Assiniboine opens active learning classroom thanks to $100,000 partnership with Westoba

Date: February 28, 2020

Students at Assiniboine Community College will benefit from a new learning space on campus, thanks to a five-year partnership with Westoba Credit Union Ltd. Westoba has committed $100,000 spread out as $20,000 a year during this partnership.

The space is the first classroom of its kind at Assiniboine, bringing together both design and smart technology to facilitate active learning. Traditional classroom environments are built with lecture-based teaching and learning in mind, but this facility flips that convention on its head.

“Our new active learning classroom is a high-tech, team-based classroom that will deepen learning and strengthen student collaboration, while supporting innovative teaching,” said Bobbie Robertson, Dean of Business at Assiniboine. “The idea is for the instructor to be able to be at the centre of the space, but not be the centre of learning.”

“Partnering with Assiniboine to provide students and our community with an interactive classroom aligns perfectly with what a cooperative stands for,” said Jim Rediger, Westoba Credit Union President and CEO. “Our values are centred around innovative thinking and learning; the technology and collaboration in this classroom reflects what is happening in business and will help prepare students and our community for the future.”

It’s important to us to continue to build strong communities, connect people and business, and support economic development and growth. Our members have told us that they want our community investment dollars to focus on community infrastructure and we are continually looking for new ways to deliver on that promise. We feel the ACC partnership meets this focus.

Click here to read the full media release.

Watch the time-lapse video of this project below!