OPUS: Open Ulethbridge Scholarship
Open ULeth Scholarship (OPUS) is the University of Lethbridge's open access research repository. It contains a collection of materials related to research and teaching produced by the academic community.
Self-archiving your research in OPUS is one way to meet Open Access policies of granting agencies. It is important to retain your final, post-peer-reviewed drafts for submission to OPUS, as this is often the only version publishers will allow to be archived. Click here for information on the U of L Open Access Policy.
Check here for more information about OPUS.
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Communities in OPUS
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Recent Submissions
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Hands-on-ground in a new country: a community-based participatory evaluation with immigrant communities in southern Alberta
(Sage, 2023) Charles-Rodriguez, Ulises; Aborawi, Aiat; Khatiwada, Kamal; Shahi, Ashmita; Koso, Silvia; Prociw, Savanna; Sanford, Christa; Larouche, Richard
Immigrants experience a high risk of mental health deterioration following settlement in Canada. Immigrant communities benefit from health-promoting interventions that stimulate social inclusion and belonging as protective factors. In this context, community gardens have been recognized as interventions that promote healthy behaviours, place attachment and belonging.
This article summarizes our experience conducting a community-based participatory evaluation (CBPE), engaging community stakeholders in planning, implementing and evaluating a community garden for immigrants. We conducted a CBPE to provide relevant and timely feedback to inform programme adaptation and development. Participants, interpreters and organizers were engaged through surveys, focus groups and semi-structured interviews. Participants expressed a range of motivations, benefits, challenges and recommendations. The garden was a place that fostered learning and promoted healthy behaviours, including physical activity and socialization. However, there were challenges in organization and communication with participants. Findings were used to adapt the activities to immigrants’ needs and expand the programming of collaborating organizations. Stakeholder engagement facilitated capacity building and direct use of findings. This approach may catalyse sustainable community action with immigrant communities.
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HyFlex teaching: steps for a successful experience
(University of Lethbridge. Teaching Centre, 2024) Shapiro, Sidney
HyFlex teaching has become increasingly popular in online and hybrid learning. The author explores HyFlex course delivery in this article and provides practical steps for faculty to create an enjoyable teaching and student experience. It includes suggestions on delegating responsibilities, setting clear policies, and working in advance to clarify terms, meanings and deadlines. The author also discusses student participation, instructor expectations, and how to engage students while delivering hybrid and flexible courses. HyFlex courses require ongoing reflections, evaluation, and improvement of the HyFlex teaching and course delivery model.
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Exploring the impact of generative AI on education: opportunities, challenges, and ethical considerations
(University of Lethbridge. Teaching Centre, 2024) Shapiro, Sidney
This paper examines the role of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in higher education, highlighting its potential uses, obstacles, and ethical considerations. The paper introduces generative AI technology, its functions, and the importance of quality management in AI models for educational purposes. The article discusses AI's roles in facilitating learning, promoting collaboration, and offering personalized tutoring. It also delves into the effects of AI on teaching, emphasizing personalized teaching methods, student feedback, and challenges faced by educators.
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HyFlex course design and teaching strategies
(ecampus Ontario, 2022) Barclay, Angela; Ceccolini, Krista; Clarke, Kathleen; Domonchuk, Nicole; Shapiro, Sidney; Singh, Jupsimar; Young, Mel; Hayman, Jenni
HyFlex Course Design and Teaching Strategies is intended as an introductory resource for faculty engaging in HyFlex teaching and learning.
It includes four modules to help faculty with HyFlex course development and assessment design, lesson planning, content curation/creation, engaging students in multiple modalities, and evaluating the effectiveness of HyFlex courses.
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Crystal structures of CuCl2·2H2O (Eriochalcite) and NiCl2∙6H2O (Nickelbischofite) at low temperature: full refinement of hydrogen atoms using non-spherical atomic scattering factors
(MDPI, 2023) Boeré, René
New structure determinations of CuCl2∙2H2O and NiCl2∙6H2O are reported from 100 K X-ray diffraction experiments using both Mo Kα and Cu Kα radiation. Combined density functional theory (ORCA) and non-spherical atomic scattering factor (NoSpherA2) computations enabled Hirshfeld atom refinements (HAR) using custom atom scattering factors based on accurately polarized atom electron densities. The water hydrogen atoms could be positionally refined resulting in distinctly longer O–H bond lengths than those reported from previous X-ray diffraction experiments, but in good agreement with legacy neutron diffraction studies. Anisotropic displacement factors were employed, for the first time in these compounds by any technique. The outcomes from using the different X-ray sources with this new HAR method are compared, and the precision of the H-atom refinements evaluated where possible.