Learning Innovation: The Teaching & Learning Podcast learninginnovation

“How can we produce food... and reduce our footprint?” – John Derksen, Chair of the Aquaculture Centre of Excellence
John Derksen, Chair of the Aquaculture Centre of Excellence, and Dr. Nick Savidov, Senior Research Scientist at the Aquaculture Centre of Excellence take us on a deep dive into aquaponics!  
They explain how their aquaponics facility works, including their state-of-the-art biofiltration technology that’s taking reduce, reuse, recycle to a whole new level. With a proper set up, aquaponics creates a synergistic ecosystem where fish, plants, and microorganisms can thrive indefinitely. 
John and Nick also share about upcoming applied research projects, and about their microcredential series which have garnered the interest of – and collaboration with – the largest aquaponics association in the world. 
References: 
Peruse Aquaponics Microcredentials here!
Aquaculture Centre of Excellence
Difference between aquaculture, hydroponics, and aquaponics: 
Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms like fish, shrimp, or aquatic plants in controlled environments, such as tanks or ponds, for food or commercial purposes. 
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil, where roots are submerged in a nutrient-rich water solution or grow in soilless media using nutrient solutions. 
Aquaponics is a symbiotic ecosystem combining aquaculture (raising fish), hydroponics (growing plants without soil), and microorganisms. Fish waste provides nutrients for plants and microorganisms, and the plants and microorganisms purify the water for the fish. 

VR – Virtual reality  
RAS – Recirculating aquaculture system 
A drum filter in aquaponics is a mechanical filtration system that uses a rotating drum to separate solid waste from liquid waste. 
An oxygenator in aquaponics adds oxygen to the water, helping fish breathe and promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria that break down fish waste into nutrients for plants. 
A biofilter in aquaponics harbours bacteria (nitrifiers) that convert toxic ammonia into nitrate through a two-step process.
A bioreactor in aquaponics is a chamber that utilizes aerobic microorganisms to break down and liquify all solid fish waste that is separated and collected from the system. Aerobic is key, as most bioreactors are anaerobic.
A trickling (carbon) filter in aquaponics is both a mechanical and self-regenerating biofilter where water trickles over a physical medium (such as charcoal) and slowly drains through.  Microorganisms colonize this medium and help to break down harmful (typically liquid) fish waste, such as ammonium, and mineralize finer organic particles as it passes through. Finer solid particles are filtered out in the process, producing crystal-clear water.
Water polishing in aquaponics is the process of removing any remaining particles or impurities from the water to ensure it's clean and clear for both fish and plants. 
Filter backwashing in aquaponics is the process of reversing the flow of water through a filter to remove accumulated debris and waste. This process isn’t needed in a properly functioning aquaponics system! 
Aerobic – with oxygen 
Anaerobic – without oxygen
University of Alberta
Dr. Basil Andrew Keddie
Examples of other applied research projects at the college: 
E24: An Exploration of Immersive Technology Inspiring Lifelong Movement 
E33: Immersive Storytelling – The Battle of Belly River 

Comparing HSP with LED lighting (by Stouch Lighting Staff, LED lighting sellers) 
HPS – high-pressure sodium 
LED – light-emitting diode 
High Bay LED lighting is an energy-efficient fixture design that brightly illuminates large indoor spaces with high ceilings, such as warehouses or factories, using long-lasting LED technology 


Canola Council of Canada 
SOP – standard operating procedure 
E. coli (Wikipedia) 
University of Georgia – Interdisciplinary team for aquaponics 
CTLI – Centre for Teaching, Learning, and I

Doctor Bhuvinder Vaid, an Education Developer from Capilano University, and Doctor Gwen Nguyen and Britt Dzioba who are Advisors on the Learning and Teaching team at BCcampus, join the pod for a sustained conversation around positionality. This trio dives deeply into this concept, and explores how positionality is a practice that can break down equity barriers and help students feel a greater sense of inclusivity and belonging in their learning environments. Bhuvinder, Britt and Gwen share how to craft a positionality statement, and how taking this reflexive step in your teaching practice can help you and your students relate with each other, and even foster deeper community in your classroom.
During the episode, Gwen, Bhuvinder, Britt and Donna (host) mention:
BCcampus 
Capilano University 
Gwen & Bhuvinder’s FLO Friday Webinar: Where to Position Positionality in Your Work 
Positionality versus Intersectionality
UBC – University of British Columbia  
University of Victoria 
BC Ministry of Children and Family Development  
Instructor Certification Program (ICP) at Lethbridge College 
Universal design for learning (UDL)
Bringing the Practice of Positionality into Teaching and Learning by Britt Dzioba
This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do The Work (by Tiffany Jewell) 
Haiku – a Japanese form of poetry with 3 lines: the first line contains 5 syllables, the second contains 7 syllables, and the last line contains 5 syllables 
Reflect on Your Positionality to Ensure Student Success by Christine Harrington
SoTL - Scholarship of Teaching and Learning 
“Hope is like a road in the country, there is never a road but when people walk on it, the road comes into existence” a variation of the poem by Lin Yutang 
Community of Practice 
Lillooet (Stʼatʼimc) 
Squamish 
Musqueam 
Sechelt (shíshálh nation) 
Tsleil-Waututh 
Halkomelem (also known as Burnaby, BC) 
Lekwungen
Esquimalt and Songhees (also known as Victoria, BC) 

míqәn (Beacon Hill Park)
See Britt's Digital Positionality Collage below ⤵️

Joshua Hill, an instructor at Lethbridge College, shares about his exciting course-build on Environmental Psychology and Conservation.

