The McKenna Institute: Preparing students and teachers for today’s tech-driven world

Through a dynamic partnership between the McKenna Institute at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) and the provincial Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD), schools are gaining tools and support to prepare the next generation for a technology-driven economy.

This collaboration advances digital literacy and nurtures a strong foundation in cybersecurity, data science and digital innovation in students from kindergarten through high school (K-12).

"From the start, our consultations made it clear that K-12 education was the place to begin," said Abby David, strategic program director of the McKenna Institute.

"We work with anglophone and francophone schools to implement technology and digital literacy."

The McKenna Institute's mission is to advance digital adoption and talent acceleration.

Founded in 2021, it was established through the vision and generosity of Frank McKenna, premier of New Brunswick from 1987 to 1997 and the institute's current chair.

The institute fosters a globally competitive digital economy and society in the province by connecting academia, industry and government. To this end, it focuses on empowering teachers and students.

"In our first year in 2021, we established a five-year roadmap with the EECD to support teachers and help schools transition to digital learning environments. We started at the launch of our institute with generous private donors who wanted to see the investment in K-12 and support for small schools in rural communities," David said.

This roadmap includes various programs. One is the Digital Innovation Community Events (DICE), created by the McKenna Institute, where digital innovation is celebrated with parents and the community in schools.

This is designed for small communities and involves the Centre of Excellence for Digital Innovation (part of six centres of excellence at the EECD), the EECD, the UNB faculty of computer science, and other partners.

It has travelled to Salisbury, St. George and Dalhousie, with Hartland as its next stop. The goal is to bring local partners together to educate parents and children on career pathways in digital technology.

Teachers can also get hands-on technology training at the annual Tech for Teaching conference at UNB, which the McKenna Institute sponsors.

Tech for Teaching is a flagship event that offers teachers two days of collaboration, skill-building and inspiration. It gives participants a glimpse of what's possible with technology in the classroom.

Tech for Teaching was invaluable for Ashley McDade, a resource teacher at Fundy Shores School in Dipper Harbour.

"This August was my first time attending, and it was amazing to meet other educators," McDade said.

"We don't often get the chance to connect in person, so talking about what works in our schools was incredibly helpful."

Sessions on practical applications, such as a data science program called Data Dunkers, where K-12 students can learn foundational data science skills through basketball statistics, opened new possibilities for engaging elementary school students.

"I could foresee kids getting excited about reading and interpreting data. It's all about making technology accessible and relevant for them," she said.

"I learned that many educators are doing incredible work. They're finding ways to engage students and create connections."

The McKenna Institute and the EECD also support teachers who form the Digital Learning Network (DLN). It arose after the McKenna Institute offered to partner with the EECD about three years ago.

"We said, 'Let's focus on some of the teachers challenging themselves to implement digital technologies in the classroom,'" said Andrew Colwell, EECD's learning specialist for information and communication technology.

Out of that came the DLN, which now has roughly 100 teachers who share ideas and can implement technology in the classroom. They can also better talk with principals, staff and parents about the necessity of including digital technology in teaching. Since then, the DLN has grown with the help of the McKenna Institute.

"It brings together teachers who may be hesitant to use digital tools. It shows them they're not alone and gives them a network to learn and share ideas," said Colwell.

The DLN also provides professional learning and short courses so teachers can share their knowledge with colleagues.

David said the McKenna Institute invests in initiatives that empower teachers who, during COVID, suddenly had to use digital tools with little training.

"Digital literacy is now essential. Teachers are expected to use everything from AI to cybersecurity in classrooms and need upskilling."

The McKenna Institute training also helps attract and retain teachers.

"The McKenna Institute advocated for educators as a priority sector for the Government of New Brunswick and got funding for upskilling in technology for teachers and teachers-in-training to address recruitment and retention challenges," said David.

Beyond training teachers, the McKenna Institute is expanding its reach to benefit students directly. Working with the Centre of Excellence for Digital Innovation, the institute is sparking student interest in digital careers and skills.

"We want to empower students to be technology-ready," David said.

"Every sector relies on technology now-whether it's health, construction or the trades-and we want to show kids that these are real career options."

Through support from the McKenna Institute, students gain practical knowledge and interact with professionals, giving them an authentic experience emphasizing teamwork and innovation.

"We bring in national and international leaders such as Dell, IBM and Vector and ensure our special AI advisor on education is part of the leading working groups and task forces worldwide on AI in education and cybersecurity education.

"We introduce access to many opportunities combined with the innovative spirit in the province. It works."

Community outreach events such as the Digital Innovation Community Events (DICE) offer another avenue for introducing students and their families to the possibilities of digital technology, particularly in rural communities.

David said the goal is "digital equity," ensuring equal access to digital learning resources for students from all backgrounds and locations.

"We are also getting requests from other sectors and government departments to copy that successful model for upskilling their workforce," she said.

The McKenna Institute also partners within UNB.

"We support the faculty of education through the McKenna Fellow in Education by incorporating digital literacy and technology into the curriculum. We work closely with the faculty of computer science on multiple initiatives, including promoting digital skills and learning for the K-12 system and promoting girls' and teachers' empowerment," said David.

Colwell underscored the critical role of cybersecurity in schools and credited the McKenna Institute with facilitating progress in this area.

"Cybersecurity needs to be a part of digital literacy from an early age," he said, adding that the province participates in the CyberTitan competition, where students hone skills in online security and problem-solving.

For McDade, the initiatives in which she participates are practical and inspiring. Her students now use simple coding exercises and devices such as bee-bots to map their community, a project that combines geography, math and basic programming.

"We look at what engages the staff and students," McDade said.

"The students love it, and it's a fun way to learn."

Colwell envisions an even more robust digital literacy curriculum that balances teachers' and students' needs across the province.

"We want a balance so that all teachers have access to the technology and support they need to support learning objectives in the classroom," he said.

"With the McKenna Institute's help, we've made great strides, but we're always pushing forward."

The McKenna Institute's mission-to ensure New Brunswick schools are ready for the digital age-gives hope to teachers like McDade.

"We have some amazing educators and innovative things happening in New Brunswick," McDade said.

"It's exciting to be part of this movement, knowing we're helping students prepare for a tech-driven world."

Photo: Teachers attending the Tech for Teaching event at UNB in August.