The ‘New Normal’ in Canadian Colleges and Universities: E-Learning, Innovation and Experience

Seminario International de Uso de Nuevas Tecnologias para la EducacionSuperiorAugust 4 – 5, 2005

Biblioteca Virgilio Barco, Bogotá, Colombia

Presented by

Ethel Thayer

Education Consultant

Burlington, Ontario, Canada

ethayer@ilap.com

IntroductionIntroduction ICTs in CanadaICTs in Canada CA*NetCA*Net 4 4

University/College ClientsUniversity/College Clients Canadian Universities/Colleges and ICTsCanadian Universities/Colleges and ICTs Canada’s Campus ConnectionCanada’s Campus Connection Campus CanadaCampus Canada Canadian Virtual UniversityCanadian Virtual University Open UniversitiesOpen Universities Laptop UniversitiesLaptop Universities Wrap-upWrap-up

If we keep doing If we keep doing what we’re doing, what we’re doing,

we’re going to keep we’re going to keep getting what we’re getting what we’re

gettinggetting

Steven CoveySteven Covey

ICTs in CanadaICTs in Canada Knowledge Based Economy (population of Canada Knowledge Based Economy (population of Canada

30,000,000) 30,000,000) Shift from Resource Based EconomyShift from Resource Based Economy

Geography Geography Distance, Terrain, WeatherDistance, Terrain, Weather

E-Literacy, E-LearningE-Literacy, E-Learning Broadband availability: CA*netBroadband availability: CA*net44 Schools Connected:Schools Connected:

Last school connected on Pictou Island March 31Last school connected on Pictou Island March 31stst 1999 1999 Community Access Centres:Community Access Centres:

Over 9,500 across Canada Over 9,500 across Canada

ICTs in Canada ICTs in Canada (continued)(continued)

Canada’s SchoolNet 1993-present Canada’s SchoolNet 1993-present http://www.schoolnet.ca http://www.schoolnet.ca

Computers for SchoolsComputers for Schools over 500,000 distributedover 500,000 distributed Over 80 Refurbishing CentresOver 80 Refurbishing Centres Model implemented by ColombiaModel implemented by Colombia

Computers in businessComputers in business Smart CommunitiesSmart Communities Computers in homesComputers in homes E-GovernmentE-Government E-Health etc.E-Health etc.

CA*netCA*net44

Evolved from CA*netEvolved from CA*net33, the world’s first , the world’s first national optical internet research and national optical internet research and education networkeducation network

Interconnects the provincial research networks Interconnects the provincial research networks and through them universities, research and through them universities, research centres, government research, laboratories, centres, government research, laboratories, schools, and other eligible sites with each schools, and other eligible sites with each other and with international peer networks.other and with international peer networks.

UniversityUniversity and College Clients and College Clients

E-literate, have used ICTs since the early years E-literate, have used ICTs since the early years in schoolin school

Have experienced e-learning in elementary Have experienced e-learning in elementary and secondary schooland secondary school

Have had access to ICTs at home and in the Have had access to ICTs at home and in the community in addition to schoolcommunity in addition to school

Some have experience with online learningSome have experience with online learning Keyboarding skillsKeyboarding skills

Growth is evolutionary, the ‘Net’ effect is Revolutionary

Steven Covey

Canadian Universities/CollegesCanadian Universities/Colleges and ICTs and ICTs

Technology is ubiquitous on every campusTechnology is ubiquitous on every campus They are autonomous institutionsThey are autonomous institutions

Publicly fundedPublicly funded 90 Universities90 Universities 150 Community Colleges150 Community Colleges Each has technology for research and technology for Each has technology for research and technology for

e-learninge-learning Each has its own ICT model which fits their student Each has its own ICT model which fits their student

population, majority have wireless accesspopulation, majority have wireless access

Canadian Universities/Canadian Universities/Colleges and ICTsColleges and ICTs

(continued)(continued)

The use of ICTs vary, the technology is current, and The use of ICTs vary, the technology is current, and evolving as new ICTs become available. evolving as new ICTs become available.

Project/problem/resource based learning being Project/problem/resource based learning being implemented, best practices sharedimplemented, best practices shared

Faculties are trained and supported e.g. University of Faculties are trained and supported e.g. University of AlbertaAlberta

All students have a computer or access to oneAll students have a computer or access to one Electronic communication with faculty and other studentsElectronic communication with faculty and other students Access to assignment information, resources, multimedia Access to assignment information, resources, multimedia

etc.etc.