Nelson Lateeph, host of Under The Bridge – Tha Podcast, sits down with Donna and Jordana to talk about his experience moving to Lethbridge with his family from Cape Town, South Africa.
Nelson is passionate about social development in the city, and has some practical ideas on how international students (and newcomers in general) can get more involved with their community to foster a greater sense of joy and belonging.
During this conversation, Donna, Nelson, and Jordana mention:
Under The Bridge - Tha Podcast
Cape Town, South Africa 
Motivational speaker in Lethbridge – Kimberly Lyall: Life Is An Adventure | Under The Bridge Tha Podcast | Ep.09 
Downtown Lethbridge: Festival Square 
BRZ - Business Revitalization Zone  
Heart of Our City Committee 
Lethbridge Soccer Association 
University of Lethbridge 
Black History Month
African diaspora
Pan-Africanism
Malcolm X
Martin Luther King Jr.
Rosa Parks  
Creative videographer & mentor – Michael Worf: Coalbanks' Love Letter To Lethbridge | Under The Bridge Tha Podcast | Ep.05 
Temptations restaurant, Bar, Lounge & Nightclub 
CASA
The Galt Museum & Archives
SAE – Southern Alberta Ethnic Association (Multicultural Centre)
Gatsby (sandwich) 
“If the mountain will not come to Mohammed, Mohammed will go to the mountain” essentially means: “If things aren’t going your way, you’ll have to adjust the way they are.” 
Jarred Garrick from ROVÜ: Spaces That Inspire | Under The Bridge Tha Podcast | Ep.02

In this thought-provoking episode, we recognize Black History Month (BHM) with a meaningful panel discussion featuring Lethbridge College students: Sharon Boit, Susan Samaila, and Raihau-Milz Izonyobore.
The trio discuss the significance of BHM events at the college, and share heart-felt dialogue about Black culture and identity, including influences like language, education, tradition, and intersectionality.
During the episode, Sharon, Susan, Raihau, and Donna (host) mention:
List of BHM events at Lethbridge College 
LCSA – Lethbridge College Student Association
General Arts and Science – Pre-Social Work Major planning guide
Administrative Office Professional program at Lethbridge College
Criminal Justice - Policing program at Lethbridge College 
How to make Nigerian scrambled eggs (3-minute video) 
BHM meal kit pickup – Eastern African meal (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Congo, Sudan) 
Register for a meal kit HERE 

Kenya (Google Maps)
Utamaduni Day – a celebration of all the cultures in Kenya 
Cultural appropriation 
Mursik (fermented milk) 
Nigeria (Google Maps)
FGM – Female genital mutilation 
Burundi (Google Maps)
Intersectionality 
International Services at Lethbridge College 
Third Places (spaces) 
The Cave – a safe, inclusive student hangout spot at the college 
Thirsty Thursday 

Diwali: Festival of Lights 
Lethbridge Buchanan Library 
Wellness Services at Lethbridge College 
LCSA Food bank for students 
East African Pilau – Kenyan pilau 
Nigerian Jollof Rice 
Kenyan Chapati | Chapo recipe 
Canadian Pow Wow calendar 
Grand Prairie Police Service 

Alexander McEwan, an aspiring K-12 teacher set to graduate with his bachelor's degree in Education from the University of Lethbridge, shares about his unique teaching practicum last semester at Chinook High School. 
Along with running an AI research project, Alex explored creative ways to introduce his students to generative AI. Using tools like Class Companion and ChatGPT, Alex showed his students how to simplify dense text, clarify concepts through metaphors and analogies, and assess their knowledge through interactive conversations with AI – i.e., his “AI Socratic Seminar Assignment”. 
Alex goes into depth about this experimental assignment that, through a creative ChatGPT prompt, sparked conversations that helped students think critically and get targeted real-time feedback. 
During the podcast, Alex and Donna (host) mention: 
University of Lethbridge 
Bachelor of Education 

Chinook High School in Lethbridge, Alberta
Generative AI – a category of artificial intelligence that creates new content, such as text, images, or music, by learning patterns from existing data and generating output that is similar or inspired by that data. 
Class Companion 
ChatGPT 
Socrates 
OpenAI 
French Revolution 
Alex’s AI Socratic Seminar Assignment ChatGPT prompt to assess students’ understanding: As an expert in the Socratic method, assess my knowledge and understanding by asking me one question at a time about _______. Ask me a series of questions to measure my understanding of _______. Ask follow-up questions when I show shallow understanding or vagueness in my response. Once you are confident you know my level of understanding, please stop the conversation and give me some productive feedback on my responses. Do you understand? 
Treaty of Versailles 
Academic integrity – the ethical practice of honesty, fairness, and ethical conduct in all aspects of academic work, including research, writing, and assessments, to uphold the values and standards of educational institutions. 
"Ableist" refers to discriminatory attitudes, behaviors, or beliefs that discriminate against or marginalize individuals with disabilities, reinforcing prejudices or stereotypes about their abilities and worth. 
“Burstiness” in AI – the phenomenon where a system or model produces a sudden and concentrated burst of responses, often due to the presence of specific input patterns or triggers, rather than maintaining a consistent or balanced output (read Sherice Jacob’s article: Perplexity and Burstiness in Writing). 
21st-century learner – an individual who embraces digital literacy, critical thinking, adaptability, and collaboration skills to effectively navigate and succeed in the evolving and technology-driven learning environments of the 21st century. 
PIP – Professional Inquiry Project 
Destination Exploration (University of Lethbridge science camp) 
Piikani Nation
Kainai Nation – Blood Tribe