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Sinclair, and Mikal Radford, who continue and Alchemy extend the strong tradition established by Sarah Sheridan’s Faculty of Humanities and Tsiang and her colleague, Anna Boshnakova. Social Sciences Newsletter fall 2014 Looking into the metaphorical rear-view mirror, we gather some interesting clues about how far the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Welcome to Alchemy’s Fall 2014 issue. Picking up has come over the past year in developing and on the great work done by founding editor Sarah promoting creative learning and research Tsiang and her team of Anna Boshnakova and opportunities for our students. Milestones such as Mikal Radford, our new editorial team is excited to the PEQAB submission of the Creative Writing introduce our slightly reformatted newsletter; and Publishing degree, the launch of the Board Alchemy will be accessible in its original blog Undergraduate Certificate in Creativity and format, but also as a PDF which can be read as a Creative Problem Solving, the offerings of varied more traditionally unified issue. and extensive co-curricular activities, the support ESL faculty are providing to international students, Please note that we will be publishing the partnership between Academic Upgrading and Alchemy once per semester and have established Home Sweet Hope, and the formation of the some guidelines and deadlines for submissions as General Arts and Science student-led group, we move forward. Check out the documents on our Sheridan Generals, to name a few examples, serve as website, http://fhass.wordpress.com/, for more very tangible outputs of our talented and inspired details. faculty. —Owen Percy, Sarah Sinclair, and Mikal Radford The current issue of Alchemy captures some recent activity of note. As always, the Faculty of Table of Contents: fall 2014 Humanities and Social Sciences aims to help students expand their intellectual and global From the Dean’s Office ….1 consciousness, and to transform their mental Features ….2 landscape by encouraging learners to interact with (articles by Mike McNamara, Nicolette Little, concepts and real-life challenges in creative and Christian Knudsen, Sara Cumming & Jessica Pulis) thoughtful ways. Perhaps William Blake’s Intersections ….8 insightful and cautionary observation that the “man (articles by Ranya Khan & Carol Appleby, Lukasz who never alters his opinion is like standing water, Kurowski) Milestones …10 and breeds reptiles of the mind” is apropos here, as Student Spotlight …12 we collectively work to shape and educate the next (featuring Nattasha Wray, Ainsley David, 2013-14 generation of leaders. FHASS Award Winners, Rujing Wang) Faculty & Staff Spotlight …15 (featuring Glenn Clifton, Gail Benick, Kavita Mathew, Mike Baker, Jack Leung) Has Malik Cool Stuff …20 Dean, Faculty of The Hub …21 Humanities and (the photography of Peter Grevstad) Social Sciences
From the Dean’s Office
returns this year, vibrant and focused, Alchemy * * * under the editorial leadership of Owen Percy, Sarah 1
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Features post-secondary institutions throughout the United States (see: Buffalo State, Drexel University, Creativity… with friends like these Saybrook, Texas A&M, University of Georgia, and the University of Massachusetts, Boston). And so by Michael J. McNamara, Professor of Creativity and yes, while I have indeed suspended my bid for Creative Thinking Prime Minister, I have been working with
colleagues at Sheridan to develop and deliver Who amongst us hasn’t enjoyed a little good- Sheridan’s Board Undergraduate Certificate in natured ribbing at the hands of friends and family Creativity and Creative Problem-Solving. To my members? Having spent the vast majority of my knowledge, this is the first program in Canada to adult life in the Academy, these friendly jibes have focus explicitly and directly on the theories, included my having been introduced at dinner science, processes, methods, history, and socio- parties as “the full-time student who can’t get economic structures underpinning creativity. So, if enough of frosh week” and, a personal favorite, the words “maverick” and “trail-blazer” come to “the guy who sits in his pajamas and writes all mind, I completely understand. day.” If you happen to be a political scientist like
me, you’ve also probably been asked on occasion about your upcoming bid for Prime Minister or I actually TEACH students how to enhance their how things are going at the unemployment office. creativity. Now, don’t get me wrong---I give it as good as I get I don’t doubt the premise that everyone is it. But things have gotten a little more complicated creative. But I also know that our creative since I assumed my role as Professor of Creativity capacities can be enhanced and refined by using the and Creative Thinking. In fact, just last week, one established methods of creative problem-solving. of my closest childhood mates (who also happens These methods include abstracting problems to to be CFO of a major company) peered into my their essence, rephrasing and categorizing problems work bag and… there it was, staring out like a dirty as questions, segmenting the stages of thinking into secret: the sticky notes, the elastic bands, the discrete steps, deploying divergent and convergent popsicle sticks, and the Play-Doh. Ohhh, how am I thinking strategies, the use of story and thinking by going to explain all this Play-Doh? analogy and metaphor. Each semester, I witness students using these methods to overcome self- I thought I might get out in front of this imposed constraints on their thinking in order to incident by sharing what it is I actually do with improve their fluency, flexibility, and to discover these materials during 9-5/Mondays thru Fridays new ideas, solutions, and innovations. (and yes, despite the opinions of my wife and friends, this actually IS my schedule). Towards Apparently, creativity matters—a lot! that end, I offer the following points. IBM’s 2010 Chief Executive Officer Study cites creativity as the single most important My academic discipline IS creativity. leadership quality for organizations seeking to It goes without saying that ‘creativity’ negotiate the complexities of a global world. And touches all disciplines and points of academic Einstein famously quipped that “we can’t solve our inquiry. Moreover, ‘creativity’ is infused problems with the same thinking we used to create throughout the hallways, meeting rooms and them.” So, if you happen to see the papier-mâché programs of Sheridan’s Creative Campus. But that and newspaper towers in the back seat of my car, said, it is also apparent that the study of creativity know that these projects are helping students itself has emerged as a distinct, academic discipline, develop their capacities for finding the new ideas, albeit a very interdisciplinary one. In fact, solutions, and thinking that will be needed to “Creative Studies” have been popping up as course negotiate and address the challenges of the 21st offerings and academic credentials at a number of century, including global warming, the spread of
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disease, the challenges of a new economy and new authorities’ attention, with victims proving technologies, and growing poverty and income increasingly reticent to report occurrences in recent inequality in our country. So take that! years. Unfortunately, then, the actual number of women who face violence is much, much higher Or perhaps I’m missing the point of all this than we imagine, and such violence has a massive good-natured banter between friends. Perhaps, in and lasting impact on victims’ lives. writing this article, I have instead revealed myself to be the academic fuddy-duddy I really am. And Holiday Hamper Drive 2014 perhaps the contents of my work bag present my (November 24th—December 13th, 2014 – B219, closest friends with an opportunity that is just too C227, and STC A23) delicious to pass up. If so, I’ll need to get used to my new moniker, “Dr. Play-Doh.” And if that’s Since December 2011, FHASS has collected six to the case, I’m good with it. seven FULL laundry hampers PER YEAR of goodies for women who, with their children, must spend * their holiday in a shelter. This year, The Basketeers Working Together to End group has approached FHASS to participate again, Violence Against Women making reference to the amazing generosity our faculty has shown, and the great number of women by Nicolette Little, Professor of Communication & (twenty-one, at over four different shelter locations) Literary Studies and 2013 & 2014 Hope in High Heels organizing committee member we’ve helped over the past three years.
