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CAREG Research Grant – Funded by IDRC

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At a time of substantial change and ubiquitous access to information, educators struggle to change even the most basic aspects of their classroom practice.  This is especially true for those in challenging contexts where many continue to teach through the “mind numbing” practice of rote instruction.  As other sectors seem to adopt innovative practices and embrace change, teachers typically teach in the ways in which they themselves were taught.  As Dewey noted “If we teach today’s students as we taught yesterday’s, we rob our children of tomorrow.”

We acknowledge teachers in challenging contexts face even a more daunting task.We define challenging contexts as settings in which individuals, due to a variety of circumstances, conditions or environmental constraints, do not have access to one of more aspects that underpin a civil society.

We request funds to support an academic partnership through the development of Innovative Learning Centres (ILC).  The purpose of the ILC is to (1) imagine the future of education, (2) foster new forms of literacy critical for the knowledge age, (3) to leapfrog pedagogy in imaginative, appropriate and sustainable ways by harnessing both indigenous ways of knowing and linguistic and scientific literacy to develop learners’ multiple literacies, and (4) use locally developed scientific and mathematical content as a basis for developing early years multiliteracy competence. The ILC will bring academics, educators, and industry together to imagine and create innovative pedagogical practices, using appropriate technologies in a design based, research informed, studio based learning environment.  The ILC will help educators leapfrog existing paradigms constraining innovative practice.  Leapfrogging, in the context of sustainable development, is a term used to describe the accelerated development of an intervention by “leaping over” conventional approaches and/or technologies and moving directly to a more appropriate, and often more advanced one.  An often-cited example is found when regions skip over the installation of landline telephony and move directly to mobile phone connectivity, leapfrogging the lack of phone access by embracing the newer, more appropriate mobile phone solution.

Vancouver Foundation – LOI

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Title: The Innovative Learning Centre- technology enhanced learning

Introduction to your organization:

The Faculty of Education at UBC’s Okanagan campus fosters academic excellence and life-long personal growth through the pursuits of learning and teaching. Our program integrates exceptional teacher educators with innovative research and modern technology. Our intent is to inform educational thought, practice and policy and to continually engage in transformational learning opportunities.

Statement of the issues that this project will address:

In our global economy, employers seek a workforce of problem solvers, innovators, and inventors who are self-reliant and have the ability to think creatively and logically.  These attributes are critical foundations for educators and students in order to foster innovative capacity.   Enhancing Math literacy is one example that supports these attributes. The BC Ministry of Education and educators recognize the importance of Math skills in the 21st century economy and have identified Math literacy as crucial for students’ academic and personal success. However, educators continue to struggle to find appropriate resources, training opportunities and access to relevant technologies that support the needs of learners. The current Math curriculum lacks adequate examples of excellence in technology integration that support the development of creative skills and a love of the subject matter.

Exploring possibilities at the ILC:

The Faculty of Education is committed to working with industry, educators and students to find creative ways to integrate technology into learning.   The Innovative Learning Centre (ILC) in the Faculty of Education will be interactive, engaging developmental space at the intersection of research and practice for both real and virtual environments and will empower all parties to think differently about how learning takes place.  The inclusive design will encourage companies in the technology sector to work more effectively with academic partners and imagine and create software, tools, and resources to keep British Columbia on the cutting edge of educational innovation.

For the past 10 months the Director of the ILC has been working with educators, researchers, software designers and technology companies to explore how advanced technology can transform education, especially Math.  Questions guiding the research and collaboration within the ILC include:

  • In what ways can advances in technology increase student engagement?
  • In what ways can innovative technology enhance students’ ability to problem-solve, reason and analyse information?
  • In what ways will technology innovation shape educational practice and professional growth?
  • How will teaching and learning evolve within a student-focused learning environment?

Concise description of activities to be undertaken:

Through the ILC, this pilot project will design and test interactive, web-based Math modules, applets, and apps to enhance Math literacy. The objective of the ILC and its collaborators is to build joyfulness and competence into learning and to stimulate student engagement.  The team believes this can be accomplished by incorporating real world examples into course content and by making learning visual and interactive.  The project will also seek to provide students with the tools to think in creative and innovative ways.  Further, it seeks to develop self-assessment skills and personal motivation and agency.  Longer term, the ILC and its partners will be encouraged to work together to create quality creative content in all subjects to help build teachers’ and students’ skills for a global economy.

The Director of the ILC will oversee the coordination of the project and will be responsible to ensure that expertise is provided throughout the life of the project.  The initial phase will have a research associate working directly with regional Math educators and UBC O faculty to design course content in partnership with local companies, creating highly visual and interactive engaging content that leverages cutting edge technologies.

Supported by researchers from the ILC, teachers will test the modules in the classrooms in Kelowna, Vernon and Nelson.   Feedback from the research and input from instructional designers will inform the design and redesign to ensure the end products meet and exceed both Ministry of Education expectations and the demands of 21st century educators and their students.  The goal of the project is to foster excellence in pedagogy through technology enhancements.

Expected Outcomes:

Initially, the outcomes from this project will provide educators with resources to enhance Math literacy in classrooms and provide practical tools to incorporate technology into curriculum development and delivery.   This project will (1) create a learning environment to support professional growth for educators, (2) engage students with innovative content and technology, and (3) keep British Columbia on the cutting edge of educational innovation.