Award: Silver

Institution: University of Alberta

Title of Entry: Webinar Series: "Get Outside"

About this Entry: In these unprecedented times, our goal was to continue to offer alumni high quality educational content while maintaining their connection to the University. We saw an opportunity to look beyond the traditional webinar format and offer a more dynamic, appealing experience by bringing the campus to them. In our “Get Outside” series of pre recorded webinars, we filmed our speakers directly in their research environment, and brought our audience into contact with the subject matter by placing them virtually in situ. The researchers were more animated and inspired as they referenced their study environment directly rather than static slides on screen, and our audience was able to participate in an intimate and more stimulating format. It was also more important than ever to offer people ways to fill their time and to feel a connection to their community. We developed a robust set of resources to encourage guests to get outside, reconnect with their environment, be active, and continue learning. We emailed attendees a PDF guide consisting of maps, activities, and resources to further information about the areas featured in an effort to encourage them not only to apply what they had learned to their own community but also to enjoy relief from quarantine in a safe, socially distant way. By visiting the locations featured in the webinars our guests were able to “Get Outside” and reconnect with the world beyond their front door.