UNews - Marlo Steed

Elementary and U of L students combine forces to design educational apps

caroline.zentner — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 17:15:38 +0000

Developing a mobile app that’s educational, fun and free of ads is the goal of a unique collaboration between the Faculty of Education and the Department of New Media at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Ryan Harper-Brown, a New Media instructor, and Dr. Marlo Steed, an education professor with expertise in educational technology, have created a course that brings students from both disciplines together with elementary school children to develop educational applications on mobile devices.

The U of L students connected with Dr. Gerald Probe, Mike Mountain Horse and Coalbanks Elementary schools to talk to Grade 4 and 5 students about the kind of apps that appeal to them.

U of L students work with Grade 4 and 5 students in the classroom to develop apps.

“Our students came back and took those ideas and narrowed the focus to a particular subject and started to develop a plan,” says Steed.

One group is working on an app where users go back in time to learn about the fur trade and another group is looking at a specific location through different periods of time. The third group developed a storyline where teachers get trapped inside textbooks and can only be freed when the user correctly solves problems or answers questions.

The collaboration has given the U of L students the chance to learn new skills, both inside and outside their own discipline.

“New Media students have gotten a taste of learning how to develop a piece of software or tool for a totally different user group,” says Harper-Brown. “They’re developing something for young learners so they have to understand how they learn and observe how these children respond and interact with the app. They also have to pay attention to make sure that the story is clear and curriculum objectives are met.”

“Education students are learning about design, how students engage with digital programs and the importance of storytelling in curriculum,” says Steed. “If you’re designing an instructional activity that you want to be engaging, some of these same principles apply.”

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge experts available to help families slide back into the school routine

caroline.zentner — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 16:29:58 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has several experts from the Faculty of Education available to discuss the challenges and opportunities that come with getting students ready for the school year.

These experts can offer insight and suggestions for parents about topics like the province’s new math curriculum, the move away from grade-based report cards, encouraging literacy, technology in education, and helping children become resilient.

School mathematics — teaching, learning, and assessment

Dr. Richelle Marynowskican provide information about the current mathematics teaching and learning directions in Alberta and how parents can help their students with math. She can also provide parents with information regarding teaching strategies that are effective in the math classroom. Her research interests also include classroom assessment practices and provincial examinations.

403-329-2269

richelle.marynowski@uleth.ca

Student report cards — a new look but one with more meaning

Dr. Carmen Mombourquettecan talk about the move away from letter grades and percentages on report cards to a system based on words, and explain the reasoning behind the move. He is also able to provide tips about how to help students get back into the learning groove, the issues that middle- and high-school-aged children can encounter with relationships, and how parents can best respond.

403-329-2018

carmen.mombourquette@uleth.ca

Help your child learn to love reading

Dr. Robin Bright, a literacy expert, can share pointers about ways parents and teachers can help children become avid readers. Her other areas of expertise include digital literacy, cyberbullying and helping school systems develop digital literacy policies.

403-329-2443

brightr@uleth.ca

Promoting resiliency in children

Dr. Dawn McBride, a registered psychologist, can offer practical suggestions on how to prepare children to return to school after a summer break. In addition, she can discuss how teachers and parents can use positive discipline principles to help children learn to manage their frustrations and anger appropriately. She can also address mental health issues, such as eating disorders, self-harm, depression and anxiety, experienced by some youth. Statistics from the Canadian Mental Health Association indicate that an estimated 10 to 20 per cent of Canadian youth are affected by a mental illness or disorder, the single most disabling group of disorders worldwide.

403-317-2877

Cell: 403-894-8460

dawn.mcbride@uleth.ca

From 3D Printing to computer apps that aid learning

Dr. Marlo Steed can discuss the role of technology in education, including 3D Printing, video creation, virtual reality and digital storytelling. Steed can speak about the ways technology can transform learning both in the classroom and at home.

403-329-2189

marlo.steed@uleth.ca

Long Service & Retirement Recognition Ceremony

trevor.kenney — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:44:43 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is holding its annual Long Service Awards and Retirement Recognition Ceremony on Wednesday, May 9 at 1 p.m. in the Students' Union Ballrooms.

A total of 103 employees, including 20 retiring employees and those who have completed 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 years of service, will be honoured.

All employees are invited to the ceremony and reception to honour the award recipients listed below. The reception will include light refreshments.

