National Occupation / Competency Standards

Roger Soucy
President, Petroleum Services Association of Canada

“Standing Stones was instrumental in aiding our industry develop occupational standards [over 30 occupations].

Their knowledge of competencies and ability to work with all levels of industry representatives led to an effective, efficient, and successful process.”

Post-Secondary Education Vision and Strategy

Dr. Sharon Carry
President & CEO, Bow Valley College

“Bow Valley College has engaged Standing Stones Consulting Ltd. on a number of occasions, the most recent being to conduct a Space Utilization Study for the College. The approach taken by Alec Stephen and Alan Stephen, principals of Standing Stones, was professional, thorough, and comprehensive.

Through the data collection phase they developed a high level of confidence with various stakeholder groups within the College, utilizing focus groups, electronic surveys, a literature review, and one on one meetings with individuals and small groups.

Because of the process used and the thoroughness of the report submitted, the College has much confidence in acting upon the recommendations.

We would not hesitate to engage Standing Stones for projects in the future.”

Program Evaluation and Improvement

Rob Beamish
Director, Concept to Capital Program (an Entrepreneurship Program), Calgary Technologies Inc.

“Standing Stones provided us with a highly effective and efficient process for gathering valuable information from five different stakeholder groups.

Through Standing Stones' efforts, we were able to gain a much clearer view of what our clients really wanted which translated into immediate and substantial program improvements.”

Student Services Innovation

Lucelle Prindle
Administrator, Centre for Teaching and Learning, Lethbridge College

“Lethbridge College contracted Standing Stones to create a conceptual model of electronic student support and a plan for the development and requirements of the model.

The student support model (SNACS - Student Needs And Community Support) they designed was a highly innovative, creative model that was within our college's capability to implement.

Since the catalyst provided by Standing Stones, we are entering an implementation phase, but we all remember that it was the vision that Standing Stones created that took Lethbridge College to this point.”

Provincial eLearning Vision and Strategy

Dr. Lyle Oberg
Minister of Learning, The Government of Alberta

From a Government Press Release:

“eCampus Alberta is a milestone for our learning system.

Creativity, innovation and collaboration continue to be essential in building a world-class learning system, and we’re pleased to support this initiative.”

Provincial eLearning Vision and Strategy

Dr. Sharon Carry
President & CEO, Bow Valley College

“Standing Stones completed a report on Business Models for Distributed Learning that has become the foundation of further action by the Colleges and Technical Institutes in the Province of Alberta.

Standing Stones also assisted Bow Valley College in the development of its business plan for eLearning.“

Award-Winning Student Services Innovation

Canadian Network for Innovation in Education
2005 Award of Excellence & Innovation in Student Services
“Building Student Relationships, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology”

Using a model designed by Alan to structure student services, SAIT won the 2005 Canadian Network for Innovation in Education (CNIE) Award of Excellence and Innovation in Student Services.

On Alan’s Research and Report Writing

Dr. Anne Forster
Director, Innovation & Technology in Education, University of Sydney  &
President, Open and Distance Learning Association of Australia

“This report is one of the best I have come across. Cheers.”

On Alan’s Research and Report Writing

Roger Grant
President, Identicor

“Lucid. Clear. Flowing. Insightful with a clear understanding of the audience that will read it.”

On Alan’s Research and Report Writing

Dr. Anthony Dean
”Australian Universities in the Information Economy: Electronic Commerce and the Business of Distance Education” Thesis submitted for Doctor of Philosophy, Faculty of Informatics, University of Wollongong, 2004.

“Among the literature to be discussed in this chapter is a much-cited reported by Standing Stones Consulting firm in Canada produced for the Council of Presidents of the Public Universities, Colleges and Institutes of Alberta.”

On Alan’s Consulting and Engagement with Clients and Stakeholders

Various Client Statements

• “These guys are different. They really listened to us.”

• “Fantastic company! Easy to communicate to, excellent information and easy to understand.”

• “I am absolutely pleased with these consultants and I work with a lot of consultants. The process has been efficient and timely. The correspondence back and forth has been very good. It has been a very good experience.”

• “Standing Stones Makes you look at business problems like no one else. That’s a good thing.”

A Boss’s View on Alan’s Teaching Practice (while earning his PhD, Alan was Twice Nominated for the University of Calgary’s Graduate Assistant Teaching Award)

Dr. Brent Davis
Professor, Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary

On Mastery Learning…

“The principle behind this process, popularly known in the Education literature as "mastery learning," is that it makes little sense to drill deeper into new concepts until adequate preliminary understandings of those concepts are evident.