Over the past three years, FHASS has actively This year, you will again see the Holiday worked to promote the safety and well-being of Hampers set up at Davis (B219), Trafalgar (C227), th women. This year, with Sheridan’s recent support and STC (TBA). As of November 24 , you will be of Oakville’s Hope in High Heels walk and the able to bring in a new, unused item that can help a upcoming 2014 Holiday Hamper Drive, FHASS woman in need treat her dependants to a special has again showed its supportive stripes. holiday experience or surprise, prepare for re-entry into the workforce, or feel special in some way. Gift The Facts: Domestic Violence in Our certificates (to purchase new professional wear, Communities take her children to a movie, or get groceries, for In “Measuring Violence Against Women: example) are welcome, as are items like toiletries, Statistical Trends” (2013), Statistics Canada reports warm winter or professional clothing items (new), that, “[v]iolence against women in Canada is a or other things she might need as she sets up a new serious, pervasive problem that crosses every social life and career. boundary and affects communities across the country.” Apparently, “[i]t remains a significant If you have any questions, please feel free to barrier to women’s equality and has devastating contact Nicolette Little at impacts on the lives of women, children, families nicolette.little[at]sheridancollege.ca. Please visit and Canadian society as a whole” (p. 3; Canadian The Basketeers’ website at Resource Centre for Victims of Crime, 2012). http://www.basketeers.ca/shoppingList.htm for helpful hints about what the shelters’ women need. Domestic abuse can involve emotional, physical, sexual, financial and verbal violence, Also, Nicolette is looking for a helper to transport two th threatening or coercion. One in four women reports hampers from Trafalgar to Davis for November 24 , and an incident of domestic abuse in her lifetime, but as then back again at the end of term. If you have a car and Statistics Canada (2011) notes, less than a quarter are willing to help, please email her . of spousal violence cases are brought to the 3
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Hope in High Heels, 2014 For the past three years, the Hope in High Heels walk has taken place on Lakeshore Road, in downtown Oakville. This year, on September 28th, Oakville’s men literally walked a mile in a woman’s shoes to raise funds for Halton Women’s Place and spread awareness about violence against women. This year’s event raised over $90,000 for the shelter.
Halton Women’s Place provides shelter and beds for over 1,000 local women and their dependents each year, and provides them with
ongoing counselling and legal support. Jeff (L) and friends prepare to "walk a mile..." (Photo: Nicolette Little) Sheridan College’s At a time when news of on-campus assaults President and CEO, and harassment proliferate in the national media, Dr. Jeff Zabudsky, outreach and involvement in such initiatives is has led “Team imperative. Thanks for your ongoing support. Sheridan” in the
walk for the past two * years. Looking spry in gigantic pink Coincidence, Connection, heels, he’s helped Convocation, and Collaboration lead the way in the by Professors Sara Cumming (Sociology) and Jessica Pulis (Criminology) stand against
domestic violence, "We don't meet people by accident, they're meant to cross both as a walker and Dr. Jeff Zabudsky in his hopeful our path for a reason" heels (Photo: Nicolette Little) as a keynote speaker
at the annual event. It was September 2001 in a small seminar room at
Brock University that two of our FHASS faculty The Hope in High Heels organizing met for the first time. Sara Cumming was a second committee (Oakville) wants to thank Jeff and the year student in a Sociology of the Family course led Sheridan community for its support of Hope in by a fourth year teaching assistant, Jessica Pulis. High Heels and Halton Women’s Place. This year, The course required the students to write a research it was great to see Sheridan staff and students paper that included one sociological theory. Sara cheering Sheridan’s Fearless Leader on, as well as booked a meeting with Jessica to discuss the paper lending a hand. A special thanks goes out to as she was struggling to decide which theory would FHASS’s Jill Stewart, who not only volunteered be best to apply to her paper on the division of with HWP the day of the event, but also helped household labour. During this meeting Jessica cheer on the 120 walkers—one of whom was her convinced a sceptical Sara that she needed to come husband! from a feminist perspective, and she unknowingly
sparked a passion for feminist studies of gender
inequality.
The two women had not kept in contact with each other after the course. Jessica graduated from Brock and went on to do her Master's degree 4
Alchemy fall 2014 in Criminology at the University of Guelph. Sara finished her undergraduate degree and remained at Continuing on their parallel paths, this past Brock to do her Master's in Social Justice and spring Jessica and Sara successfully defended their Equity Studies. In September 2005 Sara and PhD dissertations 18 days apart and graduated Jessica's paths crossed again. While at orientation together from the University of Waterloo on for her doctorate program at the University of October 18th, 2014. Jessica's dissertation entitled Waterloo, Sara discovered that Jessica was also in "Set up for failure? Understanding probation the same program. Sara had since written two orders and breaches of probation for youth in theses using a feminist lens and had always wanted conflict with the law" examined non-custodial to thank Jessica for her initial guidance. Not sentences for young people in Canada. Little is surprisingly, Jessica always wanted to tell Sara actually known about the judicial use of probation, what an amazing impact she had on her trajectory the conditions that are imposed as a part of this into grad school and future aspirations to become a sentence and, more importantly, what factors are professor. Although the two women were at the associated with breaches of probation. Breaches of same school they were at very different points in probation have historically been, and continue to their degrees, had different supervisors, and as a be, significant pathways back into the youth justice result never really had a chance to collaborate. system, especially incarceration. Using informal social control theory (wider social processes) and Sara and Jessica's lives continued on eerily an integrated sites of oppression lens (an analysis of similar paths continually intersecting over the next marginalized populations) the research explores the ten years of their lives. Sara started contract factors that influence the nature and extent of teaching a variety of sociology courses at Brock in probation sentences and disparity in the use of 2006 and Jessica was hired to teach criminology probation sentences for female and Aboriginal courses in 2007. In 2008 both women were also youth. hired to teach courses at the University of Waterloo. While working full-time, Sara's dissertation, "Lone Mothers Exiting completing their PhDs and raising their children, Social Assistance: Gender, Social Exclusion and Jessica and Sara finished the first drafts of their Social Capital," explored the experiences of a dissertations within four weeks of each diverse sample of thirty lone mothers participating other. During the revision stage, Jessica was hired in Ontario Works, the provincially-mandated work- at Sheridan College as a Professor of Criminology to-welfare program. Each lone mother was in January of 2013, and, fortuitously, Sara joined interviewed annually for a series of four the Faculty as Professor of Sociology in August interviews. Additionally, focus groups with 2013. caseworkers provided insight into the lone mothers' processes of attempting to leave social assistance, highlighting the differences between program design and program delivery. The results indicated that there was no predictive factor; no profile emerged of the lone mother most likely to achieve independence. While many women exited social assistance, few did so because of financial independence. The results pointed to substantial inadequacies in the provincial work-to-welfare programming in addressing the particular needs of lone mothers.
