Report to COED

History

• OPAS Summer institute
• VPA appointed e-learning rep
• communications via COU portal
• The initial reps (Richard Pinet, Denise Stockley) had been approached by Jan Donio who was the COU/OPAS rep. We were asked to see if there was an interest to generate a group of reps from various Teaching and Technology Centres across Ontario to see if they would be interested in seeking COU affiliate status (an e-Learning affiliate as we later characterized ourselves). This invitation was accepted, and as such, we found a positive response from all reps of the COU Universities. Our group has met several times, we have created a Terms of Reference (if anyone would like to see this, we can send this) and have had very fruitful discussions across a number of issues - including possible collaborative projects.

From the early stage then - we were responding to a request from Jan and welcomed this as many of us had talked about the setting up of such a group over the years (the COUPLETS initiative of 2001 for instance).. Since her departure, the COU has also decided to review their affiliate structure. And as we found out recently - some members of the COU were not aware that we had in fact been approached by a member of the COU to initiate this, but thought we were trying to do so by our own design or volition.

Again, when we last spoke to Jamie McKay, he echoed concerns that were raised by the VP Academics such that - if there was to be a teaching and learning affiliate - its scope should be broader representing larger teaching and learning concerns. He felt that if this larger entity could be identified - then there MAY be a possibility of integrating the e-Learning initiative within it.