David Thibodeau Email & Phone Number

Open to new experiences. Continuing to learn.

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

My mandate was to integrate the Applied Research Office (ARO) into the broader academic area. I consulted with interested parties (mostly internal) and assisted in developing a strategic plan for Applied Research at Algonquin College. So what were my findings and recommendations? At the risk of over-simplifying (contact me if you want more details): 1. Stand alone project (SAP) is not a natural activity for a college, hence the need for an ARO. 2. In class project (ICP) and scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) are the purview of the academic program areas, not the ARO. 3. The ARO should facilitate ICP and SoTL (mostly with communities of practice, CoP). This is to build credibility with the academic program areas, and to nurture the skills required for a broad culture of applied research.

Ottawa

As the academic chair for the Mechanical and Transportation Technology department, my primary world view is that of an educator, which in turn is supported by my administrative and engineering backgrounds. I understand the nuances of working with a unionized workforce and three collective agreements. As well, I place a high priority upon succession planning. I am proud to say that I am passionate about teaching and learning. So, how does that translate into my daily priorities? Firstly, I want people to love coming to work in this department. People are social animals and I believe that work is best experienced within a social context. The challenge is that teaching tends to be a solitary or autonomous occupation. My approach is to actively foster a learner/leader culture. Let’s see what transpires. Secondly, it is important to me that we create significant learning experiences for our students which I believe have the short term benefits of increased student engagement. In the longer term this leads to enhanced employability of our graduates (effectiveness) and improved retention (efficiency). There is an appetite for change in the department and we are experimenting with our teaching and learning methodologies; curriculum development activities abound. Finally, I am determined to obtain financial sustainability for this department. We are actively exploring and pursuing options for increased revenue. Stay tuned for results. So there you have it … we are going to achieve great things … have fun doing it … while making money at the same time. Who said anything about modest goals?

Ottawa, Canada Area

Mechanical Engineering Technology Advanced Diploma Program Supervisor of student applied research projects; Industry/community work experience; experiential learning; team work; peer evaluations; funded projects; inter-professional/disciplinary education; essential employability skills. Teaching. Taught 38 courses including Machine Design & Analysis, Strength of Materials, and Statics/Mechanics. Constantly experimenting with teaching methodologies and correlating to learning outcomes, student satisfaction, retention, and work load. Administration with an emphasis upon academic process improvements. My goals/interests involve the intersection of Organizational Learning and Organizational Change within Higher Education, with a particular focus upon Ontario’s Colleges. The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) is a continuous improvement philosophy that resonates with me. I believe SoTL, properly implemented, improves the effectiveness of teaching, by engaging students and consuming less teaching time.

Master Of Education (Med)

UPEI, in partnership with Holland College, is offering a Master of Education (MEd) in Leadership in Learning with a focus on College.

Mba

B.Eng., Mechanical