eLearning Strategies and Resources at UofT

This Spring Laurie Harrison delivered an InnovatingEdu Seminar to over 45 Faculty and Staff at the University of Toronto and affiliated hospitals.

If you are interested in learning about new online tools and technology to improve your teaching, take a moment to watch the presentation below. In it Laurie discusses principles and strategies for developing good pedagogy using online tools to support teaching. Emphasis is placed on having learning be the driver of your decisions to select a technology to integrate in your course.

Laurie also explores some of the emerging technologies being adopted at the University and provides information on the resources/resourcing available to you to get you started successfully.

This is another example of how DLI provides outreach and awareness to the University community on technology supported teaching and learning.

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Newly Funded Initiatives

eCampus Ontario News!

University of Toronto has nine collaborative project proposals that have been approved for the 2016 round of the MTCU-funded provincial Shared Online Course fund. Each of the following will receive between $40,000 ~ 60,000 with a deadline of Sept 2016 for completion of development.

Online Courses  
Introduction to History and Philosophy of Science Hakob Barseghyan – FAS
Introduction to Medical Microbiology William Navarre – FAS
Introduction to Economics for Non-Specialists Avi Cohen
Gillian Hamilton – FAS
Introduction to Classical Tibetan Frances Garrett – FAS
Learning Modules  
Virtual patient case-based learning modules Marcus Law – Med. Sci.
Basic Physics Skills – Newtonian Mechanics Johann Bayer – UTSC
Indigenous Education Resources Jean-Paul Restoule – OISE
Project Management Essentials Arash Shahi
Brenda McCabe – FASE
Principles of Engineering Drawings Arash Shahi
Brenda McCabe – FASE
Understanding Statistics – From concepts through visuals to data and back again Douglas Bors – UTSC

Each module will consist of a set of shared curriculum resources that can be re-used in multiple courses or across different institutions. Our previously funded modules can be found on the Open UToronto website.

Programming in C Screen Shot 2016-02-24 at 4.58.48 PM

In order to support successful design and development we held a Module Design Workshop Day for each of the lead instructors and their teams on Tuesday. Feb 16. The goals of the day include:

  • Introduce pedagogical underpinnings that inform design of active learning
  • Provide guided process for instructional design that incorporates online components and active learning strategies
  • Introduce media design strategies including video and learning object (e.g. Storyline-type) development
  • Orient participants to resources and supports available to implement online learning/module components in courses.

We are following up with additional webinars on key topics such as accessibility and content packaging strategies.

UofT’s success in securing funding for 9 new projects will allow us to continue to participate in the shaping of the broader provincial Online Learning landscape.

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MOOCapalooza Videos!

As part of our ongoing exploration of the potential of Massive Open Online Courses, Digital Learning Innovation in conjunction with the Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation recently held a community event,  MOOCapalooza: Purposes and Potential of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs).

In recent years, MOOCs have emerged as a new and potentially game-changing catalyst in the field of online learning. They also present institutions of higher education with unique forums in which to explore innovative new teaching techniques and technologies.

The MOOCapolooza offered the community an opportunity to catch up on the latest in UofTs MOOC engagement. Participants found out how MOOCs can act as ‘sandboxes’ for pedagogical innovation, provide new research insights on teaching and learning, and serve as effective outreach tools.

As an acknowledgement to the interest we received from the event we interviewed each of our presenters to follow up on some of the main themes and take-aways from their work in the MOOC sphere. We are pleased to share these resources on our Open UToronto page.

Visit the video resources directly and when you’re done, take some time to read about our continuing MOOC initiatives.


Moocalapooza banner

[ Watch Interview Video Clips ]

“Our goal within the MOOC context has been to support faculty on their paths of exploration and to create opportunities whereby assumptions regarding teaching and learning could be challenged.”

Carol Rolheiser, Director – Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation

“The MOOCapalooza provided the space for our instructors and research community to share what they have learned, and also what new questions have emerged regarding the potential of online learning strategies.”

Susan McCahan, Vice Provost – Innovations in Undergraduate Education

 

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