UBC Reports | Vol. 54 | No. 9 | Sep. 4, 2008

Celebrate Learning: A New Week-long Focus on Teaching and Learning, September 27 to October 5

By Lorraine Chan

Delve into the obvious and not-so obvious truths about how we learn, manage your on-line identity, or “Get Learn’d” at the first student-led initiative of its kind at UBC.

These along with more than 40 other events are part of Celebrate Learning, a new week-long initiative taking place at UBC Vancouver between September 27 and October 5. Celebrate Learning Week celebrates teaching and learning experiences across campus, while highlighting opportunities for student learning.

“One of the hallmarks of a great university is the creative spark and dynamic interaction between students and faculty,” says David Farrar, UBC Provost and Vice President, Academic. “This initiative allows us to appreciate and further enhance those exchanges of ideas and knowledge.”

The many events include:

How People Learn

Presented by Prof. Carl Wieman (Friday, Oct. 3, 12:30, Room 101/102, Curtis Building)

The truths -- both obvious and surprising -- about how we learn are the focus for Nobel laureate Carl Wieman, a UBC professor of physics and head of the Carl Wieman Science Education Initiative. Wieman will explore how current research provides detailed insight as to how the brain learns and how it changes during learning. These insights allow one to accurately predict which teaching and learning experiences will be effective and to more accurately measure meaningful learning.

Get Learn’d Conference, Saturday, Oct. 4, 10 a.m.- 4:30 p.m., Irving K. Barber Learning Centre

The student-led Get Learn’d event aims to equip first-year students with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enhance their academic success. Coordinated by the SCI Team (in the Faculty of Science), the E-Team (in the Faculty of Applied Science) and the Faculty of Arts, the day will also emphasize the importance of achieving a sense of balance among academic, extracurricular and social activities.

Digital Tatoo, an online tutorial throughout the week

Like a tattoo, one’s digital reputation is an expression that is highly visible and hard to remove. The online Digital Tattoo tutorial will provide users with information for proactively managing their cyber identities. Users will be presented with resources including videos, news articles, case studies, and polls and quizzes. Students will also be invited to submit their own content. The initiative was funded by UBC Teaching and Learning Enchancement Fund grant and involved six campus partners, among them UBC Library, the Office of Learning Technology and Student Development. To access the tutorial: www.digitaltattoo.ubc.ca.

For information on the more than 40 events, visit: www.celebratelearning.ubc.ca.