Drs. Pulis (L) and Cumming (R) at their convocation from the U of Waterloo (Photo: Sara Cumming) 5
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And now, post-PhD, Jessica and Sara have episcopal visitation records for two dioceses, become life-long friends, sit in side-by-side offices at Lincoln and Norwich, between 1430 – 1530. Sheridan’s Trafalgar campus, and are planning to Visitation records were made when a bishop toured finally collaborate on a shared research piece. the religious houses of his diocese for the purposes of administration and reform. It was during these * visitations that accusations (or confessions) of Spotlight on Research: sexual misconduct were most commonly heard and recorded by the bishop. Naughty Nuns and Promiscuous Monks: In my research, I examined the records of five bishops from the dioceses of Lincoln and Late Medieval Monastic Sexual Norwich during the last 100 years before the Misconduct in Context dissolution – a total of 391 separate visitations. I By Christian Knudsen, Professor of History tracked numbers of alleged sexual relationships
reported during these visitations and this data This past summer, I had the privilege of presenting suggests that sexual misconduct was, statistically at papers at the International Medieval Congress at least, uncommon for either sex but especially so for the University of Leeds, United Kingdom and the women. The approximate monastic population of Medieval Academy of America meeting at UCLA. Norwich and Lincoln during these visitations was These papers were part of my larger research on 1,959 people. Seventy-six of these monastic men sexuality during the late Middle Ages and my work and women were accused of sexual misconduct, transitioning my dissertation, “Naughty Nuns and which equates to a misconduct rate of less than four Promiscuous Monks: Monastic Sexual Misconduct percent. Or perhaps phrased better, the vast in Late Medieval England,” into a book. majority of monastic men and women (ninety-six
percent) were not accused of any sexual For nearly 500 years, historiographical misconduct. discourse surrounding Henry VIII’s 1536
Dissolution of Monasteries has emphasized its But statistically, were there more sexually inevitability and presented late medieval active monastics towards the end of the Middle monasticism as a lacklustre institution Ages? Was sexual misconduct increasing? This is, characterized by worsening standards, corruption, of course, a more difficult question to answer. and sexual promiscuity. In fact, sexual However, there is one source which clearly seems incontinence was one of the most frequent to demonstrate an upward momentum of sexual accusations levied against monasteries by sixteenth- misconduct in English monasteries at the end of the century critics. One sixteenth-century evangelist, Middle Ages: a set of visitation records compiled by Richard Morison, for example, accused state officials just before the Dissolution. In 1534, monasteries of amassing great stolen wealth, Parliament authorized Thomas Cromwell to send sleeping with married women (“sowing seed in his officials to visit every monastery in England. other men’s furrows”), and applauded the Naturally, the records from these visitations are Dissolution as the “putting away of maintained quite suspect and most historians have tended to lechery, buggery and hypocrisy.” dismiss them since their main purpose seems to
have been to collect evidence to make the case to My own doctoral research on the subject dissolve the monasteries – a decision that had most has found evidence which challenges this implied likely already been made before they even began. prevalence of ‘promiscuous monks’ and ‘naughty
nuns’ by examining evidence of sexual misconduct The only surviving, partial copy of the state amongst fifteenth- and sixteenth-century English visitors’ findings is found in a particular manuscript religious men and women found in a series of 6
Alchemy fall 2014 known as the Compendium Compertorum held in the voluntary pollutions, i.e. masturbation. However, National Archives in London. The Compendium beside the entry for Hickling a single word is contains the brief summaries of state visitations applied to all the canons (both adulterers and which were conducted in the late fall of 1535 and masturbators): incontinent. early winter of 1536, and its contents are quite shocking. Nearly a third of the monks and nuns By the time the state visitors reached the were labelled as incontinent or as sodomites. north of England by the fall of 1535, the term sodomy was being used the same way, so a monastery with several confessed masturbators would all be captured under the heading of sodomy. Thus, the visitors could report with confidence that the monasteries of England were filled with confessed sodomites.
Interestingly, however, if we compare the sexual misconduct accusations (minus the
masturbation ones) recorded in the Image from the Compendium (Photo: Christian Knudsen) Compendium with those from the bishops who visited the same It is dramatic numbers such as this – monasteries previously, then a different pattern coupled with the sparse details about the cases emerges. A generation earlier, the Norwich bishop, found in the Compendium Compertorum – which Richard Nicke, had found twenty-seven cases in the have led some historians to dismiss the reports same monasteries visited by the state officials. This altogether. While there is no definitive evidence is nearly identical to the thirty-three cases reported that the Compendium was actually read in in the Compendium. While the results are far from Parliament during the Dissolution debates, it seems conclusive, they do suggest that, rather than likely that propaganda was its main purpose. increasing, sexual misconduct levels were relatively Moreover, the state visitors seem to have expanded consistent during the last century prior to the the use of the term sodomy and incontinence to Dissolution. apply to all sorts of crimes not formally covered by * * * them. In particular, the state visitors began to record confessions of masturbation under the heading of incontinence or sodomy – which they termed “voluntary pollutions.” Instances of monastic masturbation were never recorded in normal visitations made by bishops, and their inclusion in the state visitations was quite novel.
