A bouquet of sharpened pencils may be an image of the past. Many Canadians are now choosing a more convenient way to go back to school – one that doesