Education

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT • SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2020 5 EDUCATION GUIDE Nous formons des professionnels bilingues en forte demande au Manitoba et au-delà. We train sought-after bilingual professionals for Manitoba and beyond. Become Career Ready à l'USB University, college or continuing education en français /ustboniface ustboniface.ca USB 22215-Student Recruitment Ad-FIN.indd 1 2020-07-30 11:02 AM Legal Assistant and Supply Chain Management and Logistics programs starting soon - register now! Earn your diploma online! HERZING.CA /WINNIPEG 2 0 4 . 7 7 5 . 8 1 7 5 wpg-info@herzing.ca Career focused • Convenient • Caring While campus is a lot quieter this year, The University of Winnipeg "classroom" has spread across the city, engaging students in excep- tional learning experiences that prepare them for a digital future. B en Roloff took part in UWin- nipeg's Indigenous Summer Scholars Program this summer and says studying and research- ing remotely is easier than he expected. "We have access to many research da- tabases and contacts who are more than willing to help guide our research or an- swer our questions via email, phone call, or video conference," he said. Accounting student Tiffany Godard is impressed with how connected she feels, despite her co-op work term with Canada Life taking place remotely. "I was concerned about staying con- nected when I started working remote- ly, but it turned out fine," she said. "I'm getting work experience in my field and gaining confidence in my decision to study accounting. It's a good fit for me." Faculty have quickly rallied to find flexible solutions to keep students en- gaged, using a combination of pre-re- corded lectures, online meetings and discussion boards, as well as finding alternative ways to examine content. "This is a complete shift in how we do research and I'm very impressed with how my group has risen to the chal- lenge," said Dr. Jamie Ritch, describing his chemistry lab's quick pivot to theo- retical research. "When we can safely return to the lab, our computational results will inform future experiments." Dr. Sheri-Lynn Skwarchuk is keeping Faculty of Education students engaged — including those without internet ac- cess — by introducing a new form of re- mote learning she calls Course in a Box. "The course is different from a tradi- tional correspondence course, as the materials included are not just a text- book and course outline," she said. More than ever, Skwarchuk says it's her job to be more than just a professor. "I realize people are going through a lot as they adjust to a new normal, so the first thing I want to do is be a person before a professor," she said. This commitment to student success is shared by Jane Lothian, who has been teaching remotely for several years now, successfully building connections with criminal justice students inside and out- side of traditional classroom settings. "I love teaching both face-to-face classes and online, and I don't actually find them that dissimilar," she said. "Students who strive to succeed, and who seek connection, will continue to do so regardless of how the course is delivered." One of Lothian's students, Yulia Bar- mapova, appreciates the flexibility that alternate delivery models allow for. "Jane has been so supportive and un- derstanding to my life outside of school, which has really helped me," she said. "I am hoping this new method of delivery becomes a more permanent approach to learning because it certainly allows for a lot more freedom." "The lack of a morning commute is certainly a perk," said Applied Com- puter Science student Colin Hanlon- Dearman. Hanlon-Dearman is a co-op research assistant with the International Insti- tute for Sustainable Development. "Right from the beginning of my work term, my manager made sure that he in- cluded me in as many video call meet- ings as he reasonably could to get me in- troduced to as many people as he could to make up for not being able to walk around the office and do it in person," he said. "Without a doubt, the best part of my work has been the people." While this school year has been un- like any before, The University of Win- nipeg is proud of its ability to deliver a high-quality educational experience where students continue to make life- long connections. UNIVERSITY OF WINNIPEG Creativity & collaboration keep UWinnipeg students connected JESSE BOILY / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES UWinnipeg instructor Jane Lothian has been teaching remotely for several years now, successfully building connections with criminal justice students inside and outside of traditional classroom settings. " Students who strive to succeed, and who seek connection, will continue to do so regardless of how the course is delivered. — Jane Lothian, UWinnipeg instructor To learn more about The University of Winnipeg, visit uwinnipeg.ca

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