A typical entry in the Compendium would record the name of the monastery, followed by a list of the monks who lived there along with any crimes for which they were accused. For instance, under Hickling Priory there was a list of six canons. The first name, Robert Walsam, was noted to be “cum coniugata,” that is, accused of sleeping with a married woman. The same accusation is appended to the next two names. However, the following three canons are noted to be accused of only
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Intersections (teaching + learning) reciprocity, etc., I then leave them on their own, and this is when the panic sets in. The first thing
they do is start typing “necessary and sufficient Constrain, Apply and Release conditions for a sexual act” into the Google search by Lukasz Kurowski, Professor of Philosophy and Social engine and Dictionary.com, and whatever other Sciences sites they can think of in the moment. And what do they get? A maze of ideas from which there is no Over the past few years I have noticed that in the clear exit. Unfortunately, their first intuition is not age of social media and the world of Google our to sit and think (reflect) but to find help outside of students appear to have lost specific analytical their own capacities to analyze ideas. At that point abilities (or perhaps they have never acquired I constrain them, not physically but mentally. I tell them), namely the vital need for reflection upon them to sit for ten minutes on their own. I don’t particular ideas or concepts and then applying what want them to have any additional information is learned from those reflections upon specific flying in and out of their minds, but rather, I want questions. them to reflect on what is being asked of them. Afterwards I ask them to share their ideas with Here is a simple example to show how this their classmates for another ten minutes or so, then problem presents itself in my classroom. I teach a class called Philosophy of Love and Sex and one of I pose the question again: What do you think are the N&S conditions for an act to be sexual? This the tasks in this class is to analyze the concept of ends up being a written exercise limited to a one- ‘sexual activity’. At first students treat this exercise rather lightly. They laugh and joke because they sided, double-spaced, page. think that it is trivial type of question, but then So what are the advantages of restricting quickly realize that what seems unchallenging at their thinking to one or two specific ideas only, first is actually quite difficult to articulate. It is at rather than letting them surf the web for clues and this juncture that they begin to realize that they possible answers? If they surf the web, they get lost have no idea what a sexual act is and are at a loss very quickly because they don't understood what how to construct a working definition. they are looking for. Any information is not With this as the starting point, I assign the critically analyzed information, but this is what Google gives them. By restricting them to their own following task: state the necessary and sufficient thoughts they start developing analytical skills conditions for a sexual act. I give them examples of actively. By asking them to write down their ideas what it means for something to have necessary and and examples they are forced to string them in a sufficient conditions. For example: water = H2O; logical and systematic fashion, but only their own gold = an atomic number of 79, etc., and then it is ideas. Once students do this, they have a better their task to analyze what conditions constitute a grasp of what the task is about and, even more sexual act. Yes, I do realize that it is highly importantly, what their thoughts are and whether contentious to think that there are clear examples of they are any good. After this task is done, I let them natural kinds (necessary and sufficient conditions) browse and discuss among themselves for in biology, let alone social sciences, but that is not the point of the exercise. The point is to have the additional examples. students think about what constitutes a sexual act So what are the results? Positive. Students and what does not; what are good examples to speak with more confidence; they understand how support a definition of a sexual act and what are specific examples support or undermine their not. positions; and they start thinking creatively about After a good round of discussion we form a the application of their ideas and the ideas of list of ideas that may be part of a definition, such as others. And lastly, I see that they take joy in taking intention, body part, pleasure, sensation, consent, ownership of their newly developed reflective 8
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skills—this tells me that these skills will stay with Attendees to the workshops are provided them and most likely will be used in other with information on how they can support educational and non-educational settings, which is Sheridan’s multilingual and international students’ what we want them to do. acculturation and adjustment to the Canadian college environment, particularly in relationship of * how culture, language, and prior educational A FHASS and CTL initiative: experiences can impact international students’ Supporting Sheridan College’s Faculty and adjustment and overall success to the Canadian Staff to meet the needs of Sheridan’s college classroom. Though these workshops are not intended to be a quick fix or a ‘band-aid solution’ to multilingual and international student what some Sheridan faculty members have population identified as an overwhelming challenge, they can by Professors Ranya Khan (FHASS) certainly be a great help to those who want to and Carol Appleby (CTL) consider the integration of teaching and learning
concepts that support the linguistic and academic A different norm on college campuses: No longer is the needs of their multicultural students. Such a monocultural, monolingual English speaker the pedagogical framework not only supports an “average” or “normal” student (Canagarajah, 2006: educational culture of inclusivity, but also views the 216). learner’s linguistic and cultural makeup as a Sheridan College’s student population aptly reflects positive contribution to the classroom environment. linguist Suresh Cangarajah’s (2006) observation that North America’s post-secondary institutions Canagarajah, A.S. (2006). Understanding are composed of a linguistically and culturally critical writing. In P.K. Matsuda, M. diverse student body. While the “new norm” on Cox, J. Jordan and C. Ortmeier-Hooper college campuses contributes to the overall (eds). Second-Language Writing in the vibrancy of post-secondary institutions, it also Composition Classroom: A Critical poses challenges for faculty who require a greater Sourcebook (pp. 210-224). Boston: understanding of how to meet the needs of their Bedford/St. Martin’s (Original work multilingual and culturally diverse students. Today published in 2002). the “new norm” calls for educators who are sensitive and responsive to the unique differences of * * * each student, and demands a willingness to implement instruction, communication, and learning through a more inclusive type of pedagogy with an eye to the multicultural lens. Since the fall of 2013, Ranya Khan, a FHASS faculty member, and Carol Appleby, a CTL faculty member, have been designing and presenting professional development workshops that focus on ways to help Sheridan faculty support Sheridan’s multilingual and international students. As such, these workshops aim to help Sheridan’s faculty identify the central issues and challenges in working with Sheridan’s multicultural student populations, and to consider best practices to support these students.
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Milestones the outcomes they were developing were applicable across all three areas of study and they began
working collaboratively. Common learning FHASS Professors Kirsten Madsen and Tara outcomes were developed for knowledge, critical Hayes are pleased to announce that the report on and creative thinking, communication, social the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario responsibility and personal and interpersonal (HEQCO) Tuning Project with which they’ve been capacities. Practice and methods outcomes were involved for the past two years has been published. also developed, which are unique for each of the See the announcement and link below. three areas of study. In addition to the learning Congratulations both on your hard work! outcomes themselves, clear expectations were ______developed for the characteristics of program
activities for each qualification type. HEQCO | Tuning Process Creates Practical and
Measurable Learning Outcomes Findings The most significant hurdle for incorporating Ontario is part of an international effort known as learning outcomes system-wide is effective Tuning that brings together experts from across assessment. Given the wide range of needs of institutions to develop relevant and appropriate governments, institutions, programs, faculty learning outcomes in postsecondary education. The members and students, a standardized assessment Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario framework was not feasible. Instead, the report (HEQCO) initiated a Tuning project more than two offers some best practices for assessment and years ago with college and university experts across examples of evaluating specific outcomes the province to identify learning outcomes for the developed through the Tuning process. most common diploma and degree types in three Once learning outcomes have been incorporated areas: life and health science, physical science and into program and course design, it is critical that social science. students are provided with a clear method for The results are documented in Tuning: Identifying demonstrating what they have achieved. Tools such and Measuring Sector-Based Learning Outcomes in as diploma supplements, learning passports, badges , which provides practical Postsecondary Education and e-portfolios provide employers with a record of and measurable learning outcomes that can help a student’s achievements and skills and help institutions and faculty members develop institutions with credit transfer and student outcomes-based programs. The report also provides mobility. examples of measurement strategies and ways students can demonstrate achievement to other Developing learning outcomes is only the first step institutions and employers. in integrating them into a higher education system. To develop and share emerging best practices, Project Description HEQCO has created a consortium of six Beginning in 2011, HEQCO assembled expert institutions working on various aspects of learning groups for each of the chosen disciplines, who met outcomes. HEQCO has also participated in large- regularly to develop learning outcomes for the four scale learning outcomes assessment projects most common credentials in the Ontario through the Organisation for Economic Co- postsecondary system: the two-year diploma, three- operation and Development’s Assessment of year diploma, four-year honours bachelor’s degree Higher Education Learning Outcomes and master’s degree (research-based). Each group international project and the Council for Aid to was led by two co-chairs, one each from the college Education’s Collegiate Learning Assessment and and university systems. While the groups initially college-sector equivalent the Community College worked separately, it was determined that many of Learning Assessment.
