The MacPherson Institute supports, administers, and offers training for a range of learning technologies, including McMaster’s Learning Management System, Avenue to Learn. As instructors navigate hybrid teaching and integrate media into both in-person and online classrooms, these technologies play an increasingly vital role in shaping the student learning experience.
Key Metrics
The MacPherson Institute provides pedagogical training on a variety of educational technology tools that are institutionally supported.
Avenue to Learn Support
Avenue to Learn is McMaster’s Learning Management System and supports teaching and learning activities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education classes. The MacPherson Institute provides administrative, technical and training support for the platform (powered by D2L). Avenue provides a secure online space where instructors can share their content, learning resources, link to tools, administer assessments, conduct online discussions, distribute interim grades, collect assignment submissions, and serves as the online hub for their course.
Course Outline Library
The Course Outline Library provides a central repository of McMaster’s course outlines. The MacPherson Institute provides system support and administration as well as training and assistance in developing templates for individual faculties and programs.
Course Outlines Generated
Support Ticket Responses
Participants in 3 Virtual Training Sessions
Accomplishments
Hybrid and Flexible Classrooms
The MacPherson Institute participated in the development of an accessible hybrid classroom pilot project. As a result of this cross-functional work, McMaster will continue to plan for purpose-built classrooms that allow for flexibility when teaching to ensure that in-person locations can be adapted to hybrid, remote or in-person teaching modalities. One of the key learnings from participating in the pilot was that the technology is best served when choice and agency is given to students and faculty. The teaching and learning experience is enhanced when the modality suits the practice of the instructor and the needs of the students.
Avenue to Learn Enhancements
Over the past year, the Learning Technology Systems team has been preparing for a major Avenue to Learn upgrade scheduled for August 2025 that is intended to improve both functionality and user experience while maintaining familiarity with many core aspects of Avenue. The update will introduce a refreshed user interface, streamlined navigation, and new tools to better support teaching and learning. A cleaner interface and integration with the Course Outline Library will enhance course organization and allow easy access to course outlines. Additionally, the Learning Outcomes Tool will replace the Competencies tool, which will allow better alignment of course activities with learning goals.
McMaster’s current contract with D2L expires in October 2026. A contract renewal through an Ontario Education Collaborative Marketplace (OECM) buying agreement is being developed in close collaboration with University Technology Services, Procurement, and the Vice-Provost – Teaching and Learning.