Canada’s Canada’s Campus ConnectionCampus Connection

Industry Canada Program, part of SkillNet.caIndustry Canada Program, part of SkillNet.ca Provides access via Canada’s Campus Connection portal to Provides access via Canada’s Campus Connection portal to

facilitate online learningfacilitate online learning Over 80 universities and Community Colleges participateOver 80 universities and Community Colleges participate Over 2,700 courses availableOver 2,700 courses available Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates conferred in partnership Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates conferred in partnership

with Campus Canadawith Campus Canada Access to resources e.g CanLearn, StatCan, National Library Access to resources e.g CanLearn, StatCan, National Library

of Canada, Online English Grammar - Digital Education of Canada, Online English Grammar - Digital Education NetworkNetwork

http://campusconnection.ca/

If you give a man a If you give a man a fish, he eats for a fish, he eats for a

day, if you teach him day, if you teach him how to fish, he eats how to fish, he eats

for a lifetimefor a lifetime

Campus CanadaCampus Canada

Created August 2000, supported by Industry CanadaCreated August 2000, supported by Industry Canada Consortium of post-secondary institutions focused on Consortium of post-secondary institutions focused on

providing adult learners with greater access to university and providing adult learners with greater access to university and college credentials via online learningcollege credentials via online learning

Has representation from the Canadian Virtual University and Has representation from the Canadian Virtual University and the Canadian Virtual College Consortiumthe Canadian Virtual College Consortium

National Credit Review Service ProgramNational Credit Review Service Program was developed in was developed in partnership with the Conference Board of Canada. It is a partnership with the Conference Board of Canada. It is a comprehensive, rigorous process to determine whether courses comprehensive, rigorous process to determine whether courses offered by employers and associations can receive post-offered by employers and associations can receive post-secondary credit equivalencysecondary credit equivalency

http://www.campuscanada.ca

Campus Canada Campus Canada (continued)(continued)

Programs have been designed to provide ease of course Programs have been designed to provide ease of course transfer for online learnerstransfer for online learners

Works with Canada’s Campus Connection to provide:Works with Canada’s Campus Connection to provide: Prior Learning Assessment (Includes workplace training as Prior Learning Assessment (Includes workplace training as

well as international credits and training)well as international credits and training) Credit RecognitionCredit Recognition Credit BankingCredit Banking The Conferral of Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates The Conferral of Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates

granted by one institutional membergranted by one institutional member Registrar and Student ServicesRegistrar and Student Services

Canadian Virtual UniversityCanadian Virtual University

Consortium of 12 of Canada’s leading universities in Consortium of 12 of Canada’s leading universities in distance and online learningdistance and online learning

Interoperability and common standards. Collaborative Interoperability and common standards. Collaborative model facilitates learningmodel facilitates learning

280 degrees, diplomas and certificates available 280 degrees, diplomas and certificates available including MBA programsincluding MBA programs

2,300 courses available online or via distance 2,300 courses available online or via distance education – searchable from a single websiteeducation – searchable from a single website

300 courses available in French300 courses available in French Last year 150,000 course registrationsLast year 150,000 course registrations

http://www.cvu-uvc.ca

Canadian Virtual University Canadian Virtual University ((continued)continued)

Universities share marketing, student advising, Universities share marketing, student advising, administration services, program development and administration services, program development and best practicesbest practices

Students save fees when they take courses from Students save fees when they take courses from more than one CVU universitymore than one CVU university

Most courses open to students living anywhere in Most courses open to students living anywhere in the worldthe world

Students can start to study courses online and Students can start to study courses online and transfer them to a Canadian Degree when they transfer them to a Canadian Degree when they come to Canadacome to Canada

International university graduates may receive International university graduates may receive credit toward a Canadian university degreecredit toward a Canadian university degree

Open UniversitiesOpen Universities

Many universities are a hybrid solution, on-campus learning Many universities are a hybrid solution, on-campus learning and distance learningand distance learning

Athabasca University is an open university delivering distance Athabasca University is an open university delivering distance education to students around the worldeducation to students around the world

Designed for rural students however 80% of enrolment is from Designed for rural students however 80% of enrolment is from citiescities

500 support staff located in Edmonton Alberta500 support staff located in Edmonton Alberta Asynchronous learningAsynchronous learning Affordable fees which include all learning materialsAffordable fees which include all learning materials Admission is not based on prior academic achievementAdmission is not based on prior academic achievement Entrance all year roundEntrance all year round

Open UniversitiesOpen Universities(continued)(continued)

Flexibility whether students need one course or many Flexibility whether students need one course or many or want to discover whether they can do the work at or want to discover whether they can do the work at university leveluniversity level

Provides accessibility for the deaf, disabled, and Provides accessibility for the deaf, disabled, and those who are ill at home or in hospital. those who are ill at home or in hospital.

