Jill Burrows (psychology professor), Dean Kolebaba (instructor and Program Chair for the School of Justice Studies), and Lyle Ruggles (e-learning specialist) chat about the innovative teaching and learning pathways virtual reality (VR) is creating at Lethbridge Polytechnic.

This trio discuss how they have integrated narrative-driven VR into their classrooms, including what's worked, what hasn't, and what new developments they'll continue to adopt in the future.

Jill, Dean, and Lyle share how VR technology is helping students practice public speaking and interpersonal communication skills in a safe environment, and how it’s helping to nurture greater empathy, compassion, and understanding for individuals struggling with mental health challenges (like autism and schizophrenia).

During the show, guests and Donna (host) mention:

• General Arts and Science - Psychology and Sociology Diploma
• Therapeutic Recreation - Gerontology
• Criminal Justice Studies
• Justice Studies
• Justice and Human Services Programs
• Wind Turbine Technician
• Massage Therapy program
• Ovation VR
• Chris Milk TED Talk: How virtual reality can create the ultimate empathy machine
• Sharecare
• MetaQuest

Monica, Aderiyike, Jude, and Divine — nursing students at Lethbridge Polytechnic — share their experiences of cultural identity and community support as they navigate (sometimes discriminatory) systems in Canada.

The group discuss resilience and the importance of community for mental health and belonging, along with what they appreciate about Black History Month at Lethbridge Polytechnic. During the show, guests and host (Donna) mention:

• Practical Nursing at Lethbridge Polytechnic
• Yoruba tribe
• Igbo tribe
• LPSA – Lethbridge Polytechnic Student Association
• Services Canada
• Racial bias in pain assessment and treatment recommendations, and false beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites
• Jollof rice

“Ultimately, my focus is on making space for perspectives that have historically been excluded and ensuring our work contributes to the systemic change.” ~ Dr. Kirsten Fantazir, Research Chair at Lethbridge Polytechnic

Dr. Kirsten Fantazir (Instructor and Research Chair at Lethbridge Polytechnic), and Dr. Jami Albright-Tolman (Instructor and Researcher), share about public safety applied research projects that are fostering connection with Blackfoot communities, and preparing students for careers in public safety.

Kirsten and Jami expand on Community Integration Through Art Pissatsinaskssini (CITAP), and how its Creative Circles can foster healing, trust, and reconciliation.

CITAP brings together Indigenous elders, students, and community partners to share meals, art, and cultural practices—and challenge stereotypes about houseless and vulnerable populations. Kirsten and Jami highlight early results, ethical practices, and the importance of authentic relationships and Indigenous ways of knowing.

During the show, guests and Donna (host) mention:

• CPSAR – Centre for Public Safety Applied Research
• CITAP – Community Integration Through Art - Pissatsinaskssini
• Ninastako Cultural Centre
• E05: Gamifying Grammar with Murray Bartley and Kirsten Fantazir
• E56: The positionality effect – Building empathy through reflection and transparency about your place in the world
• Dude’s Club
• Sir Robert Peel’s Policing Principles
• Niitsitapi Eats and Treats
• RAs (resident assistants)
• Tsimshian
• Haida
• RINSA
• CI-CAN National Indigenous Education Symposium
• First Thunder Wellness
• Criminal Justice at Lethbridge Polytechnic
• VR Core
• York Regional Police, Ontario
• Bill C48
• Social Determinants of Health

"We know WIL has this really magical ability to create a stronger connection between students and this community." ~ Perry Stein, City of Lethbridge Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships Manager

Dr. Natalie Barfuss (business instructor at Lethbridge Polytechnic) and Perry Stein (Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships Manager at the City of Lethbridge) share the overwhelming benefits of WIL for students and their communities.

Work-integrated learning (WIL) helps students develop skills like teamwork, collaboration, problem-solving, and critical thinking. These real-world skills help students step out more confidently into their careers. Because WIL allows students a glimpse into the community, these experiences can even kindle an interest in staying around Lethbridge after graduation.

Natalie also shares how instructors can dip their toes in WIL experiences. Hint—it's easier than you think!

