Desktop

SEARCH Canada’s strategic partnership with the Centre for Health Evidence (CHE), University of Alberta, evolved from SEARCH’s use, since 1996, of state-of-the-art e-learning methods and technologies. What started with a specific need and application has been strengthened since 2001, through the exploration of mutual opportunities.

At its start, SEARCH Canada was looking for knowledge management expertise and technologies to support its educational and knowledge transfer mandate. CHE had the means to provide it, and an interest in exploring novel applications of its desktop technology. SEARCH Canada’s evolving Classic program – a two-year cycle of professional development and training in applied research and its use in decision-making – and its participants provided just such an application.

Today, the SEARCH ‘desktop’ is an integrated internet environment that provides a sophisticated online, common ‘workspace’. This state-of-the-art electronic knowledge and communication tool provides resources for curriculum delivery, project collaboration and information access. SEARCH Canada funds development and upkeep of what has become core infrastructure to both its Classic and Custom programs; CHE provides overall knowledge, as well as management services and curriculum delivery.  

In addition, the partners realized opportunities to leverage their combined capacity and develop new applications for the knowledge desktops beyond SEARCH Canada’s traditional programs.