The chance to further enhance teaching and learning at Brock University — all while strengthening connection to the coming Canada Games — was on full display during a recent virtual event.

Participants from across the University gathered on Microsoft Teams Monday, April 12 to learn more about an additional round of Canada Games Teaching and Learning Innovation Grant funding available to Brock instructors.

With the Canada Games now set to take place in Niagara and at Brock University in the summer of 2022, there is an extra year of opportunities for Brock instructors to integrate games-related programming into their courses.

Though the Games itself is a two-week athletic event that welcomes athletes from across the country, the innovation grants can be used for projects in a variety of academic programs.

Funded by the University’s Provost and Vice President, Academic, the program sets aside $50,000, from which instructors can apply for up to $3,000 to support a range of initiatives, including creating content, community partnerships or service-learning opportunities that connect to the Games.

During the April 12 talk, participants learned about existing projects that saw History students create virtual museum exhibits related to past Canada Games and an Italian class interview community members about inequality in sport that is experienced by different migrant communities. Though the Games were used as a catalyst, both projects explored an array of topics that were not limited to athletic competition.

Associate Professor of Sport Management Julie Stevens, Special Advisor to the Brock President for the Canada Games, said the funding allows for classes to partner with a nationally recognized event and to enhance student learning.

“Brock University’s partnership with the 2022 Canada Summer Games is generating a unique academic legacy in curricular, research and community engagement areas,” said Stevens. “It is exciting to see the ways instructors have integrated Games-related content to innovate courses and enhance the student-learning experience across many different programs.”

With the June 18 deadline for new innovation grant applications quickly approaching, Brock’s Associate Vice-Provost, Teaching and Learning Madelyn Law said instructors could enhance their teaching for years to come by applying for the funding.

“The teaching and learning grant provides instructors with the opportunity to explore new pedagogy and connect core concepts to an exciting event happening in our community,” said Law. “The possibilities are endless, as sport can be linked to all disciplines. Instructors have accessed unique Canada Games datasets for class assignments and linked sport and local history for major projects, all of which are course innovations that will be able to carry on long after the Games are complete.”

To learn more about Canada Games Teaching and Learning Innovation Grants, visit the Centre for Pedagogical Innovation website or email cpi@brocku.ca