Episode 7 Books that Transform Teaching with Carolyn Ives and Paul Martin (Part 1)

Guests: Carolyn Ives, M.A., and Paul Martin, Ph.D.

Carolyn Ives (she/her) is a Coordinator, Learning and Faculty Development and co-chair of the Learning Design and Innovations Department at Thompson Rivers University (TRU). She is a former faculty member in English at MacEwan University and at TRU, and she has also held previous roles as Academic Integrity Officer, Academic Quality Assurance Manager, Curriculum Planning and Development Coordinator, and Interim Director of the Centre for the Advancement of Faculty Excellence at MacEwan. Her current research focuses on evidencing value of educational development work, decolonizing academic integrity, Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR), open pedagogical practices, and humanizing science education. Recent work also includes open educational resources for faculty for course design and for students engaging in competency-based PLAR. As a Métis and neurodiverse faculty member, she cares deeply about making space for multiple perspectives in learning spaces. 

Dr. Paul Martin is the Director of Curriculum Development and Delivery, Open Learning, at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, British Columbia. There, he oversees not only the design and development of Open Learning’s course offerings but also the delivery of their courses to nearly 30,000 students annually. Prior to joining TRU in 2019, he was the Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at Marquette University (2018-19), Faculty Development Coordinator at MacEwan University (2011-2018), and an Assistant Professor of English and Director of Canadian Studies at the University of Vermont (2003-2011).

Disclaimer: The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or the podcast.

Steve leads today's podcast by introducing two leaders of the Great Teachers Movement in Canada. He also shares some of his cultural norms with us and wonders if listeners know where he was raised because of his accent. Carolyn and Paul share that they are joining the podcast from one of the Thompson Rivers University campuses. Thompson Rivers University (TRU) campuses are on the traditional lands of the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc (Kamloops campus) and the T’exelc (Williams Lake campus) within Secwepemcúl’ecw, the traditional and unceded territory of the Secwépemc. The TRU region also extends into the territories of the St’át’imc, Nlaka’pamux, Nuxalk, Tŝilhqot'in, Dakelh, and Syilx peoples.

This episode explores various teaching strategies, especially how reading can profoundly influence teaching practices. Our distinguished guests, Paul Martin and Carolyn Ives, share how powerful books reshaped their approach to education, fostering more engaging, inclusive, and effective classrooms. Carolyn shares the books inspired her to cultivate a hopeful and resilient classroom atmosphere, encouraging critical thinking and deep engagement among her students. She also explains how one guidebook prompted her to implement anti-racist strategies in her writing workshops, creating a more inclusive and supportive learning environment for all students. Paul discusses how one book helped him connect physical activity and cognitive function, leading him to integrate movement into his teaching to enhance student engagement and learning. Yet another resource has the hosts and guests reflect on how understanding the underlying causes of cheating has influenced his approach to assessments and fostering academic integrity.

Key Topics:

• Fostering hopeful and engaged learning environments
• Implementing anti-racist practices in education
• The impact of physical exercise on cognitive performance and student engagement
• Addressing and mitigating academic dishonesty in the classroom

This episode is essential for educators, administrators, and anyone interested in the transformative power of reading on teaching practices. Our