Focus: A deeper dive on technology-enabled learning
Waterloo’s strategic plan makes a direct commitment to advance technology-enabled learning. A working group was formed in 2022 to inform the development of a digital learning strategy. Waterloo has been a leader in digital learning, but the concept of technology-enabled learning is evolving, and Waterloo’s approach is evolving with it.
Today, opportunities for using technology in learning are more available than ever, in part because remote learning during the pandemic created more exposure to online learning. The emerging approach makes use of technology to improve student experience by offering many of the advantages of online learning (the ability to work at their own pace, wathing lectures more than once to review material). This allows in-person components to focus on more interactive activities like problem solving or discussion. Technology also offers new possibilities for the University to reach mid-career professionals who are not interested or able to take on-campus courses, create joint courses and programs with other universities, and offers more opportunities for international students.
While good work in this area is happening across campus, sometimes it is occurring in siloes. The new Digital Learning Strategy coming in late 2022 will provide an umbrella for coordinating these activities, limiting inefficiency and duplication, while still allowing for creativity afforded by local experimentation.
Jump to: DT Goal 1 | Developing Talent Goals