February 19, 2014
DSBN, Brock Partner to Launch Educational Research and
Innovation Hub
The District School Board of Niagara and Brock
University’s Faculty of Education are collaborating on a unique initiative to support
innovation in Canadian education and technology.
Housed inside 2,100 square feet at the DSBN Academy
in St. Catharines, the newly minted Educational Research and Innovation Hub
will bring together a wide range of stakeholders to cultivate powerful new
learning technologies.
“We see incredible potential in this new project,”
says Warren Hoshizaki, DSBN Director of Education. “We know there is a wealth
of entrepreneurs out there searching for opportunities to use their talents and
skills to support Canadian education. The expertise and resources they access
at the Hub will assist them in changing their ideas into tools that improve
teacher practice and benefit student learning for years to come.”
When the Hub officially opens its doors in late
February, it will be a home to several original start-up companies. The
collaborative atmosphere of the Hub will promote discussion, idea sharing and
creativity amongst educators, researchers, graduate students, entrepreneurs and
education technology companies.
Dr. Fiona Blaikie, Professor and Dean of the Faculty of
Education at Brock University, believes that the Hub is an example of how 21st
century research should take place.
“Everything unfolds in context and in partnership,” says
Blaikie. “As leaders in technology education, Faculty of Education researchers
and students are superbly positioned to engage with entrepreneurs and
colleagues at DSBN to better serve to society, teaching, learning and
scholarship.”
Dr. Camille Rutherford, Associate Professor in the
Department of Teacher Education, acknowledges that there needs to be a direct
line from invention to practice.
“Regardless of technologic ingenuity, the effectiveness of
any education innovation is dependent on its ability to address the needs of
education,” says Rutherford. “Unfortunately, a lack of access to education
stakeholders has been noted as one of the greatest challenges to educational
entrepreneurs that often come from non-education backgrounds.”
The Hub aims to eliminate the disconnect between educational
insight and the innovation process. It will bridge this gap by providing
entrepreneurs with the opportunity to observe actual classes and the strategies
teachers use to support student learning. Start-ups will also be able to refine
their products by observing their use in an actual classroom setting. This will allow companies to make necessary enhancements
to ensure they are best meeting the needs of students, teachers and schools.
In addition to the benefits the Hub will bring to the
product development process, students will also benefit from their interactions
with these start-up companies.
“Students will have safe access to programmers, engineers
and entrepreneurs, giving them the ability to ask questions, share ideas and
learn more about potential career paths,” says Dino Miele, DSBN Chief
Information Officer.
Located within the DSBN Academy at 130 Louth Street in St.
Catharines, the Hub is unique in its location. “There are a number of EdTech
incubators and accelerators throughout North America, but there has yet to be a
location that is housed within a K-12 educational institution,” says
Rutherford.
The grand opening for the Hub is set to take place on
February 26, from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m.