Sylvia Currie
email: sylviaATwebbedfeatDOTcom
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I work from my home office in Lac Le Jeune, British Columbia where I am involved in all sorts of interesting projects related to online communities and teaching and learning online. I have been involved in online education since 1995 in many different roles: student, researcher, instructor, software designer, community coordinator, administrator, instructional designer, course management site administrator, curriculum developer, project manager...
Education
Simon Fraser University Burnaby, British Columbia
2007 Master of Arts, Faculty of Applied Sciences
1999 EUCAN European-Canadian Summer Exchange Program
1991 Certificate in Liberal Arts, Faculty of Arts
1984 Certificate in French Language Proficiency, Faculty of Arts
1984 Bachelor of Education, Faculty of Education
Sussex University
(East Sussex College of Higher Education) Eastbourne, England
1977-78 Studied primary education and mathematics
Online Workshops
Work Experience
1997-present - Webbed Feat, British Columbia
Education Consultant and Proprietor
Online community research and design, instructional design, technology integration, professional development, training, technical writing, and research
2008 - present - BCCampus
Manager, BCcampus Online Community Services
Design, develop, and manage the BCCampus network of online communities, synchronous webcast and virtual room technologies, and social media applications
2003-2008 - Nicola Valley Institute of Technology
Education Technology Facilitator
Coordinate faculty professional development and online program development initiatives
Webbed Feat Projects since 1997 (also see my portfolio)
First Nations Pedagogy for Online Learning
2008 Project funded by BCcampus. Partners: Nicola Valley Insitute of Technology and Kwantlen University College
Develop an online resource for educators, curriculum developers, and educational leaders who are involved in providing online learning experiences for Aboriginal learners.
Learning and Instructional Development Centre
Design, develop, and mange SCoPE, an international online community for educators hosted at Simon Fraser University
Learning Technologies Centre, University of Manitoba
Moodle conference site design/maintenance and moderator support for online conferences
KnowTIPS Online Conference February 23 - 27, 2006
Site design, lead program committee in organization of call for proposals and selection of presenters and session facilitators, moderated facilitator support centre
Sagebrush Quilters
In partnership with Mango-Graphics.com, volunteer design and support for the Sagebrush Quilters' Guild website and online community
Knowplace
Curriculum development and instruction for the Teach an Design Online Program offered in partnership with Capilano College
Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Support and maintenance for the Coho Species at Risk project team online workspace
Royal Roads University
Project Sponsor for the Faculty of Social and Applied Sciences Master of Arts programs (2 successful MA students to date)
TeleLearning NCE Global Educators' Network
Design and implementation of a the Global Educators' Network, an online international community of educators
Coordination of seminars, special interest groups, guest moderators, research, and site development.
Moderator support and training
Centre for Curriculum, Transfer, and Technology (now BCcampus)
Design and development of web-based courses, materials, and support sites
Online and f2f faculty development workshops
CourseReader Software Project
User testing, development of multimedia promotional materials
TeleLearning NCE Teacher Professional Development PortalDesign and development of web-based courses and materials
Preparation of meta data for portal site
TELEStraining
Online instructor for the DWeb "Train the Trainer " program
Design and development of the "Online Moderation" course
Research, curriculum development, product design and development
Virtual Learning Environments, Inc.
Software product consulting, research, program development, and client site administration.
Virtual-U Research Project 1998-2003, Simon Fraser University
Research Associate
Part-time research and development
MC2 Learning Systems, Inc. (now Centrinity, Inc)
Educational Support 1997-98
Part-time to design and implement the "Empowering Educators Program", web-based professional development for users of Zebu educational software
Other Education-Related Work Experience
1997-98 Centre for Online and Distance Education Simon Fraser University
Coordinator, Teaching Support Lab
Part-time to implement new pedagogical and technological support facility for teaching support staff.
