The University of Toronto has received approximately $1.8M through a new Virtual Learning Strategy (VLS) funding program, targeting improved access and innovation to digital resources for Ontario students. The initiative represents a $50 million investment by the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities intended to expand and enrich learning through development of online course content, modules and open textbooks.
As we have learned during the past year, U of T has the capacity to respond to emergent needs for digital resources to address curricular activities across the disciplines. Through the VLS program additional rich learning content will be available to our own students, as well as those at other institutions across the province and beyond. The content created through his program will be shared via the eCampusOntario Library platform in February 2022, allowing others to benefit through re-use and adaptation of the resources created by our lead instructors and their collaborators.
Projects funded by the VLS program are as follows:
| Project Lead | Project Title | Department |
| Frances Garrett | Teaching for Student Flourishing | Study of Religion, FAS |
| Jessica Slomka | Matter in Motion: A transdisciplinary course exploring physical processes | Chemical and Physical Sciences, UTM
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| John Hannah | Supporting Academic Resilience for International Students | Division of Student Life
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| Jessica Slomka | Virtual Earth: Technology-based Earth Sciences Lab Series | Chemical and Physical Sciences, UTM
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| Greg Evans | Customizable Lab Simulations for Chemistry, Environment, and Engineering | Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, FASE
|
| Cindy Woodland, Derek Ng, Stavroula Andreopoulos | A Multimedia Approach to Understanding Drug Interactions | Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacology and Toxicology and Biochemistry; Dept. of Biology, UTM
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| Kim Mackinnon | Designing for Meaningful Synchronous and Asynchronous Discussion in Online Courses | Ontario Institute for Studies in Education |
| Kathy Trip, Jean Wilson | Simulation of Gynecological Examinations | Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing
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| Michal Kasprzak,Cristina D’Amico | Developing Your Teaching Dossier: A Series of Four OER Asynchronous Online Modules | Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation |
| Bill Ju, Franco Taverna | Building a common undergraduate Neuroscience OER for broad use across the Ontario curriculum | Human Biology, FAS |
| Erin Styles, Johanna Carroll | Introductory Coding for Genomics – An Asynchronous Online Course for Life Science Student | Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine |
| Yuchong Li, Andreas Hilfinger | Developing Stay-at-Home Experiment Modules for Introductory Physics Courses | Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences, UTM |
| David Kwasny, Krystle Phirangee | Digital Learning Producers Online Training | UTSC Library; Centre for Teaching & Learning, UTSC |
| Jim Hewitt, Clare Brett | An Introduction to Effective Online Teaching for Elementary and Secondary Instructors | Ontario Institute for Studies in Education |
| Nick Eyles | A country on the move: Canada’s changing landscapes | Department of Physical and Environmental Science, UTSC |
| Erika Loney; Nadia Rosemond; Edward Al Hearn | Bilingual Student Preparation Modules for Experiential Learning (French and English) | Office of Student Experience & Wellbeing, UTSC; Centre for Teaching & Learning, UTSC |
| Shafique Virani | Islam and Muslim Civilizations Online | Historical Studies, UTM |
| Aleksandra Bjelajac Mejia | Virtual Immersive Simulations to Promote Practice Readiness to Full Scope for Pharmacy and Pharmacy Technician Students: A Collaborative Approach | Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy |
| Tom Coyle | Modules to support online delivery of advanced ceramic course | Department of Materials Science and Engineering, FASE |
| Judi Laprade | Creating a digital library of 3D scanned human-anatomical prosections for allied health science education | Division of Anatomy, Department of Surgery |
| Alexandra Motut, Essyn Emurla | Teamwork Skills for Undergraduates by Rotman Commerce Centre for Professional Skills (RC-CPS) | Rotman School of Management/Rotman Commerce |
| Laura Dempster | Preparing Tomorrow’s Clinician’s with TeleOralHealth | Faculty of Dentistry |
| Fiona Rawle | Arrival Activities for Student Engagement – an Open Educational Resource | Dept of Biology, UTM |
| Vivienne Luk | The Language of Forensics | Forensic Science Program, UTM |
| Debora Rios | THE CREATION AND INTEGRATION OF A DIGITAL ONTARIO GEOLOGICAL/PETROGRAPHIC ATLAS IN ENHANCING TEACHING MINERALOGY AND PETROLOGY ONLINE | Department of Physical and Chemical Sciences, UTM
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| Fiona Rawle | Humanizing Online Teaching and Learning: An Instructor Guide and Training Module | Dept of Biology, UTM |
| Karen Smith, Oya Mercan | Engineering in a Changing Climate – A Transdisciplinary Workshop Series for Engineering and Climate Science Students | Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences UTSC |
| Stella Ng, Nicole Woods | Advancing the CACE Homecare Curriculum | Speech-Language Pathology; Dept of Family and Community Medicine |
| Essyn Emurla, Alexandra Motut | Effective Virtual Communication and Presentations by Rotman Commerce Centre for Professional Skills | Rotman School of Management/Rotman Commerce |
| Jon French | IP Education Program Level 1 – Patenting Strategies | UofT Entrepreneurship, VPRI |
| Jon French | IP Education Program – Level 2 – Patenting Strategies | UofT Entrepreneurship, VPRI |
| Helen Tran | STEM Education <> Design Thinking | Chemistry, FAS |
For more information on support for VLS projects contact digital.learning@utoronto.ca.