Arctic Virtual Learning Tools NCM Arctic co-operation program project, Rovaniemi,

Background The project joins together the University of Arctic, which educates northern people in both rural areas and in cities in all Arctic eight countries and Arctic Portal, which is the website that hosts among others IPY, the Arctic council working groups Caff, Pame and ACAP, International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), Sustainable Arctic Observation Network (SAON), the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) and the International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry (ICR).

Background The funding for the project comes from the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Arctic Cooperation Program ( DKK, DKK and option for year 2011). Goal: to improve access to education in the Arctic region through online learning tools that support the existing programs and curriculum of the University of the Arctic. This would be achieved by the development of new learning resources (Atlas, community square, open textbooks) and online learning environments. These new resources would serve to improve access to education and the standards of living of Arctic residents, especially in smaller communities.

Partners Kirsi Latola, UArctic Thematic Networks & Thule Institute at the University of Oulu, Finland (lead) Halldor Johannsson, Arctic Portal, Akureyri, Iceland Peter Weiss, University Centre of West Fjords, Iceland Scott Forrest, UArctic & University of Lapland, Finland Anders Oskal, International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry, Kautokeino, Norway Svein Mathiesen, Sámi University College, Kautokeino, Norway Joan Nymand Larsen, Stefansson Arctic Institute/Univ Akureyri, Iceland Hayley Hesseln, UArctic BCS office, University of Saskatchewan, Canada Jenny Baeseman, Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS), Tromsø, Norway

Detailed goals: Open Textbooks will distribute and share new text- based curriculum products for UArctic students that take advantage of the broad information distribution capabilities of online documents, and the usability/functionality/readability of printed materials. Virtual Classroom will bring the students and Northern residents together by giving a new inexpensive education and meeting opportunity.

Goals cont’: IPY legacy – providing a venue and technical support by Arctic Portal for IPY Legacy, a long-term tool for education and outreach, dissemination of results and hosting of IPY data on the www and to improve the access to the latest scientific information about the Arctic region, and particularly serves the legacy and outreach goals of the International Polar Year, by putting current and relevant learning materials into the hands of students and Northern residents. to improve knowledge on indigenous peoples and Arctic features through UArctic Atlas and community square

Schedule Virtual classroom survey in fall 2009, analysis and results presented at Arctic Frontiers conference in Tromsø, January 2010 Joint workshop in March 2010 Presentations at IPY conference in Oslo in June 2010 Pilot online course ”Adaptation to the globalization in the Arctic” delivered in 2010 (TN on global change in the Arctic) Launch at UArctic 10 years anniversary council meeting in Finnish Lapland (Rovaniemi/Kemi/Tornio) in June 2011