The Council of Ontario Universities (COU) has released A Time to Sow, the report of COU’s Task Force on Learning Technologies.
The rapid emergence of information and telecommunication technologies is transforming the way organizations are doing business. To help respond to these challenges, the Task Force was created to examine opportunities and barriers, and ultimately to make recommendations to facilitate the more effective use of these technological resources. The report identified strategic planning, the creation of a more supportive environment for the use of these technologies and significant investment from governments, the private sector and universities as crucial to address the potential of learning technologies within Ontario universities.
The Task Force was chaired by David Johnston, President of the University of Waterloo, who is internationally recognized for his expertise in the field of learning technologies. The membership of the committee included representatives from government, the communications and information technology sector and universities. This initiative demonstrated the value of working in partnership to address major issues.
Prof. Johnston spoke of why he thinks the work of the Task Force is important: “Learning technologies are those information and communication technology tools that provide increased opportunities for interaction with learning materials and among learners, as designed and guided by university faculty. Used effectively, they can enhance the quality of student learning and improve access by allowing students to pursue learning opportunities in their own time and place.”
“While there have been significant advancements in information and telecommunications technology in recent times, the full introduction of these new technologies has met with mixed reactions on Ontario university campuses. Enthusiasm continues to build as opportunities for enhancing teaching and learning are discovered, but is often dampened by the existence of many barriers to implementation,” said Prof. Johnston.
Prof. Johnston noted the timeliness of the Task Force’s recommendations: “Ontario universities are on the verge of a generation change as student demand is projected to grow by 40% over the next decade. At the same time, the need to recruit faculty is becoming acute owing to retirements and projected enrolment growth. Given these pressures, there is a narrow window of opportunity to make decisions the use and support of learning technologies to aid in the effectiveness and reputation of Ontario universities.”
BACKGROUND
The members of the Task Force were:
Prof. David Johnston, President, University of Waterloo, Chair
Dr. Andrew Bjerring, President and CEO, CANARIE
Dr. Ted Chamberlin, Professor, Department of English, University of Toronto
Tony Ciceretto, Vice-President, Marketing, Bell Canada
Murna Dalton, Vice-President, SGI
Gaylen Duncan, President and CEO, ITAC
Dr. Catherine Henderson, President, Ontario College of Art & Design
Doug Hull, Director General, Industry Canada
David Kennedy, Director of Information and Communications, Ministry of Energy,
Science and Technology
John Kutcy, General Manager Education Industry, IBM Canada Ltd.
James Mackay, Director, Universities Branch, Ministry of Training, Colleges and
Universities
Dr. Ross Paul, President, University of Windsor
Dr. Tim Pychyl, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Carleton University
Dr. Alan Weedon, Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies, The University of Western Ontario
Dr. Harvey Weingarten, Provost and Vice-President, Academic, McMaster University
Dr. Norm Shulman, Executive Director, OPAS
For further information:
Prof. David Johnston
President
University of Waterloo
(519) 885-1211, ext. 2201
Dr. Norm Shulman
Executive Director
Office for Partnerships for Advanced Skills
(416) 979-2165 ext. 216
For a copy of the report A Time to Sow, please contact:
Public Affairs
Council of Ontario Universities
(416) 979-2165 ext. 236
or visit COU’s web site: http://www.cou.on.ca
