Flanagan Foundation Initiative
A 3-year initiative dedicated to catalyzing high-quality blended and online learning opportunities at the University of Calgary.
Transforming blended and online learning
In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic transformed how UCalgary delivered education. With six weeks left in the winter semester, the campus community transitioned 6,000 face-to-face courses into an online environment to ensure the safety of staff and students.
It is clearer than ever that UCalgary needs an integrated strategy for distance learning, one that is aligned with our vision, our principles and our foundational commitments. A $1 million gift from the Flanagan Foundation provided us with a unique opportunity to catalyze and set a bold new vision for blended and online learning on campus.
Initiative overview
This initiative is dedicated to catalyzing engagement and innovation in blended and online learning across faculties at UCalgary over a three-year period from 2020-23.
This initiative builds on the strong foundation of blended and online learning at UCalgary and capitalizes on key learnings from the rapid transition to remote teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Priorities
Build expertise and leadership in online and blended learning
Bring together an interdisciplinary cohort of instructors across faculties to develop 15 – 20 new, high-quality online courses each year.
Contribute to research related to innovation and creativity in online and blended learning
Investigate and report on the impacts of COVID-19 on learning innovations in courses across disciplines.
Strengthen resources, supports and initiatives
Promote research-informed practices for meaningfully engaging and assessing students in blended and online formats, including the development of robust open-access resources, workshops and communities of practice.
Strengthen blended and online learning mentorship and leadership networks
Share knowledge and expertise in online and blended learning across disciplines.
Inform blended and online learning strategies, policies, structures and processes
Support the integration of quality online and blended courses and programs at an institutional level.
Measuring impact
Students reached
Instructors engaged
Courses impacted
Engage with initiatives
Large Enrollment Online Learning Community of Practice
This community of practice is a participant-driven online space dedicated to sharing experiences, strategies and resources among instructors who teach blended and online large enrollment courses. The CoP is open to instructors who are actively or previously taught classes of 50 or more students.
Call for Proposals: Academic Integrity in Online Learning
The nature of online learning is changing rapidly, necessitating agility and creativity among educators who strive to ensure academic integrity in their courses and programs. This book offers both scholarly and pedagogical examinations and discussions of transformative approaches to academic integrity in online learning, and submissions are welcomed from higher education professionals, practitioners, and scholars.
Blended and Online Workshop Series
The Blended and Online Workshop Series (BOWS) are sets of interactive workshops that focus on pedagogy and practice of blended and online learning. Each workshop creates informal opportunities for focused blended and online teaching development and connections with academic staff from various disciplines.
Support and resources
Academic Staff Certificate - Blended and Online Learning course
Explore the foundations of blended and online learning pedagogy, engage with blended and online course design models and learning technologies, and expand your teaching practices.
Blended and Online Learning Workshop Series
The Blended and Online Workshop Series (BOWS) are sets of interactive workshops that focus on pedagogy and practice of blended and online learning.
Guiding Principles of Effective Blended and Online Course Design
The following principles are intended to spark conversation about blended and online learning and introduce practical strategies for consideration.
Online Remote Teaching Checklist
Consider using this checklist to adapt in-person courses for online delivery in the event of learning disruption.
Learning modules
Explore open-access learning modules on designing online courses, developing online assessments, managing team projects, adaptable course design, and blended learning.
eLearn
Explore in-depth, how-to resources on D2L, YuJa, TopHat and Zoom developed by the Learning Technologies group at the Taylor Institute.
Awards and funding opportunities
Investigate the impacts of COVID-19 on teaching and learning in higher education
The University of Calgary Teaching and Learning Grants accept proposals from UCalgary scholars interested in enhancing student learning experiences through the integration of teaching, learning and research. Take a scholarly approach to investigate an emerging topic or trend in online, blended or remote teaching due to the COVID-19 pandemic.