Indigenous Engineering, Technology, and Innovation by Design was co-developed with Bryan Bellefeuille in Algoma District School Board and is currently a high school course offered at W.C. Eaket Secondary School. (Insert photo of k2i Design Lab)
k2i Path2STEM programs provide experiences for grades 5-10 in engineering design, coding, electronics, 3D design, robotics, and AI, tackling real-world problems through hands-on experiences, mentorship, and career exploration.
k2i SHSM in STEM programs offer microcredentialed sector partnered experiences for grades 11-12. High school students explore real-world problem-solving using engineering design while developing STEM skills in coding, electronics, 3D design & modelling, robotics, and AI. Students explore STEM careers and gain opportunities through mentorship.
The k2i academy works with K12 sector partners to provide teacher mentorship programs and teacher resources, having been selected by the Ontario Ministry of Education to create resources that support educators across 72 publicly funded school boards with a potential to reach over 2M students annually. These interdisciplinary activities, promoting STEM skills, careers, and connections emphasizes equity and inclusion in instructional practices.
The k2i academy continually designs educator professional learning experiences in collaboration with school boards, professional organizations, and educators.
To build on these programs for educators, k2i academy collaborated with Bryan Bellefeuille, a teacher at WC Eaket Secondary School in Blind River, Ontario, for the design and development of the Indigenous Engineering, Technology & Innovation by Design program for high school students.
This distinctive approved high school credit course infuses Indigenous engineering processes and perspectives to tackle real-world challenges. Students engage with oral teachings and traditions, connecting deeply to Indigenous knowledge rooted on the land, fostering immersive problem-solving opportunities fully integrated with contemporary digital technologies and tools.
Since its start with nine students in the Algoma District School Board during the summer of 2022, the program has grown from its humble beginnings to have a profound impact across the educational landscape. This initiative continues to capture significant interest, with ongoing plans for further development through future collaborations.
To empower teachers all throughout Ontario, the k2i academy at York University’s Lassonde School of Engineering will assist in developing tools that are fit for the classroom that ensures that all students have the foundational, transferable and entrepreneurial skills they need to compete in a rapidly changing world.
Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, Ontario