New Report From Contact North Shows Online Learning is Thriving Across Canada
New Investments and Innovative Programming Driving Canadian Success in a Growing Area of Post-Secondary Education
[THUNDER BAY] – Contact North | Contact Nord, Ontario’s distance education and training network has released a new report describing how public colleges and universities across the country are providing extensive and innovative online learning opportunities for their students and positioning Canada as a global online learning hub.
Online Learning in Canada 2012: At a Tipping Point, is the first in what will become a regularly updated check-up on the state of online learning in this country. With the report, Contact North | Contact Nord hopes to provide a national perspective on the latest developments in online learning in each of the provinces and territories – something that hasn’t been done in more than a decade.
“The release of Online Learning in Canada marks the first time in many years that an organization has published such a cross country check-up on online learning,” said Maxim Jean-Louis, President – Chief Executive Officer, Contact North | Contact Nord. “We invite colleagues across Canada to contribute to this ‘work-in-progress’ which we hope will stimulate collaboration and sharing in the field of online learning amongst provinces and territories across Canada, with the ultimate goal of providing a higher quality learning experience for all students.”
The report estimates that there are currently between 875,000 and 950,000 post-secondary student registrations in online courses in Canada and that number is growing. According to the report, Canada’s strength in online education lies in:
- A de-centralized education and training system which provides a unique opportunity for diversity and the ability to respond to unique, local priorities such as Francophone and Aboriginal learners;
- Increasing examples of the integration of web 2.0 technologies into both classroom and online learning;
- Governments and the private sector in Canada making extensive use of online learning. Examples include the Canadian Armed Forces, and the Hudson’s Bay Company;
- The many opportunities for provinces and territories to learn from one another and collaborate.
“This cross country check-up further reminds us that there remains a need for a Canada-wide strategy for online learning,” noted Dr. Tony Bates, a Canadian and international expert in online learning. “Such a strategy could position Canada to successfully compete with other international jurisdictions and Online Learning in Canada provides us with a good background for the discussion.”
The full Online Learning in Canada 2012: At a Tipping Point report can be downloaded on the Contact North ǀ Contact Nord website. Contact North ǀ Contact Nord is inviting post-secondary institutions in other provinces and territories to visit its website to share updates and information on new developments in online learning that can be included in future editions.
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For more information:
CONTACT NORTH | CONTACT NORD
Louise Gaudrault
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Tel: 1-855-345-5035 (toll-free)
louise@contactnorth.ca
www.contactnorth.ca
About Contact North | Contact Nord – Ontario’s Distance Education & Training Network
Contact North | Contact Nord is Ontario’s distance education and training network with 112 online learning centres that span the more than one million square kilometres that make up Ontario. The network partners with 44 publicly-assisted Ontario colleges and universities and over 250 literacy and training organizations to help Ontarians in small, rural, and remote areas, including Aboriginal and Francophone communities participate in education and training opportunities without leaving their own community.
The organization’s student portal, www.studyonline.ca, helps students across the province connect to the more than 18,000 online courses and more than 1,000 online programs offered by Ontario’s colleges and universities with just one click.
Since it was established in 1986, Contact North | Contact Nord has helped an estimated 81,000 students continue their education and achieve their goals.
Contact North | Contact Nord is a not-for-profit corporation headquartered in Sudbury and Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, and is funded by the Government of Ontario.
www.contactnorth.ca
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