TeachingCity Oshawa: 2022-23 education and research ‘Snapshot’

The TeachingCity Oshawa collaboration between the City of Oshawa and its education and research partners unveiled its 2022-23 snapshot this week, with applied research, experiential learning and curriculum-based projects featured prominently.

TeachingCity is a partnership between the City and Durham College, Ontario Tech University, Trent University Durham GTA and the University of Toronto’s Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering, now in its sixth year.

Notable achievements in 2022-23 include:

• Cultural Story Mapping in Oshawa– Durham College Journalism students participated in a collaborative project that investigated how arts and culture supports economic development in Oshawa. Students worked with Oshawa Business and Economic Development Services staff to gain insight on the issues and write articles inspired by cultural experiences in the city. These articles were then transformed into a Cultural Story Map featuring stories about Ed Broadbent Park, The Atria, the importance of independent downtown cafés, diversity in food culture, the graffiti artist movement, the local film scene and production, and the adaptability of cultural venues.
• Stormwater Management Pond (SWMP) Consortium Workshop– This past May, 45 researchers, practitioners, government representatives, students and environmental community partners from the GTA gathered to discuss SWMP. research priorities, new research projects, and a road map for acquiring provincial and federal funding at the first Stormwater Management Pond Consortium Workshop. Co-hosted by the City of Oshawa and Ontario Tech University and moderated by Ontario Tech University’s Dr. Andrea Kirkwood, a Professor in the school’s Faculty of Science, the Consortium Workshop solidified the interest of research partners in supporting collaborative research projects to address priority research and more.
• Engaging Youth through Digital Media– Faculty and students from Trent University Durham GTA designed and facilitated filmmaking workshops to provide an opportunity for youth to engage in digital literacy as they create short films and gain hands-on experience with skills like scriptwriting, storyboarding and understanding copyright policies. Post-workshop interviews found that participants found the workshops interesting, enjoyable and convenient, provided skills building for future aspirations, and allowed them creative autonomy and independence.
• Student Placements– Oshawa provided 20-plus work-integrated learning opportunities for TeachingCity students through placement, practicum or co-op opportunities. Students developed real-life applied skills while bringing new ideas and fresh perspectives to City Branches to help support the achievement of Department goals and corporate initiatives.

“The 2022-2023 Annual Snapshot celebrates six years of TeachingCity Oshawa,” said Mayor Dan Carter. “That’s six years of collaboration with our post-secondary education and research partners, and six years of the best and brightest minds working to provide new ideas and out of the box solutions for the great city of Oshawa. Every year we are amazed by the creativity and dedication students and faculty bring to the projects and this year was no exception.”

TeachingCity partners try to address Oshawa’s urban issues through innovation, collaboration, applied research and shared experiential learning opportunities with the aim to position Oshawa as a local, national and global community of urban research and learning.

“Durham College is so proud to be a TeachingCity partner and we welcome the invaluable experiential learning opportunities it provides for our students,” said Durham College President Don Lovisa, a sentiment both Trent University Durham GTA Dean Scott Henderson, who said “hands-on experiential learning is essential to the Trent Durham experience,” and Ontario Tech President Dr. Steven Murphy could also share.

“Ontario Tech University places a great deal of importance on its commitment to downtown Oshawa, and on its partnership with the City of Oshawa,” Murphy said. “The TeachingCity initiative exposes our students to the socioeconomic challenges facing Oshawa and allows them to become involved in solutions while tapping into the City’s expertise. Through valuable, hands-on learning opportunities, our students gain practical experience that prepares them to become the civic leaders of tomorrow by improving the future of our community.”

Achievements in the 2021-22 school year included an age-friendly competency game, City lab courses, a youth in digital media project, virtual reality firefighter training and more than 40 student placements with City departments.

Learn more about TeachingCity at teachingcityoshawa.ca.