People
Mentors
We would like to thank Dr. Julie Coiro and Dr. Renee Hobbs of the University of Rhode Island, Dr. Hiller Spires of North Carolina State University, and Dr. Yonty Friesem of Central Connecticut State University for pioneering institutes in digital literacies teaching and learning. We are inspired by their work and by their research, and would like to thank them for their example.
We would also like to thank Dr. Leigh Graves Wolf (Michigan State University) and Dr. Punya Mishra (Arizona State University) for the countless ways that their professional learning programs for teachers and their scholarship have inspired the design of this institute. Dr. Douglas Hartman, Amber White and the teachers and students at Ruth Fox Elementary School in North Branch Michigan get a special mention for years of collaboration and learning that helped to build foundations for this Institute.
Colleagues
Thanks to Dr. Ruth Kane and Dr. Linda Radford at the University of Ottawa for supporting our work in so many ways including, but not limited to, the funding of student participation, and paying for facilities rentals. Thanks as well to Dr. Kane and to Dr. Nathalie Bélanger, Directors of Graduate Programs for approving alternative format graduate courses so that our students could participate in the Institue.
Graduate Students and Research Assistants
Thanks to Heather Woods and Jonathan Weber at the University of Ottawa for helping with the initial conceptualisation of the project, and for technical supports along the way. Josée Lebel has been an invaluable help with logistics. Thanks to Jamilee Baroud, Geneviève Cloutier, Kayf Abdulqadir and Fartousa Siyad for their work to support the Critical Digital Video projects and for their media production expertise!
Virtual Museum of Canada and the Canadian Museum of History
We thank Megan Richardson, Director of the Virtual Museum of Canada and Anthony Scavarelli of the Canadian Museum of History for sharing with us their visions for how the digital shapes our understanding of our Canadian histories and identities.
Institutional Supports
The Richard Labbé Makerspace in the Faculty of Engineering has been an incredible partner in all of our efforts to build capacity for digital literacies learning, teaching and innovation in the Faculty of Education. Dr. Hanan Anis, in particular, has given freely of her time and expertise to help us build this institute. Thanks to Zaineb Al-Faisley for her help in coordinating our Maker Stream activities amid busy summer camps! We thank Maria Mendoza, Communications Assistant in the Faculty of Education, for disseminating information about our work via the Faculty of Education channels. Thanks to Mélanie Halderson for help with purchasing and management of many, many logistical details. The Education Resource Centre staff have been incredibly supportive of our work — thank you for providing equipment, service, and space!
Funding
We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa for providing the infrastructure for this institute, and the administrative support to ensure its success. We also thank them for the research development grant to Michelle Schira Hagerman that supported the initial design work for this Institute.
School Board Partners
We especially thank The Ottawa Catholic School Board and the Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario for investments in teacher professional learning that allowed for so many of their employees to attend this institute. We are particularly appreciative of the support of Denise André, Director of the Ottawa Catholic School Board, Edith Dumont, Director of the Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario and Bianca Girard, Director of K-12 Educational Services.
