Issue link: https://takingitglobal.uberflip.com/i/1355551
C O N N E C T E D N O R T H : A J O U R N E Y O F T R A N S F O R M AT I O N & W E L L- B E I N G 7 3. Connecting the North Connected North is a multimedia educational program that uses broadband video connections to link educators with remote communities in Canada's North. Schools are provided with a telecommunication system and training to enable teachers to link to the specific sessions, which are delivered by content experts from across North America. The technology is complemented with a comprehensive set of teaching resources, lessons, and curriculum supports to take full advantage of the content experts and facilitate engagement with students. The program is designed to promote learning about a wide range of topics to supplement students' current school curriculum and provide a specific emphasis on Well-Being throughout the lessons. The current challenges and influences on Well-Being among those engaged with Connected North range from lack of access to nutritious food, limited opportunities for cultural or creative expression, bullying, substance abuse, little continuity of teachers from year-to-year (and insufficient support for those that stay in the schools), to social disconnection from traditions, family, and ancestry (TakingITGlobal, 2019b). Program Format The Connected North session menu explains that sessions typically fall into one of four types: • Expert Sessions & Virtual Field Trips: Interactive live sessions connecting participants to subject matter experts, role models, and educational institutions such as museums, galleries, and laboratories to enhance student outcomes and engagement. • Future Pathways & Connected Classrooms: Creating pathways toward higher education and securing livelihoods by connecting students with Indigenous role models, mentors, and student leaders across the country. • Capacity Building: Use of collaborative technology for teacher professional learning and mentorship. Professional development experts and peer mentors can instruct and interact with teachers in remote locations, providing them access to expertise that might otherwise have been very difficult to acquire. The Connected North coursework is developed by TakingITGlobal (TIG) in partnership with a network of education specialists in different content fields drawn from Canada, the United States, and locations around the world. Reflecting on two of the most recent programming years we see the diversity and engagement from centres across North America.