Laurier announces new developments in eLearning

May 3, 2021

Wilfrid Laurier University’s eLearning unit supports, empowers and connects the university’s teaching and learning communities through service and innovation.

eLearning comprises areas of educational technologies, digital media, instructional design, online learning, course development and course evaluation. Professional team members leverage their areas of expertise to support the diverse goals of academic units across Laurier’s campus and locations, working to empower students, faculty and staff in their use of eLearning technologies when and where they can best be leveraged to deliver exceptional teaching, research and learning experiences.

“Laurier’s vision for the future includes a deepening of our commitment to innovative and transformative academic programs, authentic teaching and learning experiences, as well as the enhancement of our digital capacity and strategic use of technologies,” says Mary Wilson, Laurier’s vice-provost of Teaching and Learning. “This vision calls upon us to align our work in eLearning to meet these aims.”

To this end, Teaching and Learning recently announced a series of developments within eLearning, including the introduction of new director and manager roles, as well as a structural change to the unit.

First, Mary Scott, a recognized leader in online education, was announced as the new director of eLearning. Scott will bring nearly twenty years of experience in remote and technology-enabled learning to the unit. Scott joined Laurier in 2002 in the previously named 'Distance Education' department and has since held various positions within the unit, including most recently as associate director: eLearning.

In 2018, Scott graduated from Memorial University with a Master of Education in Post-Secondary Studies and completed a capstone focused on the evaluation and development of supports for adult students who study online. Scott also holds an honours Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature with a minor in Classical Studies and a Bachelor of Education in Junior/Intermediate English.

“I am eager to continue to encourage experimentation and innovation, provide guidance and leadership in the development of fully online courses and programs, and help faculty leverage educational technology to achieve their instructional goals regardless of the method of delivery," says Scott.

eLearning also introduced the role of Manager, Teaching and Learning: Systems and Solutions to provide oversight and support for the technical systems and services in place that enhance the teaching and learning environments at Laurier. Paul Kleinschmidt started in this role on April 19, 2021.

Another strategic operational development came with the recent establishment of eLearning as a standalone unit within the university’s Teaching and Learning portfolio.

"We know our academic community is actively considering the future of technology enabled learning and how best to use eLearning technologies across curriculum to enrich and make accessible teaching and learning in physical and virtual environments,” says Wilson. “We are restructuring eLearning so we can extend our ability to be adaptable, proactive and most of all, responsive.”

All changes are effective as of May 1, 2021 unless noted otherwise.