Vivian Forssman’s senior-level operational and project management experience is currently focused on applying learning strategies, learning networks and practitioner communities to foster climate change capacity-building and workforce development.
Her professional background includes leading post-secondary teaching-and-learning centres, implementing digital learning and communications strategies, and collaborating on innovative models for learning accreditation.
She currently works with Dr. Robin Cox, Resilience by Design Lab at RRU. Recent efforts have been focused on program management of Adaptation Learning Network involving several BC universities; climate adaptation micro-credential strategies; and co-developing a climate adaptation competency framework to support skills development for individuals and organizations in a climate-changed reality.
Experience
Vivian is operational lead for several climate literacy and capacity-building initiatives, working with Dr. Cox, director of Resilience by Design Lab at RRU and with project partners such as Natural Resources Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Climate Risk Institute and Academy for Sustainable Innovation.
She is focused on “planting the seeds” of climate action through continuing education, professional training programs, and community engagement.
Vivian's experience prior to 2018 is on her LinkedIn profile.
Education
2004-2008
ABD Doctoral Studies
School of Interactive Arts & Technology, Simon Fraser University
1981
MBA
Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town
Research
Research interest
Applied research - climate action workforce development
Publications
Coulter, L., Cox, R. S., Forssman, V., & Brooke, R. (2022). Challenge Dialogue Progress Report: Exploring Natural Asset Management Capacities and Practices in Canada. Resilience by Design Lab. Victoria BC.
Cox, R.S;. Forssman, V., & Withers, D. (2022). Adaptation Learning Network Final Report. Retrieved from https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/adaptationlearningnetworkfinal/.
Cox, R.; & Forssman, V. (2021). The Climate Adaptation Competency Framework. Retrieved from Competencies | Inspiring Climate Action (can-adapt.ca)
Donovan, T., Johnson, N., & Forssman, V. (2020). Online Post-Secondary Education in Canada: Results of the 2019 National Online and Digital Learning Survey in Brown, M., Nic Giolla Mhichil, M., Beirne, E., & Costello, E. (eds.) (2020). Proceedings of the 2019 ICDE World Conference on Online Learning, Volume 2, Dublin City University, Dublin. http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3804256
Donovan, T., Bates, T., Seaman, J., Mayer, D., Martel, E., Paul, R., Desbiens, B., Forssman, V., & Poulin, R. (2019). Tracking online and distance education in Canadian universities and colleges: 2018. Canadian Digital Learning Research Association.
https://onlinelearningsurveycanada.ca/publications-2018/
Harris, B., Walinga, J., Childs, E., Raby, J., Takach, G., Jorgensen, F., & Forssman, V. (2019). Cultivating change leaders for a better world: learning teaching and research model. Retrieved from https://ctet.royalroads.ca/sites/default/files/pages/ltrm_fullreferenceguide_webcompressed.pdf (accessed 15 October 2020)
Forssman, V., & Wolf, P. (2018). Advancing an Educational Technology Shared Services Strategy for Ontario
Paskevicius, M., & Forssman, V. (2017, March). The Role of Educational Developers in Supporting Open Educational Practices. Open Education Global Conference, Cape Town, South Africa. https://www.slideshare.net/mpaskevi/global-open-education-graduate-network-research-presentation-cape-town-south-africa-2017
Forssman, V. et al (2016). NMC Horizon Report: 2016 Higher Education Edition Expert Panel.
Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/28050435/Horizon_Report_2016_Higher_Education_Edition
Forssman, V. et al (2015). NMC Horizon Report: 2015 Higher Education Edition Expert Panel.
Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/13069912/NMC_Horizon_Report
Grundy, S., Hamilton, D., Veletsianos, G, Agger-Gupta, N., Márquez, P., Forssman, V. & Legault, M. (2015). Engaging Students in Life-Changing Learning: Royal Roads University’s Learning and Teaching Model in Practice, Pressbooks
Carter, L.M., Salyers, V., Myers, S., Hipfner, C., Hoffart, C., MacLean, C., White, K., Matus, T., Forssman, V., & Barrett, P. (2014). Qualitative Insights from a Canadian Multi-institutional Research Study: In Search of Meaningful E-learning, The Canadian Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning: Vol. 5: Iss. 1, Article 10. Available at: http://ir.lib.uwo.ca/cjsotl_rcacea/vol5/iss1/10
Forssman, V. (2014). How the Digital Skills Gap is Failing Higher Education and How to Close It. Keynote White Paper from the 2014 DET/CHE Conference. Retrieved from https://education.uncc.edu/sites/education.uncc.edu/files/media/strategic-plan/GrovoHigherEd-SkillsGap-whitepaper.pdf
Forssman, V. (2012). Making a Difference One Student and One Professor at a Time: Spencer’s Story (video recording.) Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXGNNRAF7og
Beers, M., Forssman, V., & Fuller, T, (2006). Fostering and Supporting an Institute-wide Culture of Innovation, Educause Learning Initiative. Retrieved from http://www.educause.edu/eli/events/eli-annual-meeting/2006/grassroots-projects-fostering-and-supporting-institute-wide-culture-innovation
Beers, M., Forssman, V., & Golding, C. (2005). BCIT's Technology-enabled Knowledge (TEK) Initiative: New models for learning and teaching drive organizational change, British Columbia Institute of Technology, Canada (AACE E-Learn 2005 Vancouver)
Retrieved from https://www.gbv.de/dms/tib-ub-hannover/50749976X.pdf
Forssman, V. & Willinsky, J. (2000). A Tale of Two Cultures and a Technology, in Catherine Cornbleth (Ed.), Curriculum Politics Policy: Cases in Context. Albany, NY: SUNY.
Wolfson, L., Willinsky, J., & Forssman, V. (1998). What Are They Learning with Technology? The Situated Learning of Collaborative and Service Work with Information Technology Management, ED-MEDIA/ED-TELECOM 98 World Conference on Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia World Conference on Educational Telecommunications. Proceedings (10th, Freiburg, Germany, June 20-25, 1998). Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED428646.pdf