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management and recreation at the end of life at a Tuning: Identifying and Measuring Sector-Based palliative care conference in Trinidad, West Indies, Learning Outcomes in Postsecondary Education on October 5th, but also ran and completed the was written by Mary Catharine Lennon, Brian Scotiabank full marathon held in Toronto on Frank, James Humphreys, Rhonda Lenton, Kirsten October 19th. Madsen, Abdelwahab Omri and Roderick Turner.
For more information visit: http://heqco.ca/en- CA/Research/Research%20Publications/Pages/S ummary.aspx?link=140
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Professors Christina Cole and Barbara Stasiuk presented a two-hour workshop titled, “Building nd Resiliency Through Technology” at TESL Nichol at work (above, 2 from L) and 'play' (below) (Photos: Nichol Guerra) Ontario’s annual conference held at The Metro Toronto Convention Centre, October 18th 2014. The workshop identified relevant pedagogical theories such as how the Communities of Practice model helps teachers build up their technological skills. They also explored issues of teacher identity and technology by debunking the commonly held myth of the digital native vs. the digital immigrant, showcased how we can utilize podcasts, Ted Talks, wikis, discussion boards, online classrooms and many other tools at Sheridan, and then had participants do hands-on activities. The session was * * * fully enrolled and teachers appreciated the mix of
theory and practice.
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Another feather in Sheridan’s research cap with the recent publication by Professor Lukasz Kurowski of his article, “Ownership unity, neural substrates, and philosophical relevance: A response to Rex Welshon's ‘Searching for the neural realizers of ownership unity.’” You can view Lukasz’s work via the following link: http://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/ezKSGv8TG
tYuTC8sXeqq/full
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Congratulations to Professor Nichol Guerra, who not only presented her research on volunteer
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Student Spotlight Currently, Ainsley works part time as a security guard and volunteers at a corrections facility. He’s also applied for employment with the Ainsley David: The Drive to Succeed Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services. * Ainsley David graduated from high school eight years prior to enrolling in Academic Upgrading at ESL at ROM Sheridan College. He credits the skills developed in his Computer, Communications, and Strategies for On Sunday, November 9, more than 30 students Success courses for greatly impacting his ability to from Sheridan’s ESL Program travelled to Toronto succeed at the postsecondary level. He noted that to visit the Royal Ontario Museum and to explore his essay writing and computer skills, especially in Toronto’s downtown core. Rujing Wang, an EAP MS Word and Excel, were significantly enhanced level student who participated in the trip, wrote by his studies. Additionally, he developed time about her experiences: management skills and learned techniques to ______prepare for and write tests and exams effectively. A Trip to the ROM Photo: Bryan McGowan - By Rujing Wang B.E. McGowan Photography http://bryanmcgowan1.wix. com/bemcgowanphotography On Sunday November 9th, ESL students took a trip to the Royal Ontario Museum. This was the first Ainsley completed the time I went to Toronto, and I was really excited. Academic Upgrading Elegant and modern were my first impressions of program at Sheridan in the ROM. Visitors could get into different January 2011. He went exhibitions through different staircases. There were on to enroll in the so many amazing artworks and cultural treasures Police Foundations that it was difficult to know where to start. program at Sheridan and graduated with a With unclear purpose, we set off to the GPA of 3.79. Of his own success he says the Dinosaur exhibit. The dinosaur skeletons are truly following: grand and vivid. I could clearly see every inch of their bones and teeth. Because of the size of their “I firmly believe that through attending the skeletons, I could feel their power, and imagine Academic Upgrading program, I have been them walking through earth. Afterwards, we went provided with the support and environment to the Wild Animal section, which contained many needed to equip me with the tools that translated extinct animals. The Historical Cultures exhibits into my academic success. Before pursuing my from a variety of nations, especially Egypt, were postsecondary education, I felt that it was vital delicate and amazing as well. to get my learning back into motion… Thanks
to the start that I had in Academic Upgrading at (Photo: Jack Leung) Sheridan College, I know that my future and my family’s future are certainly brighter. I have and The museum is will continue to recommend Academic undoubtedly a Upgrading at Sheridan College to friends and wonderful place that family looking for ways to improve themselves is suitable for all age academically.” groups. Compared to the Qingdao Museum in Qingdao, China, the ROM has religious sculptures 12
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and characters from ancient Chinese stories which Why did you choose to attend Academic are not shown in China. Upgrading?
I really appreciate all the work put into I wanted to successfully complete my high school organizing and planning this trip. It was a equivalencies and go on to college and get a well- memorable and meaningful experience, and the paying job. exhibitions allowed us to travel through the time, How was Academic Upgrading beneficial? and go around the world. Without Academic Upgrading, I couldn’t get into college. You have to be prepared for college and get assignments done in time. If I didn’t go to Academic Upgrading, I would not be successful in college; it’s all about time management, refreshing your memory in subjects that you have not taken in years, and getting prepared to go to college.
How did Academic Upgrading prepare you for
(Photo: Jack Leung) postsecondary education?
______In college, you have projects and presentations to do and in one of my subjects in Academic Thank you to everyone that came on the trip; we Upgrading I took a mandatory course called hope you had a great time. A special thank you Strategies for Success. In this course, you have goes out to the ESL Club for assisting with the presentations and you have to present them in planning, and to Natalie Killick and Mark O’Leary, class. This was good practice for the presentations who volunteered their time to be with the students. in postsecondary. If you know any ESL students interested in joining the club, or want to give suggestions for events and trips, please email Jack Leung for more information Photo: Bryan McGowan - B.E. at [email protected]. McGowan Photography http://bryanmcgowan1.wix.com /bemcgowanphotography * On the Move with Nattasha Wray Describe your postsecondary “It was a challenge for me when I started Academic experience. Upgrading at Sheridan College. I was managing a young family while attending school and that was no It was very challenging. I easy feat. But my teachers were patient, am a single mother with understanding and very encouraging. They were two kids. It was hard work; you need to dedicate unwavering in their support. They believed in me.” yourself to it — you have to love what you’re Nattasha Wray graduated from Sheridan in June doing. If I didn’t enjoy doing it I couldn’t see 2014 and currently works as a visual merchandiser. myself committing to this goal. You have to enjoy She recently discussed her experience in the what you’re going to college for, that’s the main Academic Upgrading program with Program thing. Assistant Erica Harris.
