UPEI’s Dr. Jason Pearson wins 2016 Brightspace Innovation Award in Teaching and Learning
Dr. Jason Pearson, associate professor of chemistry at UPEI, has been recognized with one of five 2016 Brightspace Innovation Awards in Teaching and Learning from the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE).
Dr. Pearson is a passionate scientist and educator. He has a keen interest in rethinking how science is taught at all levels and inspiring students by enabling them to make self-driven discoveries through research. His innovations include an original, customized digital textbook that “comes alive” for students with fully interactive diagrams, figures, and content. Students are able to explore complex mathematical relationships and perform chemical “experiments” directly in their textbook, which is provided as an open-source education resource, free of charge. Dr. Pearson constantly seeks to empower students to take ownership in their learning by providing ample opportunity to explore concepts independently and innovate within the laboratory environment.
“I'm honoured to be recognized by STLHE for my work with chemistry students at UPEI,” said Dr. Pearson. “Everyone here at UPEI is focussed on bringing the best possible educational experiences to our students, so it's fantastic news that we are competing nationally.”
“The Brightspace Award is an excellent indication of how Dr. Pearson's innovation in research, which is abundant, transfers to the physical and virtual classroom. His creative use of technology is a wonderful example of how research informs teaching and vice versa,” said Dr. Robert Gilmour, vice-president academic and research at UPEI.
Dr. Pearson and the rest of the 2016 cohort of Brightspace Innovation Award winners will be recognized at the 2016 STLHE Annual Conference this June in London, Ontario, and at the Brightspace Global Conference later this summer in Orlando, Florida.
STLHE strives to be the pre-eminent national voice and a world leader for enhancing teaching and learning in higher education. STLHE supports research, its dissemination, increased awareness and application of research through scholarly teaching and learning. Visit www.stlhe.ca for more information.
The University of Prince Edward Island prides itself on people, excellence, and impact and is committed to assisting students reach their full potential in both the classroom and community. With roots stemming from two founding institutions—Prince of Wales College and St. Dunstan’s University—UPEI has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. UPEI is the only degree granting institution in the province and is proud to be a key contributor to the growth and prosperity of Prince Edward Island.
