Explore

Learn & Play

At a Glance

Drawing of a person using a computer - poster for eLearning

eLearning = Opportunity + Education

Back to school can mean sharpened pencils or a fresh box of crayons for some but for some Canadians it means warming up their computer mouse and scrolling into class. eLearning means online learning – anywhere and anytime – and it can be applied to any kind of learning whether you are:

The Government of Canada in association with Algonquin College has put together a website called eLearn.ca featuring introductory information, key terms, tips and general resources about electronic learning and distance education. If you're seeking opportunities to get back to "eSchool", there is something for everyone across Canada.

Online High School

Although an online school may be run from a specific province, the courses and credits are often available to all.

  • At Canada College, a member of the Ontario Federation of Independent Schools (OFIS), you can enjoy a flexible, academic and interactive online classroom while earning your high school credits. You can read testimonials, browse their selection of interesting courses and register online.
  • At the Ottawa Carleton e-School, programs are designed for all those who are aspiring to obtain their high school diploma, yet for various reasons find it difficult to attend conventional classroom courses. With special out of province evaluations, all Canadians can apply. Choose between English and French immersion programs too. Still undecided? Login and view a demo course.
  • British Columbia's newest university, Thompson Rivers University (TRU)> in Kamloops, offers online distance education programs for adult secondary school completion, bachelor's degrees and more. This worldwide classroom also offers co-operative arrangements with other educational and professional associations.
  • Alberta brings us World Wide Learn, a useful resource designed to help you find online courses and the online degree or career school program nearest you. Search their database for course levels ranging from high school to doctorates.

Online Universities and Colleges

Several Canadian universities and colleges offer eLearning or distance education alternatives accessible to all.

For university education, search the bilingual Canadian Virtual University for a select list of Canadian universities that offer distance and online learning. Canadian and international students can search courses by level of accreditation or by program name.

Canadian colleges that offer eLearning opportunities include the following:

  • The Sault College has collaborated with 22 other Ontario colleges to develop over 750 courses in their Online Learning program that presents a wide range of disciplines.
  • ilasallecampus has courses that are offered in English and French. Chose from specialized programs in Multimedia, Fashion, Interior Design, Microsoft Office or English as a Second Language. Check out their online course catalogue or view one of their online program demos.
  • Algonquin College in Ottawa, Ontario offers eLearning opportunities through its many Off-campus Learning diploma and certificate programs. Be sure to also visit their Corporate Learning site.

For those who prefer the traditional classroom, you can still begin your selection online. Canadian universities and colleges offer enrolment and program information on their respective Web sites.

Professional Online Training

Looking for business-related online training sessions? Update your technological skills, improve your management abilities or learn new computer programs. You can find online employee training courses for just about anything within some of these Canadian eLearning companies.

  • Serebra offers online professional training in information technology, graphics and publishing, professional development and more. Click on their course catalogue or take a virtual tour to find out how you and your co-workers can update or improve your professional skills.
  • Polar Bear is another professional online training organization. Browse their online catalogue to start selecting the courses you are interested in. Then visit their e-zone to view demos and explore their Custom Content development capabilities that will help you to create and deliver more dynamic online training.
  • For personalized online health and safety training OHS Canada eLearning can show you the way. With a vast variety of topics, you can improve your management skills, safety and risk awareness, as well as get information and training on safety laws.

By Anat Cohn, September 2006

Related Links

Other Resources