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What’s happened since graduating? academic and personal growth demonstrated by students in Sheridan’s GAS, Humanities, ESL, I graduated in June of this year (2014) but have English, Breadth, and General Education been working since April at Harry Rosen, programs. The winning work and effort of the overseeing three locations, including a Winnipeg recipients of this year’s awards (listed below) store, as a visual merchandiser. represent the culmination — the alchemy — of hard work, perseverance, self-improvement, and At graduation I was awarded the “On the Move” success at the heart of academic study and the award for most outstanding student in my program. human desire for knowledge and experience that I was shocked, everyone else knew about the award lies at the very heart of our discipline. except me! Congratulations to all! Would you recommend the Academic Upgrading program to others? Check out our online edition and the display case outside of TRAF C227 for photos from the For sure, it is a definite choice for someone like evening. myself, coming from another country, even if you don’t know what you want to do. It’s where to get Awards and Award Winners: started if you haven’t finished high school, especially if you haven’t chosen a career path. General Arts & Science Because if you don’t have your high school, there’s Debora Vazquez Academic Achievement Award: Heather not much you can do. Mackay-Tough Pearson Awards in Excellence in Principles of Psychology: * Jamie Hilts & Mitchell Wells Celebrating Student Success: General Arts and Science Award for Academic Scholarship: The 2013-2014 FHASS Student Rachel Lake College Profile Academic Achievement Awards: Veronica Da Awards Ceremony Silva Melo & Megan Lindsay Melmoth Heather Adcock Memorial Awards: Paul Valus & Nelia De FHASS held its annual Student Awards Ceremony Oliveira : Guadalupe at Macdonald-Heaslip Hall on Sheridan’s Trafalgar Nelson Award of Excellence - Health Profile Mirasol Cobon campus on June 9, 2014. The well-attended event Aileen Bassett IODE Memorial Awards: Robert Sanders & brought administration, faculty, staff, students, and Rachel Mcclatchey their families together to recognize student success from the 2013-2014 academic year and celebrate Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences excellence within and beyond FHASS. After Dean FHASS - Dean’s Award of Excellence: Philip Costa Has Malik’s welcoming remarks the evening’s FHASS - Alumni Award for Excellence in Research: Lauren keynote speech was delivered by Sheridan GAS Orser alum (and current FHASS professor) Mark Reitsma, who encouraged students to critically English Language Studies (ESL) explore and examine their academic paths and Award of Excellence: Ruzan Khass purposes as they continue their education and Award of Excellence: Dalya Jabr professionalization within FHASS and beyond. Jura Seskus Award: Kaori Castillo Izaguirre Special guests including individual award sponsors English and donors, representatives from Nelson Education Nelson Awards for Excellence in Composition & Rhetoric: Ltd. and Pearson Education Canada, and members Jeannine Hulshof & Alyssa Waterbury of the IODE helped our FHASS program Pearson Awards for Excellence in Essential Communication coordinators acknowledge and reward the excellent Skills: Vanessa Sica & Karina Mohammed
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venues. He enjoys acting as well, and got the Breadth opportunity to play a part in the premiere of a Pearson Awards for Excellence in Psychology: Arinea reconstruction of Shakespeare’s “lost” play, Hermans & Rachel Harrison Cardenio, in Indianapolis. Humanities & Social Sciences Excellence Award: Gavin Bowerman A native of Mississauga, Glenn is thrilled to Humanities & Social Sciences Highest Achievement Award: be back in town working at an institution that offers Emma Clayton him the opportunity to connect with people who
General Education share so many of his interests in creative writing Award of Achievement: Gurpreet Gill and the arts! Nelson Education Award for Online Studies: Andrea Roberts Glenn Clifton answers Alchemy’s Proust General Education Award of Excellence: Brandon Weir Questionnaire:
* * * Favourite virtue: Humility. Faculty & Staff Spotlight Most overrated virtue: The vaguely smug quality of “Canadian-ness.” Most important lesson I learned in kindergarten: Glenn Clifton, Professor (Literary Be careful: people can get used to almost Studies and Creative Writing) anything. My favourite qualities in a student: Genuine curiosity. A willingness to be surprised. (Photo: Glenn My idea of perfect happiness: “Be patient, for the Clifton) world is broad and wide.” (Friar Laurence, Dr. Glenn Romeo and Juliet) Clifton is In my opinion the secret to success is: Be genuine. excited to join And remember there is no such thing as a Sheridan after boat to miss. 4 years living My favourite word: Fudgsicle. abroad in the My favourite quotation, motto, or phrase: “Three States, where he taught at Indiana University- things in human life are important: the first Purdue University in Indianapolis and West is to be kind, the second is to be kind, and Virginia University in Morgantown, WV. He has the third is to be kind.” (Henry James) an M.A. in Playwriting from Boston University and If I weren’t a teacher I’d be: A script-doctor. a Ph.D. in English from the University of Toronto, A country/place I’d like to visit: Poland. where he studied literary Modernism. He has My favourite historical, literary, or cinematic published academic articles on Samuel Beckett, character(s): Leopold Bloom and Stringer George Bernard Shaw, and Henry James, all Bell related to his doctoral project on modernism and My favourite singer/musician and song: Leonard aging. Cohen, “True Love Leaves no Traces” The most embarrassing song/album in my iTunes Glenn writes plays and prose; he is working or music collection: I bought the Bon Jovi on a novel about campus culture in the United song “It’s my Life” by accident. Twice. I States and a play about a veteran of the Iraq War. guess my wallet, like Bon Jovi’s heart, is an His one-act play Paul and Erin go to Bed was staged open highway. by the M.T. Pockets company in West Virginia, * and he’s had short pieces staged in a variety of 15
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Kavita Mathew, Program Support you cannot make it drink.” I basically use it Specialist with my kids . The word/phrase/expression I overuse at work:
“I miss the students.” (used only during reading week) (Photo: Kavita Mathew) If I weren’t an administrator I’d be: A counsellor. Kavita Mathew The talent or skill I wish I had: I wish I could currently works as a sing. Program Support Language I’d love to be able to speak: French. Specialist in the A country/place I’d like to visit: Israel. Faculty of Humanities On my bucket list: Too many to list, but to and Social Sciences at mention a few: Explore new places, fly in a Sheridan where she hot air balloon. has been since 2011. My favourite historical, literary, or cinematic She grew up in character(s): Mahatma Gandhi. Mumbai, India and, My least favourite historical, literary, or prior to coming to Canada, lived in Dubai for 17 cinematic character(s): Adolf Hitler. years. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce My favourite food/meal and drink: Chinese and and she completed her MBA from Kaplan Middle Eastern. University in 2013. She does not like writing about My favourite painter/artist: M.F. Hussain. herself. My favourite singer/musician: Celine Dion and Bryan Adams. Kavita Mathew answers Alchemy’s Proust My guilty TV/film/gaming pleasure: Modern Questionnaire: Family.
