Welcome back! I hope your break was restful and full of cherished moments with family and friends. With the return to campus to welcome a new year and term, it’s time to reflect on a very productive year.
Over 2023, we opened two innovative spaces at Carleton, the Future Learning Lab and, more recently, the Experiential Learning Hub (ELH). These spaces allow instructors and students to engage the latest in Virtual and Augmented Reality and immersive learning experiences. Instructors have already begun to use these technologies and spaces in their projects and courses in exciting ways thanks to contributions like the Future Learning Innovation Fellowship and CUELF.
If you aren’t yet familiar with these spaces, be sure to visit the Future Learning Lab on the 4th floor of MacOdrum Library and learn about the ELH by registering for the upcoming Immersive Learning with EON-XR: Enhancing Student Learning Experiences workshop or drop-in session in Southam Hall.
Our Teaching and Learning Services teams were also very busy supporting the instructional community: 279 events and over 2000 instructors received support in the summer and fall terms alone. The latest numbers are impressive and highlight the essential work that TLS provides.
Looking to the year ahead, Artificial Intelligence continues to break barriers and gain new ground. By one estimate, at least 50% of Canadians will be using AI on the job in the next three years. Without a doubt, AI is shaping the way we learn and work, necessitating a rethink to how we structure our classrooms and curricula.
With that in mind, the TLS team continues to provide instructors with information and resources to help meet the challenge of AI head-on. The faculty-led Spotlight on AI series also continues this year. The series features speakers from across Carleton’s teaching community talking about the innovative ways that they are responding to the challenges posed by AI. Consult the calendar and be sure to register for this popular series.
I would also like to take this opportunity to officially welcome Dr. Hashmat U. Khan to his new role as Associate Vice-President (Academic Programs and Strategic Initiatives), succeeding Dwight Deugo. Hashmat makes a great addition to the team, and I am really looking forward to the great work we will do together.
The promise of a new year brings both challenges and opportunities. As we kick off the term, we look forward to sharing more exciting updates soon, and as always, our teams are ready with support when you need it. Whether you want to consult with us about experiential learning opportunities or need some assistance with educational technology, we are here to help.
On behalf of everyone at Teaching and Learning Services and Quality Assurance, we wish you all the best for a new term.
David J Hornsby
Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President (Academic)