Innovation is alive and well at Portage College.
The Faculty Mentored Student Innovation project was the first opportunity for Portage College to take part in an Alberta Association of Colleges and Technical Institutes (AACTI) applied research competition. The competition aimed to promote applied research with a focus on practical outcomes for industry and business.
The college entered two teams. Jaime Lundrigan of the Learning Design and Technologies department led the first place team. Members included Faculty Program Development Coordinator Kim Winger and student, Jessie Stevens.
The project introduced the college to the new multi-touch SMART table to encourage and promote collaborative learning. The SMART table is a multi-user, friendly technology that will enable staff and students to work simultaneously on one surface for group projects.
Janice Bryks, also a member of the college's Learning Design and Technologies department, led the second place team. Team members included student Jordann Siefert and Portage College instructors Rhonda Dever, and Patricia O'Connor.
This team's project presented customized Portage College database tutorials which are accessible online anytime, anywhere. These tutorials included searches relevant to specific Portage College programs and are geared to any learning style.
On June 23, 2011 both teams received a cash prize and recognition by ACCTI.
Director of Teaching and Learning, Mardere Birkill, believes the innovation shown by the teams is a point of pride for Portage College.
"We were delighted with the quality and inventiveness of our entrants," said Birkill. "Both teams focused on an innovative use of technology to improve teaching and learning in a community college setting. Jaime's team researched collaborative learning in student teams with the use of Smart technology, and Janice's team focused on the effectiveness of just-in-time instruction in the use of learning resources."
Birkill added, "I wish to congratulate both teams on their projects and look forward to reaping the benefits of their innovations in Teaching and Learning in the college. Their hard work and perseverance is highly commended. Both teams had to progress with their projects in their own time. They showed good project management and team building skills."
For more information about these projects, please call Leona Geller at 780-623-5591.
