the Archivist.

 

Open Education / Open Access Publishing

Open educational resources are teaching, learning, and research resources that are created with the intention of being freely available to users anywhere. E.g., textbooks, multi-media files, software, etc. Most are covered by licenses that allow for using, re-mixing, and sharing. Find out more about Open Education at BCIT.

BCIT Open Journal Publishing: BCIT Library provides support to open access journals. We provide training and instruction for journals created by a faculty and instructors using the Open Journal Systems (OJS) publishing software.

cIRcuit, BCIT’s Open Access, Institutional Research Repository provides open access to BCIT research output including BCIT theses, applied research papers, student projects and capstone, faculty publications, and research data.

Visit the Digital Scholarship LibGuide for resources and information.

 

Records Management (RM)

The Records Management program helps you to be in full compliance with BCIT privacy protection and records management policies and procedures. The training sessions are on any record related projects that specific departments may be undergoing.  This includes naming conventions and mass clean ups of electronic records.  The training sessions can be 45 minutes to an hour long.

We hope you find what you are looking for.

Your suggestions are always welcome.

Please contact the liaison librarian for your program.

Filed Under: archives, Faculty, Institutional Repository, online resources, Open Education, Services, Students, Technology, Tutoring

Open Education successful proposals. New dates for fall rolling call.

September 1, 2020 by Sandra Matsuba Leave a Comment

The following projects have been approved over July and August:

  • Create a series of video tutorials and online assignments that will highlight the basic skills and techniques learned in introductory microbiology, Sabrina Cornish, Sarah McLeod and Supipi Duffy
  • Update and revise Trades Access Common Core Safe Work Practices Line A: 1-5; Trades Common Core Line B Employability Skills: 1-4; and, Trades Access Common Core Tools and Equipment Line C: 1-4, Tamara Pongracz
  • Develop construction training videos for LEEP NZ Wall Systems #1, #2 and #4, along with instructor and learning materials, Mary McWilliam, Vanesa Alzate-Restrepo, Alexandre Hebert
  • Develop an online interactive manual on ecological design, Ron Kato

Congratulations to all!

Grant Categories

Adoption – up to $250 – review and adopt an open textbook or other open learning resource, this can include minor revisions to customize it

Revision – up to $2K – take an existing OER and make substantial revisions to better suit class learning outcomes

Creation – up to $8K – create a learning resource – this can be in any category or format, eg.: textbook, video series, question or test banks

Key Dates for Fall Rolling Call

There will be a rolling call for grant applications for any of the grant categories over the fall.

Deadline 1: September 28, 2020
Deadline 2: October 26, 2020
Deadline 3: November 30, 2020

Support

The LTC and the Library can provide some support for grant projects. Request for this support should be part of the grant application.

BCIT Library is running an open education publishing program pilot over the next several months. If you have digital learning materials that are suitable for conversion to PressBooks and that you want to license openly, the library will do that conversion for you.

Additional Information

Open BCIT is sponsored by the AVP, Education Support and Innovation, and is supported by the Open Education Working Group, the Library, and the Learning and Teaching Centre. BCIT Open Education Working Group supports and promotes the development and use of OER and OE teaching practices. The Group is under the umbrella of Education Council’s Educational Technology and Learning Design Committee (ETLDC).

Open education grant funds, for the most part, are distributed as part-time studies contracts so are subjected to tax and benefits deductions.

All learning materials developed in whole or part with the support of an open education grant must be licensed openly and deposited in the BCIT Open Institutional Repository.

Learning materials should be developed using platforms and formats that are as open and editable as possible such as PressBooks. When closed formats are used, editable files, such as MP4s for videos, must also be included with the final project for submission to the Open IR.

Grant money cannot be used for travel expenses or to purchase or rent equipment, hardware, or software.

Find our more about Open Education at BCIT

Review BCIT’s Open Education Best Practices and Guidelines

Open Education Grant application form

Filed Under: Faculty, Open Education

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