ONTARIO — The Ontario government, in partnership with Science North and the Ontario Science Centre, is creating additional educational content for students and teachers during the school closures resulting from COVID-19. The province is providing up to $1.5 million to create made-in-Ontario videos and resources to support Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) learning. The resources will align with the four science strands in the curriculum and will help students from Kindergarten to Grade 12.
Science North will create resources for elementary school teachers and students, while the Ontario Science Centre will develop materials for secondary school teachers and students. All resources will be accessible and available in both English and French and will include professional development videos for educators; virtual and at-home hands-on STEM activities for students; and activities and student worksheets which can be printed and distributed through school boards. Resources can be accessed online at Science North and the Ontario Science Centre websites, with additional material being released weekly. Activities will use everyday objects and supplies so students can participate easily at home.
“Science North appreciates the opportunity to support teachers and students throughout Ontario with high quality, scientist-led STEM learning experiences,” said Guy Labine, CEO, Science North. “These online workshops and resources will support teachers in delivering inquiry-based lessons for elementary students through at-home learning. These are unprecedented times and we all share these challenges, united in our goal of supporting continued learning in Ontario. We applaud the Ministry of Education for their support.”
“At the Ontario Science Centre, our mission is always to inspire discovery, encourage curiosity, and instill a love of learning,” said Paul Kortenaar, CEO of the Ontario Science Centre. “We are pleased to partner with the Ministry of Education to provide these curriculum-based resources, which are a continuation of the experience we give teachers and students on field trips to the Centre.”
English and French-language materials continue to be added to Learn at Home on a regular basis to provide new and compelling content throughout the school closure period. There are now 43 English courses and 37 French-language courses available on the Learn at Home site for secondary students to review, refresh and extend their learning as part of independent study. The ministry is working with all school boards in the Broadband Modernization Program to deliver access to reliable, fast, secure and affordable internet services at school for all Ontario students and educators. As of April 30, 2020, broadband modernization is complete at 1,983 schools and in progress at 2,954 schools.
