THUNDER BAY — Lakehead University has received three-quarters of a million dollars through the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities Virtual Learning Strategy.
The university will use the money in a variety of ways to accelerate its online and hybrid learning programs.
Lakehead's Teaching Commons gets $330,000 to hire two instructional designers, a media designer/developer and learner technology support positions on both the Thunder Bay and Orillia campuses to support faculty in the development and delivery of online programming.
LU Indigenous Curriculum Specialist Jerry-Lynn Orr was awarded $200,000 to lead a team in the development of an online learning program exploring diverse Indigenous pedagogical approaches.
According to a news release from the university, this will provide learners with a toolkit "for adapting and engaging respectfully with Indigenous peoples, communities and knowledge systems while actively learning about digital literacy, fluency, and decolonizing digital spaces."
"It will also model how Indigenous content can be utilized without appropriation," the release stated.
LU received $171,000 under the same program stream to create, in collaboration with Nipissing University, a 32-hour faculty development course on the design and delivery of digital learner experiences.
Two other projects were awarded $25,000 each.
In addition, Lakehead is a partner with Nipissing, Sault College, Ryerson University and Queen's University in projects that received funding totalling $530,000.
Rhonda Koster, LU's deputy provost, said the university is "constantly reaffirming our long-standing commitment to reducing barriers to access and equity to post-secondary education for rural and remote residents through virtual learning opportunities."
Koster added "These projects supported through the Virtual Learning Strategy will assist diverse learners to achieve their potential."
