Congratulations to Jessica Paterson, George Brown College
Winner of the 2020 CDAG Award of Excellence in Curriculum
Jessica’s work has made a lasting impact at George Brown College, in the CDAG community, and beyond. She is highly regarded by her colleagues and is considered an expert in the field of curriculum design and development. She is known for her patience, generosity, and supportive approach in her interactions with faculty teams and other stakeholders. As stated by one of her colleagues, Jessica is “a consummate team-player, and contributes an intellectual thoughtfulness, an attention to research and evidence-based practice, and a creative, solution-focused mindset to collaboratively address some of our biggest challenges.”
At George Brown College Jessica’s contributions range from teaching in the classroom, to curriculum and quality assurance projects, to faculty mentorship. She champions collaborative work related to student success and access and inclusion strategies. Jessica has led and mentored multiple program teams across the college in the process of comprehensive program reviews. She has developed strong relationships with multiple stakeholders across the George Brown community, which includes coaching faculty teams and supporting their work on curriculum renewal.
Jessica was integral in identifying a need for alternative formats for curriculum resources and support at George Brown College. She has developed a variety of innovative curriculum resources, in different formats, to support quality in college programs and to support faculty in their teaching and learning practices. Some examples include an online Curriculum Development module open to all faculty on the LMS, a video for curriculum design, and the creation of an Essential Employability Skills resource booklet to support faculty. She led multiple Universal Design for Learning (UDL) initiatives to support faculty understanding of inclusive principles in curriculum design, including a one-day college conference, and the creation and support of learning groups. Jessica shares and conducts research with colleagues both internal and external to George Brown College to deepen awareness and support the design of inclusive learning environments. In addition, she has supported a culture of care and compassion by leading mindfulness communities of practice for George Brown students and staff.
Jessica has made significant contributions to the CDAG community. She leads the Professional Development Committee and has organized regular Lunch and Learn sessions and other curriculum-related resources for CDAG members. Her contribution to the field of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) includes her collaborative work with peers across three Canadian provinces who formed a working group to develop a tool that considers institutional context in both determining the state, and preparing for the advancement, of SoTL in a given institution. Jessica’s work plays a transformative role at George Brown College and in the curriculum and SoTL fields by enhancing positive experiences for students, faculty and administrators as well as striving for and developing higher standards of teaching and learning.
Biography
Jessica Paterson has dedicated her career working as an Educator for the past 15 years. She has worked at both the secondary and post-secondary levels, and has been a Faculty member at George Brown College since 2010. She holds a Bachelors of Education from Queens University, and a Masters of Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. She is also currently working on a graduate certificate in Educational Technology at the University of British Columbia. Jessica is a passionate educator, who nurtures a keen interest in inclusive educational practices, and cares deeply about all members of our college community.
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