The Growth of Online Learning in Canada

Online Learning in Canada: Online Learning in Canada: Making Sense of a Making Sense of a Different Tomorrow Different Tomorrow Presentation to the Presentation to the Tri Tri- -County County Literacy Literacy Network, April 21, 2017 Network, April 21, 2017 www.contactnord.ca Carrie Rawson

Canadas Role in the Growth of Canada s Role in the Growth of Online Online L Learning earning Canada s diversity in: Cultures Languages Geography We needed educational solutions for distance early!

Canadas Canada s Role Online Online L Learning Role in the in the Growth earning Growth of of Because of the needs of Canadian learners, we became early adopters and innovators in fields such as: Correspondence Audio, video and webconferencing for educational delivery Learning Management Systems

Online L Online Learning is No earning is No L Longer New New It It is Mainstream is Mainstream Most recent US data: Most recent US data: 2.8 million college / university learners 2.8 million college / university learners studying their program entirely online 5.8 5.8 million students million students will register in one or more fully online course as part of their program Online learning demand growing at 3.9% p.a More people studying online than living on campus in the US More undergraduates enrolled in an online class than there are graduate students enrolled in all Masters and Ph.D. programs combined onger

Online L Online Learning is earning is N No o L Longer New New It is Mainstream It is Mainstream onger No equivalent data sets for Canada Best guess is that between 50 and 75% of Canadian PSE students have one or more online courses in their course profile 1.5 million online course registrations each year

Ontario: Ontario: Canada s Leader Canada s Leader in in Online Learning Online Learning All 24 colleges and 22 universities in Ontario offer some online learning and all are engaged in blended learning. 973 online certificate, diploma, undergraduate and graduate programs 20,088 online courses 7,637 literacy and basic skills and training courses You can find them all on studyonline.ca.

Ontario: Ontario: Canada s Leader Canada s Leader in Online Learning in Online Learning MacLean s 2017 University rankings, comprehensive 5 of the top 10 are in Ontario Newcomers Canada website 10 best colleges suitable for newcomers 4 in Ontario Literacy & Basic Skills over 250 providers

Mobile Mobile Learning Learning Here to Stay! Here to Stay! 87% of college and university students use a laptop on a regular basis for their studies. m-Learning using laptops, phones, tablets, phablets and wearable devices is fast growing. Wearable technologies growing fast.

The The N New ew S Student tudent C Challenge hallenge Growing number of students are non- traditional This trend is going to continue, not decrease These students will need different supports, process and structures to succeed

Meeting the Meeting the C Challenge hallenge Growing use of technologies to teach essential skills iOS and Android apps for essential skills e.g. Early Literacy Skills Builder for Older Students Growing number of games, simulations for essential skills Growing use of video-based learning in classrooms, such as simulation and games for learning

Biggest Gains in Online Learning Biggest Gains in Online Learning Since 2010 Since 2010 MOOC s have changed the face of online learning world-wide: More people signed up for MOOCs in 2016 than in the previous 3 years combined. 700+ universities and colleges are offering MOOCs some for credit. There are (app.) 6,850 courses available 90% of them free.

MOOCs and Canada MOOCs and Canada What was the first MOOC, and when did it happen? 2008 Connectivism & Connective Knowledge 2008 (CCK8) Stephen Downes & George Siemens University of Manitoba

Gains in Online Gains in Online L Learning earning New forms of assessment of knowledge, skills and capabilities New programs developed which leverage technology to make learning more accessible: Persons with disabilities Persons for whom English is not a first language Older learners

M More Gains ore Gains New credentials badges, nano-degrees, Micro Masters degrees Significant growth in e-portfolios as a way of capturing student skills and capabilities

Even More Even More G Gains! ains! Open Education Resources On platforms like iTunes University, OERu, OER Commons, XPERT, JISC Digital Media, DiscoverEd, OCWFinder, Temoa Over 1 billion free to use learning objects: simulations laboratory experiments course notes assessment tools full courses textbooks video lecture series animations

Quality Quality In the US 71% of academic leaders see online learning as being as good as or better than face to face learning. But there are issues of quality: Quality of the design of the learning materials Quality of the instructional support (teaching) students receive Quality of the interactive nature of courses peer to peer, student: instructor Quality of assessment Completion rates for online learning are increasingly comparable with face to face learning completion rates.

Conclusion Conclusion Canada remains a leader in online, distance and mobile education. We are privileged to be involved in the evolution of education!

Questions? Carrie Rawson Carrie Rawson Contact North | Contact Nord Tel: 1-844-891-1123 | carawson@contactnorth.ca