Favourite virtue: Patience. * Most overrated virtue: Tolerance. Michael Baker, Professor (Film Studies) Most important lesson I learned in kindergarten:
Sharing.
Most important lesson I’ve learned this year: … (Photo: Mike Baker) is to stop worrying about things. My favourite qualities in a student: Eagerness to Dr. Michael Baker is learn and respecting their teacher. a Professor of Film My favourite qualities in a teacher: Patience and Studies in Sheridan’s dedication to students. School of Moment in my life I’d like to re-live: My college Humanities and days. Creativity. Born and My idea of perfect happiness: My family. raised in nearby My idea of complete misery: A migraine. Burlington, he spent the last fourteen years In my opinion the secret to success is: Persistence studying and teaching at post-secondary institutions and hard work. across Canada. His areas of expertise include My favourite word: Oh no! documentary cinema, film sound, moving image My favourite quotation, motto, or phrase: “To be technology, and popular music and media. a leader, you have got to lead human beings with affection.” (J.R.D. Tata) Mike studied film at York University (B.A. Film & Video) and Concordia University (M.A. The word/phrase/expression I overuse in life: “You can only take the horse to the water, Cinema Studies) before undertaking his doctoral 16
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studies at McGill University in the Department of Art History and Communication Studies (Ph.D. Excited to return to the area and a Communication Studies). After ten years in supportive network of family and cherished friends, Montreal teaching at both Concordia and Carleton Sheridan is a truly unique opportunity for Mike. A University in Ottawa, he began a two-year lifelong Montreal Canadiens fan, he’s not even postdoctoral research position at University of bothered by the sea of blue-and-white he now finds British Columbia funded by the Fonds de recherche himself in. sur la société et la culture (Québec). At UBC he was appointed a postdoctoral teaching fellow in the Michael Baker answers Alchemy’s Proust Department of Theatre & Film and moonlit at both Questionnaire: Simon Fraser University and Fraser International College teaching courses in film history and theory. Most important lesson I’ve learned this year: The diversity of these experiences crystallized Things have a way of working themselves Mike’s desire to further develop teaching as a core out. component of his professional life. While in My favourite qualities in a student: Curiosity and Vancouver, he served as a member of the British commitment. Columbia Audiovisual Heritage Society and My favourite qualities in a teacher: Curiosity and participated in the re-launch of Home Movie Day commitment. in Vancouver. If I weren’t a teacher I’d be: Restless. Moment in my life I’d like to re-live: Seeing my Mike’s current research addresses daughter for the very first time. interactive documentaries at the NFB, their history, My favourite song: It’s impossible to pick one but and questions their future in the face of ongoing it’s amazing how the world melts away institutional changes and changing technological during the opening of “This Charming demands. He is at work on a book-length project Man.” adapted from his dissertation tentatively titled, My favourite food/meal and drink: Fresh oysters Rockumentary: An Incomplete History of the Popular in the summer, sashimi served by Shiro, the Music Documentary, sits on the editorial board of the soft-cooked hen egg at Momofuku Ko, the Canadian Journal of Film Studies, and actively steak at Joe Beef, and a latte from presents his research at international conferences. Sightglass or Revolver. My favourite quotation, motto, or phrase: "A Dr. Baker is co-editor (with Tom Waugh man's work is nothing but this slow trek to and Ezra Winton) of Challenge for Change: Activist rediscover through the detours of art, those Documentary at the National Film Board of Canada two or three great and simple images in (McGill-Queen’s, 2010), a 600-page collection of whose presence his heart first opened.” historical material and contemporary essays about (Albert Camus) one of the NFB’s most interesting and controversial media initiatives. Recent publications include * “Martin Scorsese and the Music Documentary” in A Companion to Martin Scorsese (Wiley, 2014) and “Notes on the Rockumentary Renaissance” in a new issue of the film studies journal, Cinephile. Forthcoming work includes an essay on the role of sound in the work of iconoclastic Canadian filmmaker Arthur Lipsett in the collection, Strange Codes: The Films of Arthur Lipsett (University of Calgary Press, forthcoming). 17
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Jack Leung, ESL Logistics Officer Most important lesson I’ve learned this year: Hard work and perseverance pays off – always. So don’t stop trying. My favourite qualities in a teacher: Positivity & Honesty. My idea of perfect happiness: Spending time with the one you love; young and retired; tropical weather, but no insects; financially comfortable; world at peace; the Raptors have won multiple championships; Kristen Stewart is no longer acting; I still have thick, lustrous hair. (Photo: Jack Leung) My favourite word: Juxtaposition. Found it in the dictionary when I was a kid. Still have yet Jack Leung recently joined Sheridan and FHASS to use it. as ESL Logistics Officer. And he knows all about My favourite quotation, motto, or phrase: Sheridan logistics: Jack himself studied Accounting “Hakuna Matata.” It means no worries, for at Sheridan and graduated in 2013. During his the rest of your days. It’s a problem free three and a half years as a student he worked in philosophy. Hakuna Matata. Student Services, helping students with a variety of Language I’d love to be able to speak: Spanish. Or inquiries. rather, Español.
On my bucket list: See my favourite animal, the Jack loves sports, comic books, and his Blue Whale, in person. girlfriend (though, he wishes to make clear, not My favourite historical, literary, or cinematic necessarily in that particular order). And if you’re character(s): Does Batman count? wondering, Jack is six foot one and, to his bewilderment, he eats and eats but never gains My favourite food/meal and drink: Peking Duck weight. Currently, he is studying at Algoma – thin slice of roasted duck over a warm, University for his Bachelor of Business soft flour wrap, with a stick of cucumber, a Administration, and hopes to go on to pursue a slice of green onion, and a drizzle of sweet Master’s degree in Education (stream to be sauce. determined). My favourite singer/musician/ band and song: Arcade Fire, “Wake Up.” Jack hopes to continue working closely My guilty TV/film/gaming pleasure: The new with students, and in the future, to become a Star Trek movies. professor, write a book, and retire. *
Jack Leung answers Alchemy’s Proust Questionnaire:
Favourite virtue: I have two: Kindness & Humility. Most important lesson I learned in kindergarten: Even if you cry, mom won’t be back until 3:00. So toughen up, and deal with it. These are words to live by.