In this regard, Mr. Stephen repeatedly demonstrated himself a master teacher while working with individuals and small groups - usually by homing in on troubling issues or identifying key misinterpretations, and occasionally by simply offering a compassionate ear.

To my observation (and as attested in the students' letters of support), he always had the time to chat, never kept a student waiting, never rushed a response, and ensured deep understanding of situations before acting. Without question, this attitude helped to sponsor a rich sense of community, despite the size and imposed structure of the class.”

On Alan’s Nomination…

“As I review Mr. Stephen's written contributions to this nomination package, it strikes me that none of their contents comes as a surprise. Across his statements on general philosophy and specific practices, I see evidence of attitudes and convictions that would compel him to speak up when something bears mention, to act when something needs doing, and to innovate when something can be improved. Phrased differently, I believe that Mr. Stephen embodies the attitude of a critically reflective practitioner. It isn't something he does. It's something he is.

For these reasons, as I mentioned at the opening, it is an honor and pleasure to participate in this nomination. I have taught more than 20 large-section courses over the past decade, and in the process I have worked with several dozen excellent graduate teaching assistants. Many have merited teaching awards, but Mr. Stephen is the first I have felt obligated to nominate for the exceptional assistance provided to the course and the outstanding support provided to students. I count myself more than fortunate for the opportunity to have worked together.”

A Boss’s View on Alan’s Work as Manager of the Centre for Distance Education

Dr. Doug Scotney
Vice President Academic, Lethbridge College

“In addition to gaining a knowledge of policies of and procedures for the Centre, Alan has adapted very well to the College environment, gaining support and cooperation from the academic staff, working effectively with the staff in the Centre, and contributing in a positive way to the development and integration of technology in an educational setting in support of the teaching-learning process.

Alan is committed, energetic and enthusiastic, willing to accept a challenge. He has demonstrated that he works positively in a team environment and is prepared to share in work load and responsibilities associated with projects in which he is involved.

I have no hesitation in recommending Alan for any position that requires a knowledge of computers and their application to education”

A Boss’s View on Alan’s Work as State Network Pilot Lead

Dr. Juliet Merrifield
Director, Center for Literacy Studies, College of Education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

“I have only the highest praise to give him as a colleague and co-worker.

Alan is intelligent, grasps complex issues and thinks strategically about processes and tasks. He is a quick study, who was able within a very short time frame to become familiar with the issues and players in the field of adult literacy.

Alan was a pleasure to work with, conscientious and hard working. I am only sorry he is no longer with us. I feel that he would be an asset in any workplace.”

A Boss’s View on Alan’s Work as State Network Pilot Lead

Brenda S Bell
Manager, Center for Literacy Studies, College of Education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

“I am pleased to recommend Alan Stephen to you.

Alan helped with the start-up of the Tennessee Literacy Resource Center, one of the new national network of federally funded state resource centers, which is housed at the Center for Literacy Studies. In addition to providing assistance with overall program development for the Resource Center, Alan had primary responsibility for development and start-up of an electronic communications research and demonstration project. This project, which links twenty adult education programs across the state by online communication, is designed to provide the Resource Center with the basis for implementing a state-wide computer communications system for adult education programs.

Among Alan's strengths are an ability to conceptualize and plan projects, a willingness to tackle varying assignments, a conscientious commitment to his work and that of his coworkers, and an ability to get along with widely differing types of people. His sense of humor, intellect and thoughtfulness contributed to the effectiveness of our organization.”

A Boss’s View on Alan’s Work as Program Co-ordinator in Science and Technology

Julie C. Lockhart
Program Director, Science and Technology, Faculty of Continuing Education, Mount Royal University

“One of his great strengths was his ability to interact in a very positive manner with students, instructors and co-workers regardless of their age, background or situational perspective.

The Coordinator position requires an ability to deal with overlapping timelines and an extremely busy daily work schedule. Alan could be trusted not only to complete his regular tasks, but to deal with unexpected situations and to do so with equanimity and humour. Indeed, Alan’s wonderful humour has been greatly missed by faculty members since he has left the Faculty.

In conclusion, I greatly value Alan Stephen’s personal integrity, and am glad to have had the opportunity to work with him. I recommend him highly.”