Elite athletes are also servedElite athletes are also served Focus on Innovative learningFocus on Innovative learning Agreements with many partner colleges and Agreements with many partner colleges and

comprehensive credit recognitioncomprehensive credit recognition Research in online learningResearch in online learning Has earned US accreditationHas earned US accreditation

Laptop UniversitiesLaptop Universities

Not in the majority but are a feature of some universities Not in the majority but are a feature of some universities including Mount Allison NB, Dalhousie NS and the University including Mount Allison NB, Dalhousie NS and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology ONof Ontario Institute of Technology ON

UOIT is Canada’s newest university and specializes in career-UOIT is Canada’s newest university and specializes in career-focused degree programsfocused degree programs

Provides students and faculty with information and Provides students and faculty with information and communications technologies, multidisciplinary educational communications technologies, multidisciplinary educational software and multimedia to support and enhance both teaching software and multimedia to support and enhance both teaching and learningand learning

Computers are leased by students and replaced every 2 yearsComputers are leased by students and replaced every 2 years Plans to establish distance learning and online programs in the Plans to establish distance learning and online programs in the

near future near future

Knowledge is said to be power, and it is power in the same sense that wood is

fuel. Wood on fire is fuel. Knowledge on

fire is power.Henry MacKenzie 1745-1831

The Canadian ExperienceThe Canadian Experience

Online learning provides learners with equity of access and the Online learning provides learners with equity of access and the flexibility to study 24/7, at their own pace and scheduleflexibility to study 24/7, at their own pace and schedule

Distance learning is a collaborative model using enabling Distance learning is a collaborative model using enabling technologiestechnologies

““Universities and colleges continue to develop an e-learning Universities and colleges continue to develop an e-learning culture that systematically integrates technology into the culture that systematically integrates technology into the learning process.learning process.

Requires the collaboration of delivery partners: technical and Requires the collaboration of delivery partners: technical and administrative support, instructional design and facilitation administrative support, instructional design and facilitation teams, content experts and resource allocationteams, content experts and resource allocation

Creation of online courses is led by determined professors Creation of online courses is led by determined professors willing to take risks and able to marshal resources” willing to take risks and able to marshal resources” Dr. Colla J. MacDonald, University of Ottawa, Faculty of Education 2005Dr. Colla J. MacDonald, University of Ottawa, Faculty of Education 2005

The Canadian ExperienceThe Canadian ExperienceContinuedContinued

Flexibility and innovation are keyFlexibility and innovation are key Universities and Colleges continue to provide an environment for Universities and Colleges continue to provide an environment for

creativity and innovation using ICTs e.g. Research in Motion (RIM, creativity and innovation using ICTs e.g. Research in Motion (RIM, the Blackberry)the Blackberry)

University of Waterloo is one of the most innovative universities in University of Waterloo is one of the most innovative universities in engineering, computer science and mathematicsengineering, computer science and mathematics Graduates live in 137 countries around the worldGraduates live in 137 countries around the world 60% are male, 40% are female (Most universities are 50-50)60% are male, 40% are female (Most universities are 50-50)

E-Learning is key to all levels of educationE-Learning is key to all levels of education Life-long learning is the norm, facilitated by ICTs in every aspect of Life-long learning is the norm, facilitated by ICTs in every aspect of

Canadian lifeCanadian life The use of ICTs in Tertiary education continues to evolve and will The use of ICTs in Tertiary education continues to evolve and will

look very different five years from now as new learning models and look very different five years from now as new learning models and innovative technologies are createdinnovative technologies are created

Albert Einstein was monitoring an exam for graduate physics students and was told there was a problem because the questions on the exam were the same as on the previous year’s test. “That’s okay,” he replied, “the answers are different this year.”

Many ThanksMany ThanksMuchas GraciasMuchas Gracias

Ethel ThayerEthel Thayer

Education ConsultantEducation Consultant

4108 Millcroft Park Drive4108 Millcroft Park Drive

Burlington OntarioBurlington Ontario

CanadaCanada

L7M 3V9L7M 3V9

ethayer@ilap.comethayer@ilap.com

905-336-3290 voice905-336-3290 voice

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