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The Douglas College Newsletter

@ New Westminster Campus, David Lam Campus & Thomas Haney Centre

CET becomes DLS

The Centre has shifted! To
reflect an expanding mandate,
the Centre for Educational
Technology (CET) has
changed its name to
Distributed Learning Services
(DLS). And while the shift
has been more gradual than
earthshattering, it does signal
a profound change in how
technology can be used to

meet educational needs.

“We want to emphasize the
‘learning’ and ‘service’ cspects
of what we do,” says DLS
Director Rob Linschoten.
“The change is really about
better integration — to
enhance instruction and
increase access to
instruction.” Responding to a
province-wide government
directive, DLS will work with
all parts of the College to
find, | develop the
most effective modes of

rogram and service delivery.
g

“We’re not eliminating our
existing services, but we are

refocusing,” says Linschoten.

 
   

Meeting of the minds

“While we’re not designing
curriculum, we will be
providing more assistance in
translating learning delivery
from one medium to another.
In conjunction with faculty,
we'll also do exp:oratory
work with software and
technology to test emerging
applications.”

To address the challenge,
Linschoten has put together a
new DLS team combining
specialized knowledge with a
comprehensive outlook. The
trio — Designer/Trainer
Susan Greffard, Graphic
Designer Jamie Gunn and
Media Production Technician
Tim Paul — will work
together to help College
departments and faculties
develop the most appropriate
mix of distributed learning
materials.

“These three have access to all
major media,” Linschoten
says. “Jamie brings expertise
in portable graphics, Tim

does sound and video and

Top Hungarian delegates visited Douglas College last month as part of a
World Bank- funded tour to research post-secondary initiatives for
retraining youth and the unemployed. Bottom row, I-r: John McKendry;
Dr. Karoly Gedai (Hungarian Ambassador to Canada); Susan Witter;

Dr. Peter Kiss (Hungarian Minister of Labor); Al Atkinson. Top row, I-r: Tad
Hosoi; Ferenc Szentesi; Dr. Peter Kleckner; Tibor Szabo; Jim Sator. Andre
Molnar, Vancouver's Honorary Counsel for the Republic of Hungary, also

attended the day's events.

IN

Douglas College

 

New team, new name

Susan Greffard (left), Jamie Gunn (centre) and Tim Paul (right) of

Distributed Learning Services.

Susan focuses on integration
of all the elements. It’s really
exciting to think about the
potential for this group and
how they can help the
College — both internally and
externally.”

An important aspect of the
team’s work is making sure
educational technologies old
and new are used
appropriately and effectively.

What are the educational
needs of adults in Maple
Ridge? What is the
appropriate role for Thomas
Haney Centre in meeting
emerging needs? These and
other questions affecting the
Centre's future role are the
focus of a new College study
underway this fall.

“A number of factors have
impacted on the Maple Ridge
campus,” says College
Development VP Mia
Gordon. “These include the
opening of our Coquitlam
campus, decreasing enrolment
at the Centre, and increasing
financial pressures throughout
the college system.”

“The process involves a great
deal of ongoing consultation,
research, coordination and
training,” Greffard confirms.
“I’m looking forward to
everyone in the College
pulling together a lot of
innovative and interesting
ideas and moving forward
with this.”

“T think as an institution
we’ re in a position to achieve

Unique in Canada when it
opened in 1991, the Thomas
Haney Centre was designed
to house a secondary school,
office space for District 42
Continuing Education, and
College programs and

services.

“Our vision at that time was
to provide increased
educational opportunities
that were not limited by
traditional organizational
barriers,” Gordon says.
“Seven years later, learning
environments are changing.
This is a good time to
consider alternative models
for programs and services in
the community.”

    

real change,” Gunn agrees.
“And while problems of
equitable access still need to
be addressed, we’re working
towards freedom from
traditional barriers of time
and place that have kept a lot
of people from attending
college.”

“It’s also a great chance for
the institution to develop
integrated learning
opportunities throughout its
programs and services,”
Linschoten says. “We need to
be ready for the technological
and educational changes
sweeping North America, and
taking the initiative in the
area of distributed learning

>

will help get us there. ’

“We also need to be ready for
the increasingly high
technological expectations of
our incoming students,” adds
Greffard, “so let’s start
working together now.” If
you re interested in any
aspect of the new DLS team
and what it can help deliver,
please contact Susan Greffard
at local 5253, voicemail 8363.
a

~ Study to focus on Maple Ridge

The study will focus on a
comprehensive review of
operations to-date. In
October, Dr. Kathryn Barker
will consult with existing
partners and other local
educational program
providers, and research
alternate models for campus
operations. Gordon
emphasizes that input from
community organizations,
agencies and business groups
is key to this aspect of the
study. Those wishing to
participate in focus group
sessions being organized for
October are encouraged to
contact Yvonne Mostert at
local 5868. @

 

Quote of the Month

An education isn’t how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It’s being
able to differentiate between what you do know and what you don't.

Anatole France