Putting people at the core of everything we do is paramount at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). We are committed to ensuring our people—those who make BCIT distinct—are developing while feeling valued, supported, and connected.
BCIT is a people-first organization. We aim to celebrate our employees by sharing their stories through the Our People series. The series features BCIT’s extraordinary employees who share a strong sense of pride and ambition for the Institute and make up our diverse community.
Get to know Erika Ram, Specialized Faculty, Computing department in School of Computing and Academic Studies. Erika has been working at BCIT for eight years. In addition to her role at BCIT, she is also an Instructor and Chair of the Education Council (EdCo) Educational Technology and Learning Design Committee allows. Across these roles, Erika leads initiatives that integrate pedagogy with emerging technologies to enhance teaching and learning at BCIT.
On June 4, Erika will facilitate two workshops focused on navigating education in an AI-influenced world, as part of BCIT’s Professional Development (PD) Day for employees. PD Day is a celebration of learning and connection, offering a series of engaging sessions throughout the day. Programming will focus on four key areas—education, work, wellbeing, and technology—to foster a dynamic culture of growth, collaboration, and shared learning.
Can you give us a preview of what you’ll be presenting at 2025 BCIT PD Day?
I’ll be facilitating two interactive workshops and participating in the Academic Integrity Panel discussion, each centered-on navigating education in an AI-influenced world. My first session, Teaching Human-Centered Skills, explores practical ways educators can help students strengthen uniquely human qualities like critical thinking, collaboration, and metacognition. My second workshop, From Grades to Growth, invites participants to reimagine assessment practices by focusing on student learning, reflection, and intrinsic motivation rather than scores alone.
What do you hope attendees will take away from your session?
I hope attendees leave with a fresh perspective on their course design and feel inspired to try something new.
What inspires you most about working at BCIT?
Watching students (and colleagues) come up with an idea, supporting them to build it and see it come to life. I want my students to believe they have the tools to solve complex problems, to improve their lives, and the lives of those around them.
What’s one fun or unexpected thing about you that your colleagues may not know about?
I love building things and always seem to have a new summer project. A couple of years ago I converted a classic Chevy van into a camper, and most recently, I’ve been getting into leatherwork.
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