High school students across Canada benefit from AU STEAM expertise
Athabasca University and Shad Canada partner to provide high school students across the country with an online summer science program opportunity, no matter where they live.
Athabasca University instructors across several faculties will share their expertise with high school students across the country this summer thanks to a partnership with Shad Canada.
The Shad program provides 1 month of learning opportunities for high-achieving Grade 10 and 11 students focused on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) with an entrepreneurship component. Historically a place-based program, this year Shad is offering a virtual alternative called ShadAnywhere.
“ShadAnywhere is hosted online, and will increase access to students who, like our own students, may not be able to attend in person or simply prefer online delivery,” said Hannah Macdonald-Kermode, the program director for ShadAnywhere.
Online learning summer program
Students who take part in the online program can expect a variety of lectures and activities from AU’s faculty focused on all aspects of STEAM, a high ratio of instructors to students, and plenty of hands-on learning opportunities. The program culminates with a design challenge for participants to tackle.
“This is totally an interdisciplinary project. We want students to be exposed to all kinds of career paths, including things they wouldn’t see in high school,” Macdonald-Kermode said.
The inaugural ShadAnywhere program will run in July 2023.
ShadAnywhere
While the Shad Canada program has been running since 1981, this is the 1st year the program will be delivered virtually, potentially reaching Canadian students in every part of the country.
Science dean Dr. Shauna Zenteno said this is a natural fit with AU’s expertise in distance and online education, so when Shad approached AU as a partner to provide a digital program it was an easy decision.
“ShadAnywhere students will have the amazing opportunity to learn about AU as a university option, open and distributed learning, new technologies, innovative research, and the talented faculty members we have at AU.”
“This is totally an interdisciplinary project. We want students to be exposed to all kinds of career paths, including things they wouldn’t see in high school.”
– Hannah Macdonald-Kermode, ShadAnywhere program director
Interdisciplinary approach
Instructors from all AU faculties are working to develop content for this program, as well as other units like PowerED™ by Athabasca University and Nukskahtowin.
Zenteno said she ultimately hopes this program will result in more students understanding the value of online learning and knowing about AU as an option for university.
“They will have the amazing opportunity to learn about open and distributed learning, new technologies, innovative research, and the talented faculty members we have at AU,” she said.
Learn more about ShadAnywhere.
