Welcome to the VirtualClassroom program!

We invite students, teachers, researchers, government and corporate partners in Canada and throughout the world to partner with us in the research and development of advanced pedagogy, infrastructure and broadband tools for intelligent learning. The goal of the program is to research the impact of broadband tools to support video-mediated learning, distributed cognitions and the development of skills for life long learning.

The provision of broadband infrastructure, applications and services within the VirtualClassroom program provide unique opportunities for learners in different parts of Canada and the world to interact in real time to build knowledge together. Working together within a virtual peer-learning community supported by mentors, K-12 students are challenged to solve authentic problems.

It is important to emphasize that research and development of broadband infrastructure and applications are but a means to support innovative learning. Of greater importance is the exploration of how to use these tools effectively not only to enhance existing learning practices but also to enable new and valued practices.

The VirtualClassroom is an electronic meeting place where learners throughout the world can collaborate on the advancement of learning through technology. We invite you to join our learning community!

• Intelligent Learning refers to a constructive process of guided knowledge building supported by teamwork.
• Video-mediated learning refers to the use of a collaborative multimedia system, including video technology, to connect different locations and coordinate teamwork among learners.
• Distributed Cognitions refers to the concept that cognition does not solely reside inside a person's head but is distributed amongst individuals, that knowledge is socially constructed through collaborative efforts to achieve shared objectives in cultural surroundings, and that information is processed amongst individuals and the tools and artifacts provided by culture.
• Virtual peer-learning community refers to geographically distributed peers, bound together via broadband networks, supporting each other in specific learning goals.