A Q&A with Janet Murphy, ABEL

The Advanced Broadband Enabled Learning (ABEL) program at York University, winner of the ORION and other awards, celebrates its eighth anniversary this year. As a partner, ORION has worked with ABEL on a number of initiatives over the years. We asked the director of ABEL, Janet Murphy, to talk about the program's accomplishments and vision for the future.

PROFILE:

ABEL is a research and innovation program whose role is to work with partners and provide them with an opportunity to apply Information Communications Technology (ICT) for teaching, learning and training, and evaluate the effective use and document implementation strategies that inform system change.

ORION: To what extent are ICT and new teaching and learning technologies having an impact on learning in particular?

JM: Teaching and learning that effectively uses technology has clear impact on student learning and achievement. It provides opportunities for teachers to engage students with authentic learning activities; new channels for creativity and innovation; collaboration and communication beyond the walls of the classroom; practice in applying critical thinking, problem solving and decision making; digital citizenship learning; and, practice using a variety of tools and applications for learning, thinking and knowledge building. When ICT is effectively used for instruction students have an opportunity to become literate for the 21st century and our changing global world. The teacher becomes a facilitator of learning and students become active participants in their learning.

What does the research in the use of ICT in the classroom show?

The research in this area is still new. There are many reasons that make this research challenging, such as: many factors impact student success and it is difficult to isolate the technology as the only variable; and, technologies are continually changing so it makes it difficult to attribute success. So a research study in this area becomes very complex. If you speak to teachers who are effectively using technology for teaching and learning they will state the following: discipline problems are decreased; students attend class; students are engaged; students learn units faster and have a deeper understanding; grades and output improve; literacy skills improve (reading and writing) etc. There is anecdotal evidence and some research is now emerging to show improved outcomes.

What does the future hold for the typical Ontario classroom, as we continue to embrace new and innovative technologies?

The future of the Ontario classroom is one that is globally and locally connected, differentiated to meet the needs of each learner; information rich using a variety of sources; information and digitally literate; not location dependent; connected to home, workplace and higher education; and, project-based applying critical and inquiry thinking.

Is Ontario and Canada a leader in ICT supporting teaching and learning? Honestly, how do we stack up? Are we behind? Are we in the middle of the pack?

Ontario's public education system is highly regarded as one of the best systems in Canada and the world. With respect to ICT for teaching and learning we are not leading. Ontario does not have a vision for the effective use of technology for teaching and learning and so the implementation of ICT is dependent on individual district vision and goals. We have a world-class infrastructure in terms of ORION and the opportunity to empower our networks, and we have access to powerful learning resources and expertise. We look forward to strong provincial leadership in the area of 21st century teaching and learning that leverages technology effectively to ensure access and resources are available to every student and every classroom in Ontario. Today, we rely on visionary Directors of Education leading their School District. As a province, a well articulated vision for how we want every student to learn with technology is important to ensuring quality education in the 21st century.

To what extent does the availability of bandwidth and broadband have an impact for schools in Ontario? Are schools and students in locations with poor access to bandwidth at a disadvantage?

We have good availability to bandwidth and broadband in most jurisdictions. A recent environmental scan of network capability has documented this. The challenge for schools is to have access to the bandwidth from the desktop. Network services and their curriculum partners impact a teacher's ability to use the bandwidth by applying firewalls, filters and shaping the network available at the desktop. We have work to do in this area.

How is Ontario moving ahead with new policies in curriculum development that embrace ICT and new ways of teaching and learning? How has ABEL been involved in shaping these new policies?

Ontario has a media literacy curriculum, and ICT outcomes across the curriculum are documented. However, there is no new policy emerging about how literacy is informed by digital knowledge, skills and attitudes. Unfortunately, there is not leadership in this area at the Ministry.

ABEL is a research and innovation program and our role is to work with our partners and provide them with an opportunity to apply ICT for teaching, learning and training, evaluate the effective use and document implementation strategies that inform system change. ABEL models the effective use of technology for teaching, learning and training through its blended professional learning program. To date, we have been successful in impacting our school district partners thinking and resourcing for ICT supported teaching and learning. We also share what we have learned with our Ministry partners and we continue to push for learning policy change that is relevant for today's learner and tomorrow's world.

ABEL has been almost like a personal mission for you. You and the program and the ABEL community have received awards and recognition over the years. How valuable is that to you and the program?

The mission for me is to ensure every student in Ontario has the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to be successful life long learners in an information, technology and communications driven world. That is what keeps me going to work every day - helping our kids become successful and laying a foundation of success for them as they move to the workplace. ABEL is a vehicle to demonstrate the efficacy of the effective use of technology for teaching and learning. It also models inter-institutional and inter-jurisdictional collaboration that helps us to build capacity and sustain access to resources over time. (We are better together than we are on our own.) In this sense the program is very valuable to the province. There is a lot to be learned from ABEL to inform system thinking.

We have been very fortunate to win awards for our work. The awards validate the importance of the work and affirm that programs like ABEL are necessary to drive change. ABEL is a team effort and everyone on the team has a passion for making a difference for learners in Ontario.

After eight years, what can you say have been ABEL's highest and most noteworthy achievements?

We have many achievements to be celebrated; we host a successful annual summer institute; we've expanded our membership base; we receive regular invitations to present and share our work with others; and we've had a real impact on our partner institutions in adopting new tools and strategies as enterprise services, just to name a few. I guess the fact we have sustained the program is probably the most noteworthy achievement - this work is not totally adopted yet and so we are Outliers and it is a challenge to sustain over time.

What is the value of strategic partnerships and alliances with partners like ORION, VROC, and others?

Partnerships are at the heart of the ABEL program and are very important to us. We value our strategic partnerships. We act as a broker of learning opportunities for our members, so working with our partners means we can expand the learning opportunities.

Looking back, how important has the initial support from CANARIE been to ABEL and the entire mission and objectives of the program country-wide?

CANARIE is very important to ABEL. CANARIE helped us to begin the program and, as a 'parent', the support set us well to stand on our own and drive innovation related to broadband and learning. I see CANARIE and ORION as a team with ABEL. Without our network partners, ABEL's innovative approach to teaching, learning and training would be limited.

Learn more at www.abelearn.ca.