The non-traditional approach to Introductory Astronomy at John Abbott College (Montreal, Canada) puts the depth and direction of content in the hands of the students, utilizing partnerships with RASC Montreal Centre and other Outreach Organizations to mentor students in observational techniques, provide access to amateur and professional Astronomical data, and introduce students to public outreach.

Recognizing the available access to recent discoveries and current data that best represent the direction of space sciences, each student is given an opportunity to put their stamp on the learning outcomes of the course. Combining this with non-compulsory astronomy activities with RASC – Montreal Centre allows students to embrace the field in a manner that best suits their interests and motivation, resulting in novel labs and incredibly diverse term projects, and several initiatives that have moved beyond the scope of the Introductory Astronomy Course. Other departments and courses at the college are now taking advantage of the Astronomy activities to engage their students beyond the classroom.