Jay Wilson
Department of Curriculum Studies, College of Education, University of Saskatchewan
Jay Wilson is “a consummate educator with ridiculous levels of energy and an insatiable desire to improve himself and inspire his students to do the same.” As a teacher of educational technology, Jay is always innovating, finding ways to include authentic experiential learning and to enhance the learning environment. This includes changing the location of a video design course to rustic labs in a remote setting that might be hostile for technology, but which was perfect for organically and relentlessly focussing his students on learning. His colleague says, “He does this masterfully, and as a result, students receive a learning[...]
Jay Wilson is “a consummate educator with ridiculous levels of energy and an insatiable desire to improve himself and inspire his students to do the same.” As a teacher of educational technology, Jay is always innovating, finding ways to include authentic experiential learning and to enhance the learning environment. This includes changing the location of a video design course to rustic labs in a remote setting that might be hostile for technology, but which was perfect for organically and relentlessly focussing his students on learning. His colleague says, “He does this masterfully, and as a result, students receive a learning experience that is unique, substantial, and lasting – and just the right amount of terrifying.”
Jay has shifted his university culture by re-energizing teaching through workshops, mentoring, and “Transforming Teaching” courses. He has created new programs and supported other departments to develop programs, including a certificate in indigenous languages. As a mentor, Jay is one of those rare people who has “personal gravity”: people flock to him because, as a past student says, “You can’t teach someone how to care. They either do, or they don’t. Jay does.”