DC employees prepare to welcome students back to campus at annual Academic Kick Off

With the new school year fast approaching, Durham College (DC) employees gathered on August 29 for Academic Kick Off.

Led by DC’s vice-president, Academic, Dr. Elaine Popp, the event served as the launch of the 2017-2018 academic year, giving colleagues a chance to reconnect while also preparing to welcome new and returning students to campus when classes begin on Wednesday, September 6.

Following an interactive warm-up exercise, attendees enjoyed a keynote address from John Seely Brown, PhD. During his speech, Dr. Brown, who is co-author of A New Culture of Learning and co-chairman of Deloitte’s Center for the Edge, challenged DC employees to think about what kind of learners we need for this rapidly changing world. He highlighted the importance of content and context and the need to cultivate imagination and play within the classroom. He also noted that while education previously focused on a “push” model, where knowing was the goal, learning has evolved into an era where a student’s imagination quotient is equally as important as their intelligence quotient. Attendees were left with the assurance that where imagination happens, learning happens, inspiring all employees to create a dynamic environment on campus for DC’s students.

Other topics covered included the college’s commitment to internationalization, both on campus and with our global partners.