Meet Kyle Hunter from BCIT

Leva Lee, Manager at BCcampus and a member of the ETUG Steering Committee  convinced Kyle Hunter to be featured as a member this month. Kyle will be stepping into the role of Vice-Chair of SCETUG this year so this is an opportune time get to know more about him!

Tell us a bit about where you work and what you do.

I’m a Technical Advisor in the Learning and Teaching Centre at BCIT, which means that I’m fortunate to have a good deal of flexibility in the work that I do. I help people understand educational technologies and work with them to find solutions that they are comfortable using.
I also help administer our learning management system, Desire2Learn, and help coordinate and deliver training workshops for faculty and staff.

How long have you been involved in teaching and Learning and ed technology?

Although I used computers in high school and university, I “discovered” educational technology while working as a work-study student at UBC in 2004. I was working in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and my job was to help coordinate the Integrated Laboratory Network – an initiative that allowed UBC’s pharmacy students to connect and use Western Washington University’s lab equipment online. We used Microsoft NetMeeting and the equipment’s own software to run tests and get results. It was a great proof-of-concept and although the initiative no longer exists, I’m really happy to see a similar project, NANSLO, having great success.
I also had a great time as a Faculty Liaison in the roll-out of the Faculty of Medicine’s Distributed Medical Program. I was part of the Division of Educational Support and Development, and my role was to develop processes and coordinate the videoconference lectures for first and second year med students. This meant getting presentations and handouts to and from the 3 videoconference endpoints (UBC, UVic, and UNBC), coordinating session connections, and training faculty on how to use the videoconference equipment.
When I came to BCIT in 2008, we had just started migrating courses from WebCT to D2L, so the majority of my time was spent learning the new system and finding out how all the Institutional pieces fit together. Since then, I’ve been helping find integrated solutions that make learning and teaching better and more fun.

What’s one thing you really love about the work you do?

I’ve had the luxury of working with lots of great people in a variety of capacities. If you’re into tech and are built to help people learn, this really is the best field to be in.
Two things that I would never want to give-up:
1)      I love the flexibility to research and explore new technologies, and then report on how those technologies might be used to enhance education.
2)      I love developing educational solutions that really work. This includes things as simple as introducing instructors to a new piece of learning hardware – like the iPad, or things as complicated as coordinating workflow processes that incorporate technological innovation.
I also really appreciate the variety of skilled training that happens in higher ed. Being able to work with interior designers, aerospace engineers, surgeons and welders is so rewarding.

How long have you been a member of ETUG?

The first workshop I can remember attending was the one about “Creativity” at Emily Carr, but I’m pretty sure I attended others I just don’t see them on the Past Workshops list on etug-archive.bccampus.ca/. My supervisor, Bryan Fair, who was the ETUG steering committee vice-chair at the time, basically told our team that if we didn’t attend we would be shot! We all ended up going and it turned out to be a blast. So I guess it’s been about 5 years or so.
The funny thing is that I haven’t even “registered” to be a member (oops!)… I just consider myself part of the community.

What do you like best about this community and its activities?

I like bantering back and forth with people about new shiny things and software that can do wonders. ETUG people are informed, fresh, experienced, and forward thinking, and I like being able to talk about things that I’ve tried that work and don’t work, as well as hearing what’s worked and what hasn’t from others.

Do you have a favorite ETUG memory?

Probably the raucous door prize giveaways in the SUB theatre at the 2009 CELC Spring Workshop (mayhem!). But a close second was when I stood back and observed close to 100 people draw things that came to mind with crayons on the floor of the Kwantlen Richmond Conference room.

What would you like to ETUG provide more of in terms of benefits/value to members? Any input or help you want to ask members to provide?

I think the value ETUG brings is in the gatherings. Because of our busy lives, taking time to get away and connect in person is something that I treasure, so I hope that these events continue. I would also like to see a portion of the workshops dedicated to showcasing some of the things people are doing/have done at their institutions – something like the institutional reports – but more in a poster-board format so that we can browse what’s going on when we’re eating.

Do you have any special interests/hobbies?

I’m almost finished carving a tree from a block of black walnut. And I like to play sports. I played field hockey for BC back in the day, and when I play ultimate I reminisce about the good times playing with guys that represented Canada at the World Ultimate Championships in 2008.

Anything special you what to ask or share with members?

When I was younger, I hiked the Canol Trail with my Venturer crew. We won the Amory Award.
 
Thanks Kyle!
If you would like to to be a featured member of ETUG or would like to help interview an ETUGger, get in touch! leva.lee@bccampus.ca