Canada and Distance Learning: Educational Opportunities for

the Aboriginal Population

Amanda LermaEDCI 6336-60

Summer I 2012

Provinces & Territories

Canada is made up of 10 provinces and 3 territories

Provinces Territories

Alberta Northwest Territories

British Columbia Nunavut

Manitoba Yukon

New Brunswick

Newfoundland & Labrador

Nova Scotia

Ontario

Prince Edward Island

Quebec

Saskatchewan

Map of Canada

Profile of Canada

Population: 34.03 million (July 2011 est.)

Area: 9,984,670 million sq. km

Capital City: Ottawa

Official Languages: English & French

Currency: Canadian Dollar

Government: Constitutional Monarchy and a federal state with a democratic system of government

GDP growth: 3.1 % (2010 est.)

Unemployment: 8% (2010 est.)

Major Industries: Automobile manufacturing, pulp & paper, iron & steel work

Major Trading Partners:

United States, UK, Japan & China

Educational System of Canada

• Canada does not have a national department or ministry of education• Education is regulated by each separate provincial

government through the individual ministries of education• Each of these regions has its own government that sets

and regulates educational standards for the schools within the region

Aboriginal Population• Aboriginal is the name for the

original peoples of North America• The Canadian Constitution

recognizes 3 groups of Aboriginal peoples which include Indians, Métis, and Inuit• The Aboriginal groups make up 4%

of the Canadian population• They are predominantly located in

the provinces of Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan

Limited Educational Access for the Aboriginal Population

• Many Aboriginals live in small and remote areas that do not have on-site secondary schools• Students are forced to relocate or

commute long distances if they wish to receive education and training• These hardships take their toll and are

a significant cause for the high school dropout rates and low numbers that pursue post-secondary education

Learn Canada 2020

• Educational plan developed in 2008 to serve as an outline for all of the ministers of education • The goal of the plan is to improve Canada’s educational

systems, learning opportunities, and to improve educational outcomes• One key objective of the plan is to eliminate the gap of

academic achievement between the Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal populations

Distance Learning• Technology has provided

educational opportunities for the Aboriginal population• In pursuit of the goals of Learn

Canada 2020, some of the provinces currently manage online schools/networks that assist in targeting the Aboriginal population

Credenda Virtual High School and College

• Online institution serving the educational needs of the Aboriginal population of Saskatchewan• The program provides

both high school and post-secondary opportunities

SunChild E-Learning Community

• E-Learning Community that provides educational access to the Aboriginal population of Alberta• Provides access to high school

diploma courses, industry training, and university courses

Contact North/Contact Nord

• Distance education network serving the entire province of Ontario• 112 staffed online learning

centers are located in small, rural areas with 26 of these centers located in Aboriginal communities• The network also provides the

Centre of Excellence in Aboriginal Distance Education and Online Learning for additional support

Factors of Success for Distance Learning in Canada

• Technology alone cannot solve educational problems• The online schools /networks discussed in this

presentation have been successful with the help of :-teacher development and training-committed leadership-motivated teachers and facilitators-provincial support

Canada & Texas Comparison

• The rural areas of Canada and Texas face similar challenges in regards to limited educational opportunities• Both Canada and Texas are headed in the right direction

as they are working towards improving the opportunities for these areas with modern technology and distance learning

References• Barbour, M., State of the Nation: K-12 Online Learning in Canada 2010, International Association for K-12 Online

Learning (iNACOL), November 2010. Retrieved from http://www.inacol.org/research/docs/iNACOL_CanadaStudy10-finalweb.pdf

• Barbour, M., State of the Nation: K-12 Online Learning in Canada 2011, International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL), November 2011. Retrieved fromhttp://www.inacol.org/research/docs/iNACOL_CanadaStudy_201111.pdf

• Canadian Council on Learning. (2009 May). State of E-Learning in Canada May 2009.Retrieved from http://www.ccl-cca.ca/pdfs/E-learning/E-Learning_Report_FINAL-E.PDF

• Canadian Council on Learning. (2012 June 28). E-Learning in Canada: First Nations Communities. Retrieved from http://www.ccl-cca.ca/ccl/Reports/StateELearning/ELearningProfiles-Aboriginal.html

• Community Literacy of Ontario. (2009 September). Community Literacy of Ontario E-Channel E-Communique September 2009. Retrieved from http://www.nald.ca/clo/communique/09echannel.pdf

• Contact North. (2012 June). Online Learning in Canada: At a Tipping Point. A Cross-country Checkup 2012. Retrieved from http://www.contactnorth.ca/sites/default/files/pdf/trends-and-directions/onlinelearningincanadareport_june_2012_-_final.pdf

• Council of Ministers of Education, Canada. (2008 April 15). Learn Canada 2020. Retrieved from http://www.cmec.ca/Publications/Lists/Publications/Attachments/187/cmec-2020-declaration.en.pdf

• First Nations. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Nations• Foreign & Commonwealth Office. (2011 December 19). Canada Today. Retrieved from

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/north-central-america/canada/

• Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. (2012 July 04). Canadians in Context – Aboriginal Populations. Retrieved from http://www4.hrsdc.gc.ca/.3ndic.1t.4r@-eng.jsp?iid=36

References• Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (2012 April 13). Inuvik SunChild E-learning Centre Earns Recognition and Awards.

Retrieved from http://www.irc.inuvialuit.com/publications/pdf/News%20Release%20-%20Sunchild%20Awards%20Apr%2013%2012.pdf

• Kyle, C. (2010). Cameco gives $2M to virtual school. The Star Phoenix. Retrieved fromhttp://www2.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/story.html?id=d9c90fbd-e6a2-41d0-8025-506ed1b54e1a

• Rogers, D. (2011 June 11). AT&T-Mobile merger would be good for Texas schools. The Statesman. Retrieved from http://www.statesman.com/opinion/rogers-at-t-tmobile-merger-would-be-good- 1534501.html• Microsoft Clip Art• Google Images