Learning Innovation: The Teaching & Learning Podcast

learninginnovation

This is Learning Innovation: The Teaching and Learning Podcast—also known as LITL-Pod. In the spirit of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, and Niitsitapi’ksimpstaan (Real Thinking), we play host to a spectrum of guests from the Teaching and Learning community. As we highlight and explore innovation in education, we hope to kindle warm conversations, expand perspectives and foster lasting partnerships today, tomorrow and beyond! The future of learning starts now.

  1. FEB 3

    E75: Research and Reconciliation — Fostering Healing and Community through Public Safety Applied Research

    “Ultimately, my focus is on making space for perspectives that have historically been excluded and ensuring our work contributes to the systemic change.” ~ Dr. Kirsten Fantazir, Research Chair at Lethbridge Polytechnic  Dr. Kirsten Fantazir (Instructor and Research Chair at Lethbridge Polytechnic), and Dr. Jami Albright-Tolman (Instructor and Researcher), share about public safety applied research projects that are fostering connection with Blackfoot communities, and preparing students for careers in public safety.  Kirsten and Jami expand on Community Integration Through Art Pissatsinaskssini (CITAP), and how its Creative Circles can foster healing, trust, and reconciliation.   CITAP brings together Indigenous elders, students, and community partners to share meals, art, and cultural practices—and challenge stereotypes about houseless and vulnerable populations. Kirsten and Jami highlight early results, ethical practices, and the importance of authentic relationships and Indigenous ways of knowing.  During the show, guests and Donna (host) mention: CPSAR – Centre for Public Safety Applied Research  CITAP – Community Integration Through Art - Pissatsinaskssini Ninastako Cultural Centre  E05: Gamifying Grammar with Murray Bartley and Kirsten Fantazir E56: The positionality effect – Building empathy through reflection and transparency about your place in the world  Dude’s Club  Sir Robert Peel’s Policing Principles  Niitsitapi Eats and Treats  RAs (resident assistants) Tsimshian Haida RINSA  CI-CAN National Indigenous Education Symposium  First Thunder Wellness Criminal Justice at Lethbridge Polytechnic VR Core York Regional Police, Ontario  Bill C48  Social Determinants of Health

    42 min
  2. 2025-12-02

    E73: 🤖 AI literacy and Critical Awareness — Helping Students Stay Human on their Learning Journey

    "Teaching is not only about giving information, right? It's not about giving facts or explaining concepts or putting things together. It's creating a certain environment where learning is happening and I still think that humans are better at this than AI.” ~ Dr. Olga Klymenko  A recent study from MIT shows that over-reliance on LLMs for writing accumulates cognitive debt (weaker brain connectivity, less ownership over the finished product).   Dr. Olga Klymenko, instructor and language expert, is grappling with how to address over-reliance on AI writing in her classroom.  Olga doesn't believe in banning or even policing the use of AI. Instead, she believes the answer lies in choosing to engage—that is, aiming to be collaborators in the process of knowledge building.  Olga shares her insights, including:  Cultural mismatch and underrepresentation of voices for Indigenous languages Cognitive costs of AI shortcuts and the fallibility of AI-plagiarism checkers Winning trust with students about AI-use (showing limitations; creating learner agency)  During the show, Olga and host (Donna) mention: MIT Study: Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task  The small island state of Seychelles (Link lands you on Google Maps)  Seychelles Creole (Kreol Seselwa)  ChatGPT  University of Seychelles University of London  National University of Donetsk  Lethbridge Polytechnic  Navigating academic writing in the AI era: Lethbridge Polytechnic instructor offers insight  E49: Generative AI and instructional design: Emphasizing the process of learning over the product of learning

    46 min
  3. 2025-05-20

    E71: 📚 Accidental scholars — Responding to teaching and learning gaps in the Trades

