Catalysts: learning modules addressing content and language gaps

TitleCatalysts: learning modules addressing content and language gaps
Faculty/College/UnitLand & Food Systems
StatusCompleted
Duration2 Year
Initiation04/01/2018
Completion03/31/2020
Funding Details
Year 1: Project YearYear 1
Year 1: Funding Year2018/2019
Year 1: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 1: Principal InvestigatorSandra Brown
Year 1: Funded Amount22,250
Year 1: Team Members

Sandra Brown, Instructor, Applied Biology, Faculty of Land and Food Systems
Edmund Seow, Computer Systems Manager, The Learning Centre, Faculty of Land and Food Systems

Year 1: Summary

Technology-based practices within curriculum offer the possibility to address academic achievement gaps faced by our increasingly diverse student body. Undergraduates in upper level courses include domestic, transfer and international students who face challenges related to pre-requisites, course equivalency, Canadian specific content, and for some students, studying in a foreign language. This project tackles these challenges through open online modules which utilize diverse delivery and assessment methods focused on the comprehension of discipline specific content, with additional support tools for second language learners. Modules will review discipline and Canadian specific content, and will be delivered in text, graphic and audio/video formats. Assessment of student comprehension will range from online quizzes to comparative analysis of texts. Prototype content modules will be created for Applied Biology (Sustainable Agriculture and Environment), and templates developed for each delivery and assessment format for use by instructors in other programs across the University.

Year 2: Project YearYear 2
Year 2: Funding Year2019/2020
Year 2: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 2: Principal InvestigatorSandra Brown
Year 2: Funded Amount2,250
Year 2: Team Members

Sandra Brown, Instructor, Applied Biology, Faculty of Land and Food Systems
Edmund Seow, Computer Systems Manager, The Learning Centre, Faculty of Land and Food Systems

Year 2: Summary

Technology-based practices within curriculum offer the possibility to address academic achievement gaps faced by our increasingly diverse student body. Undergraduates in upper level courses include domestic, transfer and international students who face challenges related to pre-requisites, course equivalency, Canadian specific content, and for some students studying in a foreign language. This project tackles these challenges through open access, online modules which utilize diverse delivery and assessment methods focused on comprehension and discipline specific content, with additional support tools for second language learners. Modules review discipline and Canadian specific content, and are delivered in text, graphic, audio/video and animated formats. Prototype content modules have been developed for Applied Biology (Sustainable Agriculture and Environment - SAGE); modules are currently being reviewed, piloted and evaluated; and feedback will be used for revision and scaling out.

Project Report2019-TLEF-Final-Report-Brown-WEB.pdf