This August, we are awarding the BCcampus Award for Excellence in Open Education to Dr. Sally Vinden of Vancouver Island University.
Post by Tim Carson, open education advisor, Trades Representative
Through her role as a fellow at the Centre of Innovation and Excellence in Learning at Vancouver Island University, Sally has worked on a number of significant educational projects, both locally and internationally. Within those projects, she has helped trades faculty from differing backgrounds learn the importance of having the right pedagogical mindset when approaching curriculum development. This became the driving theme within her successful doctoral dissertation, titled “An exploration of British Columbia’s TVET instructors’ perceptions that influence their curriculum choices.”
When it comes to the open educational resource (OER) development space, Sally has been at the forefront in her trade of hairstyling. She has been active on her trade’s articulation committee as it begins the process of developing OER for the hairstylist apprentices in the province. Her ability to tailor collaborative approaches to the complexity of navigating the apprenticeship system will be the cornerstone of future curriculum development not just in her trade, but in others as well. Since COVID-19 struck, Sally has been capturing the innovative pedagogies that have emerged in the trades on the newly created VIU trades faculty blog Life is an Apprenticeship: Teaching and Learning in a Digital World.
Sally has also been active as a guest on the podcast Praxis Pedagogy, where she talks about trades pedagogy. Listen to her chat with Tim Carson in the episodes Apprenticeship and Constructivism, Experiential Learning – Sally and Chad, Authentic Learning in the Trades, Trades Faculty Development – Jesse Chalmers, and Authentic Assessment – The Return of Jesse Chalmers.
Get in touch with Sally by following her on Twitter @sallyvinden.
Notable quote:
“To say that Sally Vinden has been an instrumental force in the advocacy and creation of open educational resources in trades education would be an understatement. Her extensive background in her trade, as well as her passion for helping other trades faculty, is a hallmark and extension of her passion to bridge the gap between being in industry and transitioning to the classroom. It is my absolute honour and pleasure to nominate her as the recipient of this month’s award.”
—Tim Carson
Previous honourees:
Jennifer Kirkey, Rajiv Jhangiani, Cindy Underhill, Michael Paskevicius, Maja Krzic, Grant Potter, Irwin DeVries, Tara Robertson, Christina Hendricks, Tannis Morgan, Inba Kehoe, Diane Purvey, Erin Fields, Arley Cruthers, Chad Flinn, Aran Armutlu, Terry Berg, Will Engle, Florence Daddey, Brenda Smith, Lindsay Tripp, Mary Shier, Brad Bell, Debra Flewelling and Michelle Harrison