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This paper explores the experiences of the Centre of Excellence for Children and Adolescents with Special Needs and their use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in support of diverse learners in remote northern Canada. The Centre partnered with the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Research Institute to promote educational opportunities around the recently held Building from Strength: Evidence and Reality-based Tools and Interventions Conference, November 22 & 23, 2007. Discussion will take place around the leadership role provided by the Centre assisting with the determination of research agendas, community capacity building activities, and knowledge dissemination. Explanation will be provided on how the Centre worked to meet individual learning needs across geography, culture, socio-economic determinants, time, disciplines, educational levels, and comfort using ICTs. The conference theme of strengths based perspectives was instrumental to linking cultures, challenges, and resources for this conference supporting the needs of children and adolescents. The engagement of diverse learners including those in fly-in communities will be discussed. Evaluation activities completed will provide a narrative of why learners were drawn to using the ICTS to meet their learning, the plans of the learners to use acquired knowledge in their practice or home lives, and how the learners planned to use the resources such as practice networks, websites and webcasts in the future. The presentation will conclude with lessons learned for future use of ICTS to promote knowledge transformation with diverse learners.

Stream: Measuring Learning Outcomes

Paper: A paper has not yet been submitted.

Jodi Kurzhals, M.S.W

Jodi Kurzhals obtained a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Minnesota (2000) where with mentorship from faculty was introduced into the intersection of ICTs and Social Work practice. Jodi took this interest and wrote a paper on Social Workers and the practice of Web counseling which explored ethical, practical, and client considerations. Upon degree completion, she coordinated a computer learning centre located in a diverse social housing neighbourhood. This offered computers to all ages and educational backgrounds. In addition, Jodi Kurzhals has worked on a Pan-Canadian participatory research project to further understand how to activate citizens to undertake neighbourhood renewal in the context of building upon community assets rather than issue focused activities. These experiences are integral to her current role as Site Coordinator where she is tasked with transforming knowledge to formats that learners in a diverse remote context including fly-in only communities will put to use. Jodi is passionate about knowledge transformation and is able to inspire funders to support innovative technology use in support of multidisciplinary collaborations in around education, human services and community building.