1997 ALIVE! Research Project Simon Fraser University
Research Assistant
Part-time research for educational software development project in partnership with MC2 Learning Systems, Inc
1992-98 University College of the Fraser Valley British Columbia
Associate Registrar
Admissions, transfer credit articulation, curriculum and policy development, university liaison, promotional materials, manuals, and publications
1989-92 Faculty of Education Simon Fraser University
Assistant to the Dean
Admission to teacher education expansion program, administrative support for BC site offices, academic advising, college liaison
Assistant to the Director of Undergraduate Programs
Course planning, registration, budget, curriculum revisions, academic advising, office management
1985-89 Faculty of Arts Simon Fraser University
Department Assistant, Interdisciplinary Studies
Course planning, registration, budget, academic advising
Undergraduate Advisor, Office of the Dean
Academic advising, graduation, summer institutes
Curriculum Secretary
Support for undergraduate and graduate curriculum committees
1984-85 North Vancouver School District British Columbia
Substitute Teacher
Elementary, all subjects
Instructor for Community French Program
Part-time French as a second language, elementary level
Awards
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2007 British Columbia Innovation Award in Education Technology for the SCoPE Community
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Faculty of Applied Science Dean's Fellowship, Simon Fraser University, Spring 2000
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TeleLearning Poster Award for pragmatic design experiment with wide applicability for online instructors, TeleLearning '99, Montreal
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Eu-Canada Scholarship, Human Resources Development Canada, Summer 1999
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Award of Excellence in Case-Solving Skills, Eucan Project: Strategic Management of Telecommunications, Helsinki University of Technology, Institute of Strategy and International Business, Summer 1999
Conference Presentations and Workshops
ALT-C - September, 2009
SCoPE - Seven Principles For Cultivating Communities of Practice (part of The Agenda of Research Culture session)
Improving University Teaching - July 2009
"Creating Collaborative Online Communities of Practice: Challenges and Opportunities" with Nancy Randall, Tom Carey, Paul Stacey and Andrew Marchand
Canadian e-Learning Conference - June 2009
"Shifting Landscapes of Professional Learning" with Betty Gilgoff and Julie Hengstler
Moodle Moot - April, 2009
"SCoPE - An open, online community for people like you"
"How we do what we did" with Jill Calliou, Randy LaBonte, and Frances Long
"University of Manitoba: Moodle for conferences and massive open online courses"
Coordinator and Moderator: "Showcasing Saskatchewan and Manitoba" with Patricia Yeske, Delise Fathers, and Rob Wall
Moderator: "Finishing the Moodle Canvas - Encouraging Greater Usability" with Scott Tearle
Moderator: "Moodle Theming Workshop" with Julian Ridden
CPSquare.org Wikis all around the world and all the way conference - January, 2009
"Wiki as a Platform Element" with Eric Sauve
BCcampus Educational Technology Users Group Fall Workshop - November, 2008
Facilitator, "Exploring Our Boundaries" panel discussion
Panelists: Lynette Jackson, Gina Bennett, Solvig Norman
CPSquare.org Research and Dissertation Fest - November, 2008
Facilitator for Alice MacGillivray's "Perceptions and Uses of Boundaries by Respected Leaders"
Tech It Up - August, 2008
"Online Communities for Learning Together"
Ask the Experts: Educational Communities of Practice - June 4, 2008
Online Event at the Best Practice Models for E-learning Community
Experts: Etienne Wenger, Sylvia Currie, and Helen Walmsley
Shaping Our Future: Toward a Pan-Canadian E-learning Research Agenda - May, 2008
Conference Facilitator
CPSquare.org Research and Dissertation Fest - April, 2008
"SCoPE: The Design of an Online Community"
Aboriginal Learning Knowledge Centre Conference -- Seeing Ourselves in the Mirror: Giving Life to Learning, Feburary, 2008
Workshop: First Natiions Pedagogy for Online Learning with June Kaminski
2008 ICT Summit, February, 2008
Workshop: First Natiions Pedagogy for Online Learning with June Kaminski
CPSquare.org Long Live the Platform Conference, January 11 - February 1, 2008
Moodle Platform Spokesperson and Support
BCcampus Educational Technology Users Group Spring Workshop May, 2007
"In the Moodle" workshop with Tracy Roberts
CADE-AMTEC May, 2007
"SCoPE: Essential Elements for Online Community", with Heather Ross
Moodlemoot May, 2007
Birds of a Feather Facilitator: "Moodle for Community", 2 sessions
"Using Moodle for Online Community"
"Dealing with the Challenges Remote Communities Face with Online Learning", with George Cavaliere
KnowSchools KnowWeek April, 2007
"Canadian Learning Resources", a week-long discussion and showcase of resources, with Commonwealth of Learning
Northern Voice February 23 - 24, 2007
Panel Presentation: "Social Software for Learning Environments", Brian Lamb, D'Arcy Norman, Chris Lott, Jon Beasley-Murray
KnowTIPS Online Conference February 23 - 27, 2006
Organizing partner
Moodlemoot Canada Conference, February 16-20, 2006 Port Alberni, British Columbia
(Conference cancelled. Accepted presentations listed.)
