The University of Waterloo has long been a Canadian leader in distance and online education and is proud of its title as Canada’s most innovative university. By drawing on its resources and aligning its focus, Waterloo can establish itself as a leader in the evolving arena of digital teaching and learning.
The Digital Learning Strategy (DLS) is an institutional project, aligned with the University's 2020-2025 strategic plan. It was designed with the goal of developing a comprehensive framework for digital instruction and program design, including selection of digital teaching and learning tools and support for the learning experience.
Objectives of the Digital Learning Strategy Working Group
Through research and consultation with Waterloo stakeholders, the DLS working group will provide summary information, outline options for the campus community, and make recommendations to senior leadership. Topics include:
- Alignment of digital learning projects currently underway and in development across the university;
- Decision-making processes supporting a balance between operational efficiency, experimentation, and use of local solutions, where appropriate;
- Preparing for change in the way education is offered (e.g., demographic changes, availability of open educational resources);
- New delivery models and flexible learning pathways;
- Ideas for developing thoughtful and intentional strategies supporting a digital learning ecosystem.
The team will produce a public report of its findings, summarizing key takeaways and making recommendations. At various stages in its deliberations, the committee will consult with senior leadership to ensure alignment of the recommendations with the strategic direction of the University.
Work plan
In addition to an environmental scan, the team's work will primarily be driven by consultations with key university stakeholders, including but not limited to the following groups:
-
faculty
-
academic administrators including Deans and the Provost
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the Centre for Teaching Excellence, the Centre for Extended Learning, Instructional Technologies and Media Services (Information Systems and Technology), and the Library
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undergraduate and graduate students
How to get involved
If you have ideas about Waterloo’s digital learning strategy, the project team would like to hear from you. Please reach out to the most appropriate team member or contact the working group via alisa.sivak@uwaterloo.ca.
Team member |
DLS contacts |
UW position |
Contact information |
Resources |
Johanna Wandel |
Co-chair |
Associate Professor & Associate Dean, Strategic Initiatives, Geography and Environment |
jwandel@uwaterloo.ca |
|
Aldo Caputo |
Co-chair |
Director, Centre for Extended Learning |
acaputo@uwaterloo.ca |
|
Carolyn MacGregor |
Engineering |
Associate Dean, Teaching & Student Experience |
carolyn.macgregor@uwaterloo.ca |
|
James Skidmore |
Arts |
Associate Professor and Director, Waterloo Centre for German Studies |
skidmore@uwaterloo.ca |
|
Diana Skrzydlo |
Mathematics |
Teaching Fellow Continuing Lecturer Director, Master of Actuarial Science |
dkchisho@uwaterloo.ca |
Anton Mosunov, Lecturer, Math Digital Assets Group |
Peter Johnson |
Environment |
Associate Professor, Geography and Environment |
peter.johnson@uwaterloo.ca |
|
Robert Hill |
Science |
Teaching Fellow Associate Professor; Physics and Astronomy |
robhill@uwaterloo.ca |
|
Tamara Maciel |
Health |
Program Director, School of Anatomy, Kinesiology and Health Sciences |
tamara.maciel@uwaterloo.ca |
|
Stephanie Ye-Mowe | Undergraduate students | Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA) |
vped.wusa.ca |
Jill Knight Jordan Daniels |
Kevin Bonnell | Graduate student | Graduate Student Association (GSA) | kevin.bonnell@uwaterloo.ca | |
Mary Power |
Academic Support Units |
Senior Educational Developer, Faculty Programs & Blended Learning, Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE) |
mary.power@uwaterloo.ca |
|
Pam Fluttert |
Academic Support Units |
Director Instructional Technologies & Media Services, Information Systems & Technology (ITMS-IST) |
fluttert@uwaterloo.ca |
|
Victoria Chu |
Academic Support Units |
Associate University Librarian, Learning, Research and User Services, Library |
victoria.chu@uwaterloo.ca |
Mike Chee, Open Educational Resources Librarian Kari Weaver, Learning, Teaching, and Instructional Design Librarian Rachel Figueiredo, Entrepreneurship and Management Librarian |
Wendy Hague |
Project Manager |
Project Management Office, Information Systems & Technology |
whague@uwaterloo.ca |
|
Tracy Klassen-Jacobs |
Administrative Support |
Student Services Coordinator, Centre for Extended Learning |
||
Alisa Sivak | Communications | Communications Associate, Office of the Associate Vice-President, Academic | alisa.sivak@uwaterloo.ca |