Alumna uses multi media to teach languages
 By Sheila Dennis and Wendy Stephens
For many, reading Roch Carrier’s classic The Hockey Sweater or watching
the National Film Board’s animated adaptation was part of growing
up in Canada. Now, a U of C alumna has helped bring the story
to life again for learners of all ages.
Donna Mydlarski, MA’68 and a U of C professor emerita, produces multi-media
CD-ROMs that make learning French or English as a second language
a fun experience. “They are a creative outlet for me,” she
says. “I
find working with programmers, graphic artists and media producers
to be a great experience because I learn so much from them.”
With support from colleagues across Canada, Mydlarski spearheaded
the production of two interactive CD-ROMs, one each in English
and French, based on Carrier’s story. Released in January, the English
version helps new Canadians enhance their knowledge of the
English language and of Canada, while the second teaches French
and Quebec culture to those learning French.
This latest venture followed Mydlarski’s 2001 project, La Chaise
Berçante, that also used interactive technology and the Oscar-winning
Société Radio Canada’s legendary animated film CRAC!,
to promote the French language and French-Canadian culture
to English speakers.
Mydlarski has worked in technology-mediated learning
for most of her career, developing long-standing partnerships
with the University of Guelph’s Dana Paramskas and André Bougaïeff
of the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières.
Mydlarski became a professor in the Faculty of Continuing Education in
1979 and was associate dean (academic) from 1986 to 1991. During
that period, she was also director of the French Centre in
Craigie Hall. “My
greatest joy was to hear French-speaking voices in the centre,” she
says.
Although retired with a grandchild to keep her occupied, Mydlarski
still finds time to make learning both fun and exciting for
others. “My
co-authors and I have been privileged to work with outstanding
Canadian films and our passion is to make these treasures accessible to
learners through the power of multimedia.”
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