FLCP Letter of Support - Academic Chair

FLCP Letter of Support - Academic Chair


Memorandum


To: Bruce Tawse, Dean

From: Waynne Champniss, Academic Chair

CC: Daurene Lewis, Principal

Date: May 8, 2007

Re: FLCP Learning Plan for David Russell


I am pleased to write this letter to support David Russell’s Faculty Learning College Portfolio Learning Plan.

David is a faculty member in Computer Technologies and as facilitator of technology learning, he has decided to focus on three such activities.

The first activity addresses the topic of virtual educational technologies and methodologies which is an area of growing interest to all educators. More specifically, this is the use of virtual reality to deliver learning to students so as to create a more engaging learning environment. The outcomes of this activity will allow NSCC to build a level of knowledge that does not exist today.

An important element of the learning environment in Information Technology, and other programs, at NSCC is the use of collaborative problem solving. This approach to learning is well understood in the ‘face-to-face’ model of teaching but this is not true of the online or distance learning environment. In recognition of this as a growing area of interest for NSCC, David’s second activity will be undertaking appropriate research to allow him to develop and deliver the resources to support a distance-based collaborative learning environment.

Another learning tool that is gaining prominence in academic circles is the use of robots. There is now a new level of technology available that will potentially expand their use in the learning environment. David will be researching these new capabilities and incorporating them in to the programming learning environment.

In summary, all of David’s learning activities are about increasing the use of technologies as learning tools in order to better engage our learners and his experiences can greatly enhance NSCC’s abilities in all areas of learning.