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Gail Benick, Professor Benick’s creative work draws on her (Communication and Literary Studies) experience as an educator and researcher in the area of global migration and diaspora. Her debut novel, The Girl Who Was Born That Way, will be published by Inanna Publications and Education in (Photo: Gail Benick) 2015. Benick’s recent publications include “The Pickle Cellar” (fiction, in Parchment: Contemporary Canadian Jewish Writing 16 [2014]), “Hawkeye” Gail Benick is a writer (fiction, on Jewish Fiction.net [Dec. 2012]), “Digital and a professor in the Storytelling and Diasporic Identities in Higher Faculty of Humanities Education” (nonfiction, in Collected Essays on and Social Sciences at Learning and Teaching V [2012]), and “Digital Sheridan. She earned a Storytelling and the Pedagogy of Human Rights” M. Phil. from the City (nonfiction, in Journal of Cultural Research in Art University of New York Education 29 [2011]). and a M.Ed. from the
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto. Gail Benick answers Alchemy’s Proust Questionnaire: During her tenure at Sheridan, Benick has served as the coordinator of several innovative Favourite virtue: Kindness. programs, including the Japan Exchange Program My favourite qualities in a student: Curiosity and with Osaka Electro Communications University perseverance. and the Joint Program in Communication, Culture My favourite qualities in a teacher: Respect for and Information Technology with the University of learners and fair-mindedness. Toronto at Mississauga. My idea of perfect happiness: Writing a good story. Benick was an early proponent of My favourite quotation, motto, or phrase: “To inclusivity and equity in postsecondary education every thing there is a season….” in Ontario. She developed and coordinated (Ecclesiastes) Sheridan’s Post Diploma Program in Intercultural Language I’d love to be able to speak: Japanese. Communication and consulted widely on the On my bucket list: To run a marathon. development of anti-racism policies in Ontario’s My favourite historical, literary, or cinematic colleges and universities. character(s): Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. At Sheridan, she has integrated an My favourite painter/artist: American awareness of the massive demographic shifts Impressionist painter and printmaker Mary transforming postsecondary classrooms into all of Cassatt. her course development. Benick designed a range of courses focusing on migration and * * * transnationalism, intercultural communication and human rights. In her fully online course on immigrant writers in Canada, Benick has introduced scores of students, many new Canadians themselves, to writers with similar experiences.
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Cool Stuff The organizers of the 2015 Humanities Education and Research Association (HERA) Annual
Conference have extended the deadline for Some creative and ambitious 2nd-year students in proposals to December 1, 2014. This year’s Professor Anita Agar’s Gothic in the Western conference—Beyond the Binary—will be held in Imagination class (LITT20004GD) recently took an San Francisco from April 9-11, 2015. According to exciting interdisciplinary approach to literary HERA’s website, “The wide range of disciplines and analysis. The students, hailing from Sheridan’s areas of study for the conference include but are not Game Development program, created an online limited to Aesthetics, Anthropology, Architecture, Art, game loosely based on Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s Classics, Communication Studies, Composition, Cultural 1892 short story “The Yellow Wallpaper.” As Studies, Dance, Design, Digital Technology, Education, Anita puts it, their work “illustrates the important Environmental Issues, Ethics, Ethnic Studies, Family, relationship of literature and narrative and Breadth Film Studies, Gender Studies, Geography, Geology, courses to such degrees.” Explore and play the Globalization, History, Languages, Literature, Media, game by following this link: Museum Studies, Music, Performance Studies, http://bit.ly/1wNV8wD Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Religious You will need a UnityWeb player plug-in which is Studies, Sexuality, Sociology, Theater and all sciences easily downloaded from the game site itself when relevant to the topic.” In addition to scholarly and you unblock plug-ins. research presentations the organizers welcome creative presentations, readings, and exhibitions. * See the following link for more details: www.h-e-r- a.org A Homeward Bound Halton Program Update * from Rossana Gorys:
If you’re missing Professor Ian Williams (Literary Home Suite Hope, along with the Oakville Studies and Creative Writing) around campus this Community Foundation and Region of Halton, are semester it’s because he’s been serving as the 2014- sponsoring five women who will be enrolled in a 2015 Canadian Writer-in-Residence in the Calgary two-year diploma program at Sheridan. The Distinguished Writers Program at the University of women are currently in the Academic Upgrading Calgary. The residency runs until August 2015 and Program and will begin their full-time studies in is one of the most prestigious and sought-after January. FHASS is taking the lead in working residencies in Canada. Ian is spending his time closely with the not-for-profit agency, Home Suite writing a novel, consulting with writers in the Hope, to ensure that the women have a smooth Calgary community, re-writing his novel, doing transition into their programs. College president public readings and events, re-re-writing his novel, Jeff Zabudsky has committed to provide the and generally making FHASS proud. Check out his women with free laptops and Wi-Fi during their Distinguished Writers profile here: stay at Sheridan. The selection process for the http://ucalgary.ca/cdwp/writer-residence/ian- second cohort is currently underway and that group williams or follow him on Twitter @ianwillwrite. of five women should be ready to start their full- time post-secondary program in Fall 2015. * Sheridan, along with Home Suite Hope, is planning to officially launch the Homeward Bound Program Please check out the Call for Papers for the with an event planned for January 2015. Learning at Intercultural Intersections Conference (March 11-13, 2015) at Thompson * Rivers University in Kamloops, BC. Keynotes will feature research and presentations from regional,
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Alchemy fall 2014 national, and international scholars on intercultural The Hub (work + play) learning, pedagogy, and curriculum. According to conference organizers, they seek proposals that will address the following question: How do we best Professor Peter Grevstad (English and Literary support the development of intercultural competencies Studies) is not just a man of letters and libraries. A necessary to negotiate the borders of intercultural learning consummate globe-trotter, Grevstad has long on our campuses and in our communities? Check out documented his experiences on the road (in Asia, the conference website at Europe, Scandinavia, and everywhere in between) www.tru.ca/intercultural for details, and send and here at home in Toronto and its environs in questions and proposals to [email protected] by beautiful, often revelatory ways. His photographs, December 1, 2014. several of which have been featured in online and journalistic publications like the Globe and Mail and * * * the Toronto Star, explore city life, the natural world, and the collision between the two. He writes:
“I do photography because it’s one thing I can do on which I don’t have to depend for a living, and which I do not for the recognition or social standing it might afford me. I take photos because I want to, and if others like them or feature them it’s great but I’m not doing it professionally or for any kind of public approval/adulation. It’s the perfect hobby!”
Check out Peter’s Flickr page at http://www.flickriver.com/photos/peter- grevstad/popular-interesting/ to get lost in his versions of our various worlds.
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