Presentation and Discussion: "Designs for Students, by Students ", with D. Gambler
Presentation and Discussion: "Moodle for Online Community", with E. Wallace
WCET 17th Annual Conference: e-Learning, e-Llusions, and Triumphs November 2005 San Franscisco, California
Roundtable: "Open Source: Is It the Learning Management System You Wanted?", R. Ramsey, S. Leslie, D. Hood
NVIT case handout
BCcampus Educational Technology Users Group Spring Workshop, 2005 Merritt, British Columbia
Workshop: "Build a Course in Moodle", with G. Bennett, H. Jackson, F. Long, S. Cooper, S. Morrison
Adult Basic Education Association of British Columbia Conference, May 2005, Celebrating Heritage, Culture and Education, Merritt, British Columbia
Presentation: "Implementing Moodle at an Aboriginal College", with D. Gambler
BCcampus Educational Technology User Group Fall Workshop, 2004 Vancouver, British Columbia
Presentation: "Why Moodle?", with D. Gambler and C. Littlewood
BC Computer Curriculum Consortium, 2003 Vancouver, British Columbia
Presentation: "Tools to Support Community", with F. Long and H. Kershaw
BC Computer Curriculum Consortium, 2002 Kelowna, British Columbia
Presentation: "Building a Learning Community", with F. Long
TeleLearning 2001 Vancouver, British Columbia
Poster Presentation: "Clearing the fog of imposed design on the Global Educators' Network", with S. Reibling
Connections 2001 Whistler, British Columbia
Presentation: "The Global Educators' Network", with F. Long and K. Britt
TeleLearning 2000 Toronto, Ontario
Poster Presentation: "Global Educators' Network: Emerging Trends and Needs", with S. Nyrop
TeleLearning 1999 Montreal, Quebec
Award-winning Poster Presentation: "Advancing Online Educational Practice through Researcher/Teacher/Student Collaboration", with J. Gundersen and M. Campos
Poster Presentation: "Responding to Emergent Needs of Collaborative Practice", with L. Teles
EdMedia 1999 Seattle, Washington
Presentation: "An activity theory framework for anticipating the needs of learning communities", with M. Campos
TeleLearning 1998 Vancouver, British Columbia
Poster Presentation: "Virtual-U Instructor Support Tools"
Panel Presentation: "TeleLearning in Practice: What is the Business Case?"
Participated in workshop: Human Computer Interaction
WebNet 1998 Orlando, Florida
Paper: "Situated learning in course exemplars: Instructional design considerations", with V.Rossner & S.Chu
Poster: "Web-based support for technology integration", with S.Chu
1998 Symposium on Innovative Teaching Simon Fraser University
Presentation: "Resolving instructional barriers to successful innovative teaching"
1998 Congress of the Social Sciences and Humanities Ottawa, Ontario
Presentation: "Technology integration: Centralizing instructional support", with S.Chu
1997 Alberta Teachers' Association Computer Council Jasper, Alberta
Presentation: "Making the web really interactive: Collaborative project based learning using AlivePages"
1997 September TA Day Simon Fraser University
Workshop Leader: "Using the Web to Establish Group Coherence"
Reports and Publications
Kaminski, J. & Currie, S. (2008). Planning your online course. In S.Hirtz & D. Harper (Eds.), Education for a digital world: Advice, guidelines, and effective practice from around the globe (pp. 191-212). Vancouver, B.C.: BCcampus and Commonwealth of Learning.