    Ryan Mann, Faculty Development Facilitator at SAIT’s Centre for Academic Development and Innovation, and Eric Mitchell, an Automotive Services Instructor at Lethbridge Polytechnic, are actively responding to teaching and learning gaps in the Trades through innovative—and technically scholarly—work. Despite the improvements they're making, Ryan and Eric don't really consider their work as scholarly—but framing it differently could amplify the impact. Ryan and Eric are joined by the polytechnic's Jaddon Park (Academic Services Manager) and Craig McCarthy (Learning Experience Designer). The four discuss the value of reframing work as scholarly, the power of integrating student feedback, and the joy in discovering creative ways to pass along knowledge.  During the show, guests and host (Donna) mention: SAIT: Southern Alberta Institute of Technology  Centre for Teaching and Learning  Academic Development and Innovation  Automotive programs Apprenticeship and Trades  Lethbridge Polytechnic  CTLI: Centre for Teaching, Learning, And Innovation ICP: Instructor Certification Program NIOP: New Instructor Orientation Program SoTL: Scholarship of Teaching and Learning LC Extension Community of Practice OER: Open Educational Resources Making the switch from textbooks to OERs: How (and why) one instructor made the change Automotive Services Technician Apprenticeship  Automotive Systems certificate  Introduction to the Trades  Electrician Apprenticeship   UDL: Universal Design for Learning  EAL: English as an Additional Language  ChatGPT Alberta Minister of Advanced Education  AIT: Apprenticeship and Industry Training  Registered Apprenticeship Program  STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics  The Fast and the Furious  Gone in 60 Seconds  Calgary Corrections Centre  Integration of Trades-Based STEM Education in Canadian K-12 Schools by Josh Hill  Kahoot  Bright Space (learning management system) LITL-Pod episodes:  E69: How to make online learning feel like in-person community – A creative course revision at Lethbridge Polytechnic  E66: 👍 Researcher’s Guide to the Galaxy – How to practically (and painlessly) share your research project, create meaningful impact, and find your community as a Networked Scholar  E55: Environmental Psychology and Conservation – An instructor's creative course-build through the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning  E47: Updates in STEM – Sparking real-world connections between K-12 and the Trades to foster early career passions  E29: How to Develop, Validate, and Disseminate Your Teaching and Learning Research Project through The Scholarship for Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Download Ryan's AI guidebook here: A Guide to Generative AI for Educators

    1h 5m
  4. 2025-05-06

    E70: 🧠 Exercise cognition research — Examining how physical activity shapes the brain

    Beyond the obvious benefits exercise has on your body, research shows that it has powerful benefits on your brain, too—like improved memory, attention, and processing speed. Simon Schaerz (Exercise Science instructor at Lethbridge Polytechnic), David Selles (Physical Education student from the University of Lethbridge), and Tyler Duffy (Exercise Science student at Lethbridge Polytechnic) discuss exercise cognition and its profound impacts on the brain—specifically, on executive functioning. Exercise cognition research could also be pivotal in helping prioritize physical education (PE) programs—especially in K-12, where PE's importance can often be minimized. During the show, guests and host (Craig) mention: Lethbridge Polytechnic  Exercise Science Program  Exercise-physiology class  Research Methods in Kinesiology class  DCM Program  University of Lethbridge  Physical Education Program  Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by John J. Ratey  Embodied Cognition Theory  Central Governor Model and Fatigue  Cerebral hemodynamics  Synaptogenesis  Physical Activity and the Development of Executive Function in Healthy Children: A Bioecological Perspective by Simon Schaerz  Pedagogical knowledge model:  Content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, and curricular knowledge  Progressive overload  Executive Function Zone of Proximal Development HPEC: Health & Physical Education Council  SSHRC: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council  ECSS: European College of Sports Science Tyler's games to promote executive functioning: Tic-Tac-Toe Pattern Pursuit Red Light, Green Light

    43 min

Ratings & Reviews

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5 Ratings

About

This is Learning Innovation: The Teaching and Learning Podcast—also known as LITL-Pod. In the spirit of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, and Niitsitapi’ksimpstaan (Real Thinking), we play host to a spectrum of guests from the Teaching and Learning community. As we highlight and explore innovation in education, we hope to kindle warm conversations, expand perspectives and foster lasting partnerships today, tomorrow and beyond! The future of learning starts now.