Virtual Researcher On Call
Classroom connections
Virtual Researcher On Call
A classroom, a researcher and a live conversation—without the journey between them.
How it worked
Teachers selected a topic connected to their lessons. PIR matched the class with a researcher or other expert and arranged a live video session, giving students a chance to ask questions about the work and the career behind it. VROC supported different kinds of connection: short question-and-answer calls, longer presentations and ongoing mentorship. The technology helped researchers take part from their own institutions and allowed classrooms to meet people beyond their local area.
From an idea to a national network
The supplied organizational history records planning meetings at Western in April 2005 and at the University of Toronto on May 4, 2005. Ron Calhoun developed the idea with advice from Dr. Alan Bernstein and Dr. Douglas Jones. Kevin Cougler joined as VROC Program Manager through CLICK Inc. By November 2011, a federal announcement reported more than 400 sessions, primarily in Ontario classrooms. A 2013 Cisco announcement described a collaboration with Sheridan College to support the program’s video infrastructure.2008 ORION recognition
In 2008, VROC received the ORION Discovery Award of Merit for its use of technology to support education. Western’s Gazette reported the recognition on November 28, 2008, describing how the program connected students with researchers through live video conferencing. Source: Cheryl Stone, “Researchers try to get students interested in science,” The Gazette, November 28, 2008, p. 2.Several ways to connect
The September 2010 program guide distinguished four complementary formats:- Reaching Every Student: live, two-way classroom videoconferences with researchers and other experts.
- Mentor Me: an expert relationship lasting a semester or longer, supporting questions, projects and career exploration.
- Ask the Expert: an online question-and-answer forum, allowing experts to respond as their schedules permitted.
- This Week in Science & Education (T-WiSE): live discussions and recorded podcasts for students and teachers.
From scheduled calls to experts on demand
On the Fly piloted a semester-long teacher–expert match in 2011–2012. Teacher feedback about timetable conflicts informed plans for spontaneous, five- to ten-minute calls in 2012–2013. Experts On Demand supported short questions, longer presentations and ongoing mentorship. The ExpertBook directory helped teachers find knowledge partners by subject and curriculum topic. PIR’s 2014 Executive Director Report records ExpertBook’s launch in September 2013. Later teacher instructions show searches by language, grade and keyword. PIR’s 2016 report records the replacement of ClearSea with Zoom that year, simplifying connections for participating teachers and experts.A dated picture of classroom activity
| Year | Sessions |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 265 |
| 2014 | 277 |
| 2015 | 214 |
| 2016 | 181 |
Source: Brent Peltola, Partners In Research Canada Executive Director Report 2016, p. 6. The separate 2015 report recorded 123 sessions only for January 1–May 21, 2015; its partial-year figure is not comparable to the full-year total above. These are session counts, not individual students. Live Events and Connected North were reported separately.
Teachers shaped the questions
The strength of VROC was the link to classroom interests. Researchers could explain an experiment, discuss a career path or help students explore a question that arose during a lesson. Explore related mentoring and classroom initiatives, or read about PIR’s recorded discussions.Original VROC program documents
These original records show how PIR introduced its classroom programs to teachers, school boards and researchers.
- VROC 2010–11 program guide · September 1, 2010 (PDF, 8 pages)
Kevin R. Cougler’s guide for school boards and districts, covering live calls, mentorship, podcasts and the online forum. - On the Fly · 2012–13 program update (PDF)
The review of the 2011–12 pilot and plans for short, spontaneous classroom calls. - Experts On Demand · teacher backgrounder (PDF, undated)
An introduction to ExpertBook and the choices of short calls, presentation sessions and longer mentorships. - Ask the Expert · historical poster (PDF, undated)
The online question-and-answer forum and the role of researchers responding as time permitted.
Historical documents: prices, registration forms, contact details, website links and technology references reflect the period. They are preserved as part of the original record and do not describe a current service.