“Our vision is to become the trusted platform where educators can effortlessly design engaging and enjoyable tasks for their students, reigniting the joy of learning.” – SCS Instructor, Ken Wong
If there is one thing marketing instructor Ken Wong’s time at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies has taught him, it’s that a one-size-fits-all approach to teaching doesn’t work.
“As each class progressed, I noticed that some students consistently encountered difficulties such as confusion, shyness, fatigue, and distraction in the classroom setting,” he explains.
“As an educator deeply dedicated to the principles of inclusive teaching and learning, I firmly believed there had to be a more effective method to engage students, regardless of whether they were participating in on-campus, online, or field classes. That’s why I started the Presentria project.”
The early years of the COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted the need for engaging educational tools and techniques, as schools pivoted to a learn-from-home approach and some learners began to experience “Zoom fatigue”.
“Asking students to stare at a small computer screen for hours can be tedious, even for adults,” says Wong.
“So, the question arises: aside from the classroom and home, is there a third option for learning? The answer is clear — students can engage in experiential field trips and learn outside the traditional classroom setting. Imagine transforming a school campus, a neighborhood, a shopping mall, a park, or any other locale into a learning environment.”
And that’s just what Wong set out to facilitate for learners with Presentria Go, a platform that allows educators to send learners on field trips or scavenger hunts, with options to participate in-person or online.
“Educators can set up checkpoints online and deliver questions and learning materials (videos, photos, articles, PDFs) wirelessly to students' smartphones. There's no need for educators to be physically present on these trips; students can explore checkpoint locations at their own pace, 24/7,” explains Wong.
“Real-time feedback can be provided remotely, addressing misconceptions immediately. Students can also upload photos from checkpoints as homework submissions. With Presentria GO, students save time by compiling answers during the trip, eliminating the need for additional work at home. Moreover, subjects like archaeology, architecture, geography, history, marketing, real estate management, and retail management can benefit from place-based experiential learning. For instance, studying different building designs is more effective in the field, where students can see structures firsthand rather than relying on textbook photos or web images.”
The student engagement tool has been catching the attention of Wong’s fellow educators and was recently named one of the top 10 student engagement solutions providers in Canada for 2024 by Education Technology Insights magazine.
Wong says he has been deeply moved by the recognition.
“Tears welled up in my eyes as the culmination of years of hard work finally bore fruit. Believe it or not, my team and I embarked on developing student engagement tools as early as 2012, making us pioneers in this field. Receiving this Top 10 award is a tremendous validation of our dedication, and I am grateful to the panel at Education Technology Insights for taking the time to recognize our product and journey” he says.
“This accolade significantly aids us in spreading awareness about our innovative solutions among educators in Canada and the US. Furthermore, it serves as a source of motivation for our team to continue refining our tools, offering our users reassurance that they have made the right choice. Our mission is to make inclusive teaching and learning a reality by leveraging advanced mobile and experiential learning technologies. Our vision is to become the trusted platform where educators can effortlessly design engaging and enjoyable tasks for their students, reigniting the joy of learning.”
Dr. Ken Wong is a Professor of Marketing at Seneca and has taught at the School of Continuing Studies since 2003, in the areas of marketing, e-business, public relations, and retailing. Ken is a leader in digital learning solutions. He co-founded Presentria to make inclusive teaching and learning a reality through the use of Artificial Intelligence, Location-based Services, and other advanced computing technologies. He is the recipient of the 2020 Minister of Colleges and Universities' Award of Excellence for his dedication to students and the broader post-secondary sector during the pandemic.