Retirees

Nola Aitken, Pat Anderson, Bill Cade, Maria Draper, Carol Gaetz, Mary Anne Hellinga, John Johnston, Cindy Kabelka, Frank Klassen, Michael Kubara, Christina Lastuka, Rita Law, Kathy Lee, Marg McKeen, Bruce McMullin, Shari Platt, Charlene Sawatsky, Richard Tedesco, Barbara Wolstoncroft and Joan Zimmer

Long Service Recipients

40 Years

Lois Boras and
Jean Mankee

35 Years

Barbara Dickinson, Heather Mirau and Brian Parkinson

30 Years

Rene Barendregt, Annette Bright, Peter Heffernan, Barb Hodgson, Kurt Klein, William Krysak, Judy Lacey, Phill Lema, Valerie Richardson, Kim Selk and John Vokey

25 Years

Candace Dueck, John Eng, Frank Klassen, Sheila Lowe, Fiona Randle, Thomas Staples, Greg Tompkins, Kelly Vaselenak, Peter Visentin and Diana Young

20 Years

Lynn Ambedian, Robin Bright, Naomi Cramer, Mary Dyck, Rod Gelleny, Michael Kern, Judith Kulig, Rick Peter, Robert Runte, Sandy Slavin, Maxine Tedesco and Jeff Vucurevich

15 Years

Dwayne Armstrong, Mara Baldwin, Kerry Bernes, Lesley Brown, James Clark, Tom Doyle, Larry Flanagan, Carolyn Gaebel, Cam Goater, Bradley Hagen, Rob Johnson, Ed Jurkowski, Angela Luck, Goldie Morgentaler, Dan O'Donnell, Kent Peacock, Brent Selinger, Marlo Steed and
Nicole Wilson

10 Years

Peter Alward, Christine Anderson, Ebenezer Asem, Roberto Bello, Shawn Bubel, Kris Caldwell, Michael Campbell, Connie Chaplin, John Claassen, Melanie Collado, Dagmar Dahle, Alesha Farfus-Shukaliak, Bev Garnett, Daya Gaur, Joanne Gedrasik, Betsy Greenlees, Trevor Harrison, Linda Janz, Sharon Kanashiro, John Kometz, Igor Kovalchuk, Olga Kovalchuk, Bette Jo Kulak, James Linville, Douglas MacArthur, Claudia Malacrida, Kyla McFadden, Jacqueline Montain, Mandy Moser, Bob Muskovich, Janice Newberry, Tammy Paskuski, Jill Payant, Wilf Roesler, Edward Sandzewicz, Daryl Schacher, Darren Schell, Arlan Schultz, Daniela Sirbu, Debbie Tarnava, John Usher, Derek Vincent, Bernie Wirzba and Cindy Yee

Learning through critical thinking

trevor.kenney — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:04:16 +0000

Albert Einstein famously said, "Never memorize something that you can look up."

Dr. Marlo Steed wholeheartedly agrees.

An associate professor in the Faculty of Education, Steed teaches New Media in Learning and gears his research to how technology impacts the way people teach and learn. He is currently compiling feedback on the trial use of a cutting edge conferencing program called Adobe Connect, which Steed recently employed with a group of distant placement practicum students – one as far away as Belize.

As far as Einstein's sentiments go, Steed emphatically concurs, stating that ready access to a world of information through technological means has changed education forever.

"The ways in which we find and share information have fundamentally changed," he explains. "We no longer have to worry about memorizing facts – we can go online and find information on anything we want at any time."

Steed says that at this point in the world's technological evolution, educational focus should be on higher order skills and critical thinking.

"Students need to learn to how to be problem solvers and decipher what technological tools will most effectively get their ideas across," he says.

While Steed concedes that technology presents as many challenges as benefits, he believes that the sheer magnitude of technological possibilities and the speed in which technology advances is extremely exciting.

"Technology not only changes the way we look at the world, it changes the way we think," Steed says. "Five years ago, we didn't know where we'd be now. Who can predict where we'll be in another five years? The biggest challenge is to become a lifelong learner who grows with the technology and learns how to utilize it as it moves along."

UNews - Marlo Steed

Elementary and U of L students combine forces to design educational apps

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��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge experts available to help families slide back into the school routine

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Long Service & Retirement Recognition Ceremony

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Learning through critical thinking

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��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge experts available to help families slide back into the school routine