Currie, S. (2008) Contributing editor and contributed SCoPE case study for book chapter: Supporting Learning Through Communities. In S.Hirtz & D. Harper (Eds.), Education for a digital world: Advice, guidelines, and effective practice from around the globe (pp. 191-212). Vancouver, B.C.: BCcampus and Commonwealth of Learning.
Currie, S. (2007) SCoPE: The design of an online community, Simon Fraser University PDF (1.3 MB) wiki version (in progress)
Currie, S. (2006) SFU SCoPE Community: Technical Development Plan, Technical Report, Simon Fraser University
Currie, S. & Wallace.E. (2006) SFU SCoPE Community: Growth Plan, Technical Report, Simon Fraser University
Currie, S. & Wallace, E. (2005). SFU SCoPE Community: Report of Phase 1 of Project: Research Phase., Technical Report, Simon Fraser University
Currie, S. & Campos, M. (1999). An Activity Theory Framework for Anticipating the Needs of Learning Communities. In Collis, B. & Oliver, R. (Eds.), Proceedings of ED-MEDIA '99: World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia & Telecommunications, Seattle, WA. (pp. 1605-1606). Charlottesville, VA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education.
Currie, S. (1998) "The Teaching Support Lab at SFU", Update Newsletter, Centre for University Teaching, July
Rossner, V., Chu, S. & Currie, S. (1998). Situated Learning in Course Exemplars: Instructional Design Considerations. Proceedings of the WebNet '98: World Conference of the WWW, Internet & Intranet, Orlando, FL. Charlottesville, VA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education.
Currie, S. & Ostler, C. (1998) "Reconceptualizing Virtual-U: Phase 1, process and user interface design", Technical Report, Virtual-U Project, Simon Fraser University
Tiessen, E., Currie, S. & Hayes, S. (1997) "MC2 Zebu Teacher Guide", V1.6, ALiVE! Research Project, Simon Fraser University
Currie, S. (1997) "Advancing educators' knowledge about online learning", Technical Report, Alive! Research Project, Simon Fraser University
Currie, S. (1997) "Assessment in a networked learning environment: A principled approach", Technical Report, Alive! Research Project, Simon Fraser University
Currie, S. (1997) "Introducing and establishing collaborative projects: Innovative curriculum by design", Technical Report, Alive! Research Project, Simon Fraser University
Currie, S. (1997) "Curriculum planning tools: An enhancement to AlivePages software", Technical Report, Alive! Research Project, Simon Fraser University
Currie, S. (1997) "Supporting knowledge building communities in a networked environment", Technical Report, Alive! Research Project, Simon Fraser University
Currie, S. (1997) "Design considerations for constructivist learning environments", Technical Report, Alive! Research Project, Simon Fraser University
Currie, S. (1997) "Vision tool for creating maps: An enhancement to AlivePages software", Technical Report, Alive! Research Project, Simon Fraser University
Currie, S. (1997) "Supporting communities of teachers and learners: Networked technology as a catalyst for change", Technical Report, Alive! Research Project, Simon Fraser University
Selected Committee Memberships
2006 - present BC Educational Technology Users Group Steering Committee
1998-99 BC Tel Interactive Discover Learning Education Advisory Committee
1992-97 Ministry of Education High School & Post Secondary Institution Liaison Committee
1993-97 British Columbia Council on Admission and Transfer
1992-97 University College of the Fraser Valley:
- Program Advisory Committee
- Publications Review Committee
- Open Learning Agency Liaison Committee
1996 Post-secondary Application Service of British Columbia (PASBC)
Working Committee for the online application-for-admission service
Professional Memberships
!
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