BU CARES Priority Research Area
Educational Technology & Digital Innovation
Educational Technology describes the pedagogy of using technology, such as educational tools, computers, and media, to facilitate classroom knowledge communication and learning. It involves systematically designing, implementing, and evaluating the use of technology for learning. Many researchers, administrators, policymakers and teachers view Educational Technology as an important tool to help students develop skills critical for success in knowledge-based economies, such as higher-order thinking skills and independent self-learning.
Technologically advanced teachers use communication technologies to connect with other educators globally, creating wide professional learning networks for sharing ideas and classroom uses of educational technology. A connected teacher leverages educational technology tools to improve student engagement and shift knowledge acquisition in classrooms to learner-centred approaches. Research in this area is important for various stakeholders in education as communication and learning technologies become increasingly ingrained in our daily lives.
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Virtual Reality and Indigenous Education
Currently, BU CARES is partnered with Myera Group, Rural Development Institute, and BU's Mini University (Mini U), exploring how educators can use VR to increase engagement with traditional Indigenous knowledges.
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Using Zoom for Community-Based Research
During the pandemic, many research projects shifted to online methodologies. But doing so means that some people may be left out of the process. We are exploring who may be left behind, and what supports and resources work to ensure access and inclusion.
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Digital Realities in Rural School Divisions
Funded by Tech Manitoba, This project detailed the digital policies, infrastructure, and procedures that were in place before and during the Covid-19 pandemic. We found that smaller divisions, those with local control, and those that had pre-existing investments in technology and training were able to be more adaptable and responsive during the pandemic. We found that policies that were written with worst-case tech scenarios in mind were more limiting, while others allowed for a focus on positive behaviours and student learning. Finally, we found large inequities around digital access and use based on geography and other factors.
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The Westman Consortia Partnership (WCP) is a coalition of seven school divisions in western Manitoba, who joined together during the COVID-19 pandemic to deliver remote learning to students who were medically advised not to return to in-class learning in the 2020/2021 school year. The objective of this research was to identify effective approaches for delivering remote learning to students in the Westman region of Manitoba. The research question was: What beliefs, practices and strategies are critical to remote rural learning?