The Institute for Research on Digital Literacies
The Institute for Research on Digital Literacies

Jean Adams

Dr. Jean Adams is currently Special Assistant Professor (Policy Specialization) at Schulich School of Business and Associate Co-Director at York University’s Institute for Research on Digital Learning (IRDL).  Her research and articles focus on using new technologies to promote innovative learning, particularly by fostering a “learner in control” pedagogical approach. Other research interests include the study of organizational learning, the role of e-learning, leadership and management education, high performing teams, critical thinking, creativity and innovation. Research grants include: Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) / MaRS Innovation Proof of Principle (65K); Hewlett Packard (HP) Technology for Teaching Leadership research grant (250K); Canadian Council on Learning (CCL) Adult Learning Research Grant (70K). Jean holds a doctorate from York University. She received the President’s University-Wide Teaching Award for Teaching Excellence (2009) and the Governor General’s Gold Award (2005) for exceptional academic distinction.

Current project

Two challenges colleges and universities face in achieving quality education is driving effective student engagement necessary for lasting learning and equipping students with the soft skills critical to successful career launch and build.  While institutions are attempting to integrate current technology trends into curricula to help drive student engagement (e.g.,  collaboration tools and interactive features such as in-class polling), there does not yet exist a fully integrated total learning solution that embeds self-organizing quality content with collaboration tools and interactive features while seamlessly working with institutional learning management systems (LMS) to effectively engage students in directed and self-directed learning.  In short, this research project funded by Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) through MaRS Innovation aims to commercialize a soft skills online total learning solution (i.e., the NewMindsets Management Education Project) built on an award-winning pedagogical approach developed at YorkU and implemented over the past ten years in business education at Schulich School of Business by Drs. Gareth Morgan and Jean Adams.

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