31 schools chosen to integrate technology with education under Clarica Scholars Program

Partnership with Acadia and Waterloo

WATERLOO, ON, June 19, 2003 – The Clarica Scholars Program, in partnership with Acadia University and the University of Waterloo, has selected 31 schools from across Canada to participate in its 2003 program that is aimed at exploring the use of technology in the classroom. Clarica is a member of the Sun Life Financial group of companies.

This is the third year of the program that helps teachers and students work together to complete computer-based projects that integrate technology with education and to uncover tools and skills that they can apply in their own schools after completing the one-week session at either Acadia or Waterloo.

Clarica has provided $900,000 to the program that brings together teams of two teachers and two students each year for a total of 384 teachers and students who will have benefitted from the three-year program.

“Students and teachers gain knowledge that they can take with them upon completing the program. It is valuable to all the participants and their fellow students and teachers at home who may not be directly involved in the classroom session,” says Judy Noel Walsh, Program Manager for the Clarica Scholars Program at Acadia University.

Jill Porter, Program Manager at the University of Waterloo’s Centre for Learning and Teaching Through Technology, says the program’s success can be attributed to the participants. “The collaboration and effort by the teams is an indication of what can be accomplished when supplied with a holistic learning environment.”

The program also continues to demonstrate Clarica’s leadership in incorporating knowledge management and e-learning for individual and organizational capability development – using technology to help staff learn and interact with one another.

Also this year, Acadia University, APTICA (Advancement Pedagogique des technologies de l’information et de la communication en Atlantique) and Clarica have launched a new program, Innovations Cyberpédagogiques, which will connect Francophone teachers, students and experts for a dynamic and collaborative technology experience this summer.

Innovations Cyberpédagogiques: Programme Scolaire de Clarica will identify, train, and support a core group of teachers and students from middle and secondary Francophone schools across Canada to prepare them to be leaders in advancing technology and teaching in their classrooms. Funding for this latest program is being provided by Industry Canada.

The Innovations Cyberpédagogiques program is based on the highly successful Clarica Scholars Program that has fostered technology innovation in over 70 schools across Canada. Since the inception of this program over three years ago, the goal was to involve schools from both English and French communities. This year this vision becomes a reality with distinct week-long experiences available in both official languages.

Teams at Acadia University focus on integration strategies, while Waterloo participants develop computer software for classroom teaching. Students and teachers can also continue to share their ideas, evaluate projects and exchange their results with other Clarica scholars once the program is finished.

Acadia University, located in Nova Scotia, is a leader in innovation and excellence in the classroom. The Acadia Advantage Program provides students with access to information and a network of resources. The Acadia Institute for Teaching and Technology was created in 1996 and has trained more than 1,400 teachers to effectively integrate technology with educational activities.

Ontario’s University of Waterloo is respected for its emphasis on technology and related programs. The Centre for Learning and Teaching Through Technology is the focal point for UW’s strategic capabilities for innovation in educational technology through partnerships with leading Canadian and international organizations.

About Sun Life Financial and Clarica

Sun Life Financial helps individual Canadians achieve lifetime security by providing investment, life and health insurance solutions through approximately 4,100 Clarica managers and advisors located across the country.

Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of wealth accumulation and protection products and services to individuals and corporate customers. Tracing its roots back to 1865, Sun Life Financial and its partners today have operations in key markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China and Bermuda. As of March 31, 2003, the Sun Life Financial group of companies has total assets under management of CDN $336.8 billion.

Sun Life Financial Services of Canada Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under ticker symbol “SLF”.

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