During the show, Perry, Natalie, and Donna (host) mention:

• ☀️SUMMER BONUS☀️ E58: LITL-Pod LIVE – Preparing learners and shaping community through Work-Integrated Learning (WIL)
• Lethbridge Polytechnic
  • REB
  • Bachelor of Nursing
  • Trades & Technologies
  • School of Business
• University of Lethbridge
  • Mitacs
• University of Calgary
• NorQuest College WIL Symposium
• CASA
• Downtown BRZ
• Universal Design for Learning
• Goal-setting theory
• City Scholars
• CEWIL
• Southgrow

"Teaching is not only about giving information, right? It's not about giving facts or explaining concepts or putting things together. It's creating a certain environment where learning is happening and I still think that humans are better at this than AI.” ~ Dr. Olga Klymenko

A recent study from MIT shows that over-reliance on LLMs for writing accumulates cognitive debt (weaker brain connectivity, less ownership over the finished product).

Dr. Olga Klymenko, instructor and language expert, is grappling with how to address over-reliance on AI writing in her classroom.

Olga doesn't believe in banning or even policing the use of AI. Instead, she believes the answer lies in choosing to engage—that is, aiming to be collaborators in the process of knowledge building.

Olga shares her insights, including:

• Cultural mismatch and underrepresentation of voices for Indigenous languages
• Cognitive costs of AI shortcuts and the fallibility of AI-plagiarism checkers
• Winning trust with students about AI-use (showing limitations; creating learner agency)

During the show, Olga and host (Donna) mention:

• MIT Study: Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task
• The small island state of Seychelles (Link lands you on Google Maps)
• Seychelles Creole (Kreol Seselwa)
• ChatGPT
• University of Seychelles
• University of London
• National University of Donetsk
• Lethbridge Polytechnic
• Navigating academic writing in the AI era: Lethbridge Polytechnic instructor offers insight
• E49: Generative AI and instructional design: Emphasizing the process of learning over the product of learning

Dr. Brad Donaldson, President and CEO of Lethbridge Polytechnic, unpacks how the institution is navigating national shifts in post-secondary funding, and what it means to take control of our collective future as a PSI in Alberta.

He shares practical strategies for ethical domestic recruitment, applied learning and research, and fostering a “critically kind” campus culture that empowers educators, supports students, and strengthens community impact.

During the episode, Brad and Donna (host) mention:

• E35: Interview with the President ☎
• Expert Panel on Post-Secondary Institution Funding and Alberta’s Competitiveness
• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
  • New International Student Program regulations take effect
• Alex Usher’s Higher Education Strategy Associates Blog (One Thought to Start Your Day)
  • That Alberta Post-Secondary Review, Again
• The President's View
• Alberta Labour Market Information
• Polytechnics Canada
• WIL: Work-integrated Learning
  • WIL at Future Skills Centre
• Lethbridge Polytechnic programs and courses

Beyond the obvious benefits exercise has on your body, research shows that it has powerful benefits on your brain, too—like improved memory, attention, and processing speed.

Simon Schaerz (Exercise Science instructor at Lethbridge Polytechnic), David Selles (Physical Education student from the University of Lethbridge), and Tyler Duffy (Exercise Science student at Lethbridge Polytechnic) discuss exercise cognition and its profound impacts on the brain—specifically, on executive functioning. Exercise cognition research could also be pivotal in helping prioritize physical education (PE) programs—especially in K-12, where PE's importance can often be minimized.

During the show, guests and host (Craig) mention:

• Lethbridge Polytechnic
  • Exercise Science Program
    • Exercise-physiology class
    • Research Methods in Kinesiology class
  • DCM Program
• University of Lethbridge
  • Physical Education Program
• Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by John J. Ratey
• Embodied Cognition Theory
• Central Governor Model and Fatigue
• Cerebral hemodynamics
• Synaptogenesis
• Physical Activity and the Development of Executive Function in Healthy Children: A Bioecological Perspective by Simon Schaerz
• Pedagogical knowledge model:
  • Content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, and curricular knowledge
• Progressive overload
• Executive Function
• Zone of Proximal Development
• HPEC: Health & Physical Education Council
• SSHRC: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
• ECSS: European College of Sports Science
• Tyler's games to promote executive functioning:
  • Tic-Tac-Toe
  • Pattern Pursuit
  • Red Light, Green Light