Connections 2024

Tuesday, August 20 and Wednesday, August 21

Connections is an annual conference organized by employees for employees. It is about connecting face-to-face with colleagues from different departments and campuses, and celebrating the strengths and diversity of the people who work here through interactive social activities and fun informative workshops.

Join your colleagues on either Aug. 20 or 21 at Okanagan College's 19th Annual Employee Learning Conference. Hear from your President about what's happening at Okanagan College and check out some workshops.

Student Fundraiser

Each year Okanagan College students access a range of resources and supports through the VSAOC (Vernon Students’ Association OC) and OCSU (Okanagan College Students’ Union) including the Pantry, which provides students with a range of non-perishable food items and basic hygiene and toiletry items.

Connections 2024 will be collecting food items and monetary donations to support these valuable student supports. Please bring your items to the check in table on the morning you are registered, and we will gladly provide you with valuable tickets that can be used to win prizes throughout the day.

Schedule of the day's events

8:15 - 9 a.m. Registration at the Kelowna campus
9:15 - 10:15 a.m. Opening Remarks and OC Updates - President Neil Fassina
10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Learning Session #1
11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Lunch near the courtyard
12:45 - 1:45 p.m. Learning Session #2
2 - 3 p.m. Learning Session #3
3 - 4:30 p.m. Connections Social

Session descriptions (updates coming soon. Please note: these are 2023 sessions)

10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Learning Session 1 descriptions

Presented by: Jeanette with T.R.E.E.S.

Audience: General

Description: Introduction to young tree training. The same principles apply for young and established shrubs such as hedges and ornamental plantings. It's about the INTENTION of pruning.

Presented by: Heiko Ryll

Audience: General

Description: Speed and ambition are so prevalent in our culture that we often lose the beauty of the journey along the way. The practice of contemplative photography is recognizing that seeing and thinking are very different. Thinking relates to the world through ideas, mental images and bias. Seeing perceives things directly, just as they are.

All you need is the courage to slow down and open yourself to seeing. No special camera equipment is needed, just the camera in your phone will suffice, and you will leave refreshed and end up with some beautiful photographs in the process.

Presenters: Ross Tyner and Lindsay Willson

Audience: Instructional

Description: Can I show streaming videos in my online class? Does recording my session while streaming videos for the class contravene copyright laws? Where can I find open resources so that my students don’t have to buy expensive textbooks? What copyright options do I have for my own online material? Have you asked yourself these questions, or do you have other copyright questions? We’ll help you find the answers to these questions, as well as others, in preparation for future classes.

Presented by: Kate Cook and Jacqui Noftall

Audience: Instructional

Description: This session is designed to help you successfully navigate the twists and turns of your professional journey. Whether you're just starting out or looking to make a change, this course will provide you with tools, resources, and guidance to begin charting your career course with confidence and clarity.

Presented by: Howard Hisdal

Audience: General

Description: Have you ever wondered why the College has four different campuses? Find out why by attending History Professor Howard Hisdal's presentation on the last 60 years of Okanagan College history in this our Diamond Jubilee year. You may even learn about a few scandals.

Presented by: Melanie Wasilenkoff, Gordon Shuster, Jade Bethune, Sakura Hirata, Louis Hu, Mohammed Amir

Audience: General

Description: We love to travel - both for work and in our spare time. Over the years we have we have experienced the good and the bad while travelling and have some great tips to share. Join us, travel experts, and learn about our top travel do's and don'ts. Warning: You may catch the travel bug.

Presented by: Stephen Brown

Audience: General

Description: In this workshop, you'll get to meet MOM: the new, online and open-source MyOkanaganMath assessment platform. MOM provides algorithmically generated questions for use in mathematics, physics, chemistry, business, and other quantitative fields. MOM seamlessly integrates with Moodle and is ideal for generating randomised questions for use in assignments and tests. In this workshop, you will get to see what features are provided in MOM, what questions are available in its diverse question library, and maybe take a look at the design process for creating new questions.

Presented by: Frithjof Petscheleit

Audience: General

Description: Be More Than A Bystander (BMTAB) is a training and educational program to support organizational and cultural shifts towards more inclusive, safer and respectful workplaces. The training equips participants with practical tools and strategies to intervene in bullying, harassment and violence.

Since 2018, BCCWITT has partnered with EVA BC to customize the BMTAB program for the skilled trades industry. With the support of SkiledTradesBC, the program has expanded and been delivered across the province. This is a shortened version of the usual 2-hour session.

Presented by: Anna Wolleben

Audience: General

Description: Macrame is trendy again! The absolute beginner level or just a refresher of your existing skills: you will be making a macrame key holder! We will be learning/refreshing a basic, yet therapeutic macrame pattern! Maybe your next project can be a plant hanger?

Presented by: Mystery Presenters

Audience: General

Description: Tuesday - Personal Development and Self Reflection

Description: Wednesday - Indigenous culture workshop

12:45 - 1:45 p.m. Learning Session 2 descriptions

Presented by: Paul Moxness

Audience: Instructional

Description: We live in a world of social media storytellers and influencers, yet customer service has been scripted and standardized. It’s boring for employees and customers alike. Ditch the Script uses stories to inspire participants to use their own experience, empathy and passion to personalize delivery of the service they provide.

Presented by: Elizabeth Hernandez and Debra Jordan

Audience: General 

Description: A brief introduction to TIP and ways to integrate it into our work spaces.

Presented by: Inga Wheeler and Sara Cousins

Audience: General

Description: Strategic Enrolment Management: Placing Students at the Centre - Recruitment (Tuesday), Retention (Wednesday)
• What is SEM
• Introduction to OC’s first SEM plan (2023-2028)
• A few best practices in recruitment
• Opportunities to participate in SEM and recruitment at OC

Presented by: Ann Marie Ruether and Karen Tessier

Audience: General

Description: Beginners guide to drawing the human body. Working with a live studio model, how does the artist transfer what they see on to paper.

