Have you met Graeme, Educational Developer in the Centre for Teaching and Learning? Spend the next two minutes getting to know him a little better.
Where is your favorite place on campus?
Tim Horton’s. I spent 27 years in Scotland, so I have 27 years of Tim Horton’s to catch up on. Though I do like the Main Quad, and Cameron B-12 is my dream lecture room — it’s set up with all of the high tech stuff.
Tablet or paper?
I’m a tech guy, so I feel I have to say tablet… but sometimes it’s just easier to pick up a pencil.
Name one thing you’ve brought to work from home.
A quaich — it’s a Scottish cup for whiskey. I bought it at the University of Glasgow.
What is the one thing you can’t live without?
I can’t live without my iPhone. It’s quite sad.
Also — this may sound like a Hallmark answer — I would say friends. And I couldn’t live without laughter, because I like to be positive.
If you won airfare to anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I think I would do a trip across Canada — I know Quebec and Ontario really well, but this is the first time I’ve been out West in my life. I’d love to do a train trip across the country.
You can invite anyone — alive or dead, real or fictional — to dinner. Who would it be?
Since I like laughter, there’s an Irish comedian called Dara O’Briain. He’s incredibly funny — I’d love to have him, Collin Mochrie, and Robin Williams to dinner.
If it was more serious, I’d love to talk to Winston Churchill… and also John A. McDonald. I think getting their historical perspectives would be fascinating.
If you could switch jobs with someone else on campus for a week, what would you do?
I’d work at Tim Horton’s for the week.
What does “uplifting the whole people” mean to you?
I think that uplifting people means treating them with respect, treating them with dignity, and making people feel good about themselves. It’s about genuinely trying to make someone better, and also about appreciating each other.
If you could solve any problem in the world, what would it be?
I would want people to be more confident and able to teach in a more effective way. In my career, I’ve seen a lot of teaching that was satisfactory. If I could change one thing, I’d make all satisfactory turn into excellent.
If you’re adequate in your teaching, then students are going to be adequate in their learning. But if you’re excellent in your teaching, you’re going inspire people.
What 3 words best describe your U of A experience?
Positive. Exciting and enjoyable. 50 courses I want to take.
Graeme came to the U of A following a 16-year career at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, where he developed innovative instructional materials and designed Technology-Enhanced Active Learning approaches. As a member of the CTL team, he supports staff who wish to use technology to enhance their teaching and learning, and who want to become more confident and competent using aspects of technology in their teaching.