The ways in which undergraduate students learn – and want to learn – are changing, according to speakers at an upcoming event at York University. On May 9, they will discuss how a number of innovative eLearning, experiential education and first-year transition projects are improving the student experience at York.
The projects range from using Skype to connect with students in a refugee camp to easing first-year students into university with an online enrolment appointment to course-based peer mentoring. In all, 39 projects were funded this year through the Academic Innovation Fund, established by Patrick Monahan, vice-president academic and provost, to improve the student experience through the use of technology (eLearning), experiential education opportunities, and initiatives to ensure the success of first-year students.
Following welcoming remarks by Vice President Academic & Provost Patrick Monahan, the program gets underway at 9:30am with a keynote address by David Trick, former assistant deputy minister for postsecondary education in the provincial government and former vice-provost of the University of Guelph-Humber. Trick will speak about why universities need to transform undergraduate education to better meet the needs of current and future 
students.
David Trick
At 2:15pm, Tricia Seifert, professor in the Higher Education Program at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, will speak about what research has found about enhancing the first-year student experience and will share best practices from other universities.
Tricia Seifert
Highlights of the day:
A presentation on engaged learning through technology begins at 9:45am. It will trace the development of an eLearning program for the Faculties of Health and Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.
Then, at 11am, project leaders working in experiential education will speak about fostering engaged learning through experiential education in the Faculty of Health and in Osgoode Hall Law School, and through the Business & Public Administration internship program.
In the afternoon, project leaders will showcase how they are enhancing the transition of new students into York University life. Innovations outlined in this presentation highlight how giving new students an opportunity to arrange for their enrolment appointment online and the HealthAid Network, a course-based peer mentorship program in the Faculty of Health, are enhancing the first-year experience.
Click here to view videos of some of the projects.
For more information, visit the Academic Innovation Fund website. To participate in the event, click here to access the registration form.