Projects

Although innovation is widely recognized by policy makers as a driver of economic growth and by managers as a means of competitive advantage, technology is too often perceived as the only way to innovate. Dr. Alex Bruton noted that, indeed most of what we read in the press and in the academic literature is based on research carried out in the field of technological innovation. As such, managers' understandings of innovation and appropriate organizational change responses tends to be somewhat biased.

Provincial parks in Alberta and B.C. may soon be the unlikely beneficiaries of the new media age. A team of researchers from MRU is developing a Web2.0-based booking system for provincial parks, starting with educational groups in Kananaskis Country.

Kori Street, a history professor at Mount Royal College, is developing a site that would provide an indexed reference of holocaust survivor stories. Not only will students and teachers receive a great teaching and learning tool, the project creates a special collection of primary sources from a very important time in history. The site preserves and protects these resources for future generations to view, long after the survivors pass on. The advanced learning tool can also be used to help stem the rise of anti-Semitism and help the fight against racism,

Victoria Calvert and co-investigator Dr. Paul Varella have been studying the service- learning teaching method to find out if it enhances a student’s leadership development and social engagement. The service-learning model allows students to learn academically by providing a service to the community. What makes this particular model different from other learning models is that both the students and the recipient in the community benefit from the experience, not just the student.

Peter Zizler, a mathematician at Mount Royal College is working to bring policing one step closer to what viewers see on CSI. Armed with statistics and applied mathematics, he is currently collaborating with the Regina RCMP and the Justice Studies Department at the college to develop a program to assess the likelihood of crime taking place in a given location. Once completed, the software will be less expensive than other alternatives, allowing police forces to track data about crime rates in their areas.