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Table of contents
Use the table below for quick access to CIEL supports, or scroll down for page descriptions.
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CIEL services
CIEL's mission is to develop and enhance teaching excellence at VIU, supporting inclusive, innovative, and engaging student-centered learning. To this end, our team is available to offer support in a variety of ways. Click on the tiles below to learn more about the supports we offer.
Consultations
CIEL staff are available for individual consultations on building and designing your course, providing feedback, or creating effective assessments. Find out more!
Calendar of events
Find out more about upcoming events from CIEL and find links to register.
(Link opens external CIEL calendar)
Learning technology support overview
Learn more about what technology support CIEL can provide.
Student orientation to VIU learning technology
Learn how we can help orient your students to online learning tools at VIU.
CIEL library
Browse a catalog of the books available to borrow from CIEL's Nanaimo campus office.
Program review support
How CIEL can support you during a program review.
Early feedback service
Midterm and end of term course surveys to help you grow your teaching practice.
Contact us
Meet our team and learn how to get in touch.
Design
These resources are here to support you in designing the learning experience in your courses. If you would like to book a one on one consultation with a Curriculum Teaching and Learning Specialist to talk about any element of course design, please email learnsupport@viu.ca.
Learning outcomes
What are the long term goals of your course?
Equity, diversity and inclusion
Your students bring various identities, perspectives, and motivation to your class.
Supporting student learning
Learn about the different ways students think about “knowledge” and “truth."
Starting the semester off right
The first class, the first time you see the students, or the first day of a course is a very important day. Learn some ways to start your semester off right.
Cases and problems
Deep learning begins when students try to use their new ideas and information in concrete situations.
Groups and teams
Using collaboration and cooperation can energize your classroom. We offer tips and strategies here!
Active learning
Most students learn best by doing something, rather than by just listening, reading or watching.
Classroom community
Build a community in your classroom.
Experiential learning
Service Learning, community volunteering, internships- are all powerful ways to learn, but it's not guaranteed.
Gamification
Integrate game-like elements into the design of your course to motivate and encourage learners.
Build
Find resources to help you create, set up, and organize course materials. Learn how to use the learning technology tools available to facilitate online learning or augment your face to face classes.
VIULearn tutorials
Find step by step guides for using VIU’s online learning platform: VIULearn.
VIUTube tutorials
Find step by step guides to help you use VIU’s video streaming platform: VIUTube.
VIUBlogs tutorials
Find step by step guides to help you create and use a WordPress site on VIUBlogs.
Build accessible course materials
Learn what you need to know to create materials that are accessible for all learners.
Course architecture
Learn ways to structure online course materials for online learning or to supplement your face to face classes.
Open education resources
Learn where to find and how to create Open Education Resources.
Using teams in your course
Learn about VIU’s video conference tool, Teams, and how it can be used for your course.
Assess
Assessment is a core component of any course. These resources are meant to help you plan and create meaningful assessments for your course.
Exam alternatives
Exams are not the only way to measure learning outcomes. Learn about other types of assessments.
Giving feedback
Tips for giving feedback that is meaningful for students without letting marking take over your life.
Quizzes and exams
Learn about best practices for creating quizzes and exams that measure and promote student success.
Rubrics
Learn about designing and using rubrics.
Peer assessment
Learn more about how you can set up peer evaluation to provide mechanisms where student voices are factored into the overall evaluation of any individual student’s work when using groups or teams extensively in your course.
Employee resources
Support resources for non-instructional employees.