Durham College contributes to eCampusOntario’s Virtual Learning Strategy

In January 2021, eCampusOntario released its call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) in support of Ontario’s $50 million Virtual Learning Strategy (VLS). This strategy is built on three pillars:

  • Being the future: Providing quality education anytime, from anywhere
  • Being a life-long learner: Preparing learners for an evolving labour market through digital supports
  • Being a global leader: Supporting Ontario’s virtual innovation in teaching and learning

In response to this call, Durham College (DC) received funding as the lead college for 12 EOIs, valued at over $1.5 million.

The Centre for Professional and Part-Time Learning (PPL) will be creating four micro-credentials: Sales for Small Businesses, Establishing a Construction Contracting Small Business in Ontario, Managing Responsive Behaviours in Older Adults, and Corporate Training Specialization. In addition, they will be creating a French Certificate and bundling two Cybersecurity courses.

The Centre for Teaching and Learning will be working with faculty and staff in four full-time academic schools, as well as two departments, to support the creation of three simulators, two online courses, and an open education resource (OER).

From the School of Engineering and Technology, Abdelbaset Khalaf, Marko Kostic, and Richard Tidman will be designing an online Healthcare Technology Management course that will promote the planning and management of technology and explore best technical supports in healthcare. M. Minelli and Tyrel Kerpan will be creating a case management workflow simulator that will enable learners to work through the phases of a construction management project from concept to completion.

Faculty members from the School of Skilled Trades, Apprenticeships, and Renewable Technology will be designing two simulators. Gary Noorsdtra and Dennis Yacknowiec will be enhancing a Fluid Power Trainer simulator to support learning about hydraulics. Clair Cornish will enhance a Metrology Trainer simulator to support students in learning the science of measurement.

Julie Pigeon from the First Peoples Indigenous Centre and Bernard Leourx, faculty from the School of Media, Art, and Design, in partnership with OnTech University, will be enhancing the Indigenous Histories and Reconciliation course to support post-secondary institutions in fulfilling commitments in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action.

Finally, Leslie Lindstrom and Valerie Lapp, in a joint effort from the Student Academic Learning Services and the School of Interdisciplinary Studies, will be working on creating an OER focused on supporting learners with their written communication skills, including skills such as paraphrasing, summarizing, direct quotation, and citation skills.

We would like to congratulate all faculty and staff whose projects have been funded by eCampusOntario. With your innovative approaches, Durham College will be creating high quality, open-source digital content that all post-secondary institutions in Ontario can adapt and use.