Presented by: Lisa Sookochoff

Audience: General

Description: In this workshop, we’ll look at how this performance disorder can impact students’ educational outcomes and daily lives.  Lisa will share about some of the executive function challenges that make ADHD more of an “intention deficit disorder” rather than an “attention deficit disorder” and zero in on some concrete tips and tools for managing the impact of ADHD.

Presented by: Julie Dais

Audience: General

Description: In Julie's attempt to “ease into retirement” from Okanagan College she traveled to three countries in Southeast Asia this past spring with her daughter. Have you ever thought about embarking on an 8-day river cruise up the Mekong River? Visiting Angkor Wat to see the sun rise over ancient temples? What about a 3-day cruise around Ha Long Bay with its karst mountains rising up from still waters? Then there’s the floating villages, bird sanctuaries, caves, historical sites, and of course the food! Please join Julie as she shares some of the highlights and maybe inspires you to consider SE Asia as your next travel destination.

Presented by: Edith Nagy

Audience: General

Description: If you're thinking about retirement in the near or not so near future, come and familiarize yourself with your entitlement. It will provide basic information what you need to do to initiate the process.

Presented by: Terry Bridges

Audience: General

Description: Since its launch in Dec. 2021, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has worked flawlessly and has already produced amazing science. In this presentation, Terry will talk about the incredible technological achievement that the JWST represents, its launch and deployment of its mirrors and instruments, and how it is revolutionizing our understanding of the first galaxies to form in the universe, the birth and death of stars, planets around other stars, and even our own solar system. Terry will also discuss why he thinks we should change its name.

Presented by: Roen Janyk and Kelowna Campus Library Staff

Audience: General

Description: Share your OC Library #Shelfies as you work with your team to complete a library photo scavenger hunt and trivia game. Can your team complete the #Shelfie Challenge?

Presented by: AR (Antriksh) Mistry

Audience: General

Description: Observing day-to-day experiences and delving into any learning moments. Are simple experiences insightful?

Presented by: Casey King

Audience: General

Description: Are you wondering if your home is functioning at its best? Join Casey to talk about how to improve and maintain your home energy efficiency to have a healthy happy home. And save money on bills!

Presented by: Gardeen DePluzer and Shani Herath

Audience: General

Description: The "What is Bias and what do we do about it" session equips participants with tools to address biases and foster inclusive work environments. Participants engage in self-reflection and exploration, guided by experts with lived experience to raise awareness of biases and learn practical strategies to mitigate their impact. By delving into unconscious bias and systemic discrimination, participants gain a deeper understanding of bias in personal and professional settings.

2 - 3 p.m. Learning Session 3 descriptions

Presented by: Learning and Applied Research Team

Audience: General

Description: The LAR team is excited to facilitate an exploration of the capabilities and potential responses to artificial intelligence, focusing on ChatGPT. Join your colleagues as we take a tumble into the depths of ChatGPT to see some of its impressive abilities.  During this session we will examine the evolving capabilities of AI, including language models and multimedia, discuss the opportunities and challenges of AI in higher education, and redefine assessment strategies, activities, and instructional practice to honour learning outcomes when integrating AI. 

Presented by: Kate Cook and Jacqui Noftall

Audience: General

Description: Resiliency helps us adapt to change, manage stress, and maintain a positive outlook, which in turn can improve our overall well-being. By developing resiliency, we build capacity in all areas of our life that helps us better navigate through difficult situations and emerge stronger and more confident on the other side. In this hands-on session, participants will explore their "wheel of life" and identify strategies to bring balance and resiliency to their life.

Presented by: Julian Buck and Sean White

Audience: General

Description: New to craft beer and want to learn what it’s all about? Craft beer fan who would like to know more about what you enjoy? Then this session is for you! We will learn about craft beer styles and history while sampling a variety of beers from one of the Okanagan’s best craft breweries, Copper Brewing, to guide us along the way.

Presented by: Anna Wolleben

Audience: General

Description: A Zentangle Style workshop: Using the old vinyl records you will become a clock smith: white doodles (your own design!) on black old vinyl and clock kit installed by you! Tik Toc Tik Toc!

Presented by: Kate Sidlar

Audience: General

Description: There’s an invisible squid, and plants that shun light, and a snail that pulsates with colours so bright. But these wonders in nature wouldn’t exist if complex interactions didn’t persist. All living things work together without question; if you want to learn more, sign up for this session!

Presented by: John Caspers

Audience: General

Description: What are the must haves when camping? These are the items you should have to ensure a great time when camping.

Presented by: Kathryn Truant and Certified Dental Assistant Team

Audience: General

Description: There are many products and systems advertised to whiten teeth. Backed by research, and not by brand ownership, this workshop will help dispel the myths and present the facts surrounding this multi-billion-dollar industry.

Presented by: Mystery Presenters

Audience: General

Description: Trades & Apprenticeship

Presented by: Kathy Bockhold

Audience: General

Description: Enjoy a walk through the museums of Northern Italy and discover the connection between art and anatomy by the great artists of Italy.

Presented by: Joanne Stacey

Audience: General

Description: Fast paced, fun and creative. Great for anyone who loves music and wants to learn more about songwriting. No need to play or sing to participate. We will have a great time and write a song together!

Presented by: Ryan Ebner

Audience: General

Description: A 30-minute session on how to work with files within Teams. This will included sharing files in Teams, securing Teams files, recovering missing documents or unwanted changes. Additionally, a tip or two to help with your day-to-day use.

Registration

Register for Connections on either Aug. 20 or 21 by Sunday, August 4

Connections 2021 video