Experiential learning
I believe experiential learning is key to success in teaching. This may not always mean physically leaving the classroom to explore though.
For example, check out the videos and images for we are building for a virtual reality educational tour of our Garibaldi field sites.
Students on Ice
In 2011 I had a life changing experience, when I got a fully funded to go on a Students on Ice Arctic Expedition. We traveled to Iceland, Greenland and through parts of Northern Canada. During the trip I fell in love with the Arctic. This trip taught me the value of experiential learning and since I have sought to bring this into my own teaching.
Instructional Skills Workshops
As a graduate student facilitator, I run three day long in-person and online instructional skills workshops (ISW) on teaching. I create a safe learning environment for teachers to take risks, practice and discuss various teaching techniques.
Mentoring ISW facilitators
I mentor new faciliators on how to run three day long in-person and online workshops on teaching.
Outdoor education
Although not a professional guide, I have taught a number of UBC Varsity Outdoor Club (VOC) members about backcountry skiing/camping, navigation, glacier travel, and avalanche safety. I have taught at the VOC annual glacier school for nearly a decade (since 2013) and try to take this outdoor teaching experience with me into the classroom settings.
Mentoring Undergraduate students in the lab and field
Both in the field and the lab I have mentored a number of undergraduate students in: plant identification, field camp maintenance, and lab techniques (e.g. DNA and RNA extractions, gels, and PCR reactions).
Teaching assistant
I have experience running labs and marking for the second year ecology course at UBC.
"Sometimes participating in these sessions can feel forced, and as if the people taking the course are just brainstorming the techniques, rather than being taught techniques. This session was great because the participation was meaningful and we were practicing actual techniques provided by the instructor. Very well done!"
- Anonymous feedback
"One of the TA Institute’s most attended sessions was Leading Discussions with Students… When Should I? How Should I? Facilitated by PhD candidates Andrea Johnson, from the School of Social Work, and Cassandra Elphinstone, from the Department of Botany."
- UBC CTLT Recap TA institute 2020