Status: open
This initiative invites educators, learning designers, and graduate students to explore, experiment with, and evaluate cutting-edge tools for enhancing teaching excellence and student success in British Columbia’s post-secondary sector. This program aligns with the B.C. Post-Secondary Digital Literacy Framework. It emphasizes a technology support perspective that encourages an open mind and curiosity towards new technologies, as well as troubleshooting skills and the deliberate selection of appropriate tools for both work and study.
Focus Areas for 2024-2025:
- The AI Sandbox: A space dedicated to experimenting with and reviewing artificial intelligence (AI)-based learning technologies.
- The No-Go EdTech Sandbox: A space aimed at examining learning technologies that educators, students, and staff should avoid using in teaching and learning, and why.
Call for All EdTech Sandbox Leaders:
We invite expressions of interest from educators, educational technology developers, and learning designers from B.C.’s public post-secondary institutions to lead a session in the EdTech Sandbox Series.
As a EdTech Sandbox leader, you are invited to:
- Design and conduct a two-hour workshop featuring a comprehensive introduction and demonstration of the tool (approximately 30 minutes to one hour), followed by hands-on experimentation and evaluation of the tool through teaching and learning activities.
- Support peers in mindfully selecting and adopting new tools for work or studies considering ethics, accessibility, technical support resources, affordability, and learners’ cognitive loads (as highlighted in the B.C. Post-Secondary Digital Literacy Framework, from a technology supports perspective).
- Provide a summary based on your session to introduce the tool and to help educators across B.C. in adopting technologies for teaching and learning. A template is provided for this. For inspiration, refer to our previous blog posts on the FLO EdTech Sandbox Series.
BCcampus is committed to promoting open education. We have special interest in open and open-source technologies, such as WordPress or Mattermost, and other technologies educators can use without involvement of IT department support.
This is a great opportunity for EdTech enthusiasts to
- Share your expertise, introduce innovative tools, and help educators and learners across B.C. in adopting new AI tools and avoiding other tools in teaching and learning.
- Network with fellow EdTech leaders across the province.
The compensation for participation in this initiative is $750 + GST.
Please express your interest by completing the application form May 31, 2024.
Selection is determined by a review committee of B.C. post-secondary partners, and BCcampus staff and is informed by our commitment to Inclusion, as expressed in our EDI statement.
Review Criteria
Submissions will be reviewed and accepted on the following criteria:
- Demonstrated experience using the tool(s) in a teaching and learning environment
- A comprehensive understanding of features and uses of the tool(s)
- Practicality and creativity of the proposed activities for the sandbox session
EDI statement
BCcampus is committed to inclusion. From the workplace to our learning spaces, we value diversity and are actively working to decolonize our organization and the ways in which we collaborate with others. We believe a more diverse team will help us better support the people and communities we work with.
We encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to equity, including but not limited to:
- First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and all other Indigenous Peoples
- Members of groups that commonly experience discrimination due to race, ancestry, colour, religion and/or spiritual beliefs, or place of origin.
- Persons with visible and/or invisible (physical and/or mental) disabilities
- Persons who identify as women
- Persons of marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions
We recognize many of these identities intersect and therefore equity, diversity, and inclusion can be complex. We value the contributions each person brings and are committed to ensuring full and equal participation for all in our community.
Contact
If you have questions, please email Gwen Nguyen at gnguyen@bccampus.ca.