Reflections: ACIFA 2014

The Alberta Colleges and Institutes Faculties Association 2014 Conference was held at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge from May 25-27. Jennefer Rousseau and I were fortunate to present on media curation and attend sessions given by other Alberta faculty members.

There was so much to gawk at when we arrived for the ACIFA 2014 Conference at the Jasper Park Lodge: a mama bear with two cubs in tow; pristine Lac Beauvert; handsome Stanley, the resident dog; an elk with a relentless itch on his backside; and of course the grand, but cozy lodge. I felt pretty grateful to be presenting at and attending the ACIFA conference that happened May 25-27. What I didn't realize in that first impression, was that the conference would prove to be as fulfilling as our surroundings.

Time for refelection at
Lac Beauvert, Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

Monday morning. I get a text at 6:30 am: breakfast and set-up for our session? I am without my usual gaggle of husband, kids, and dogs, so I am sure that this is my day to sleep-in, but no such luck. With our 10 am presentation on media curation around the corner, Jennefer Rousseau and I schlep over to the lodge to eat and set-up.

• Eggs and bacon, check.
• Computers, check. 
• Presentation plans, check. 
• Info booklet, check. 
• Audio, check. 
• Projector, check, er, sort of: minor technical difficulties, but we plunder on.

Participants trickle in and the adrenaline surges. We talk about our media curation process and I lose track of where we are in our PowerPoint. Jennefer prompts me a few times, and I snap back. "Because sharing is fun." we bellow in unison. The audience is supportive and interested. We show three curated videos from our media curation project, and discuss why they are effective, or how they could be more effective. Next, we watch our video starring Murray Ronaghan and Laura Slade, and learn about faculty perspectives on our media curation projects:

Murray and Laura comment on cats and curation.

We wrap with testimony from Jennefer, detailing her experience with using video throughout her teaching career in both face-to-face settings, and online. Opening the floor to questions, a lively discussion ensues and I am relieved that participants are responding to our session. The group talks about managing a YouTube channel and copyright concerns, TedEd and other educational videos, library subscription resources, learning management systems, and much more.

We unplug, pack up, and untangle our cords and nerves, excited to be participants and learners for the next sessions. More on that in an upcoming post from Jennefer Rousseau. Now where did that lovely elk get to?

   

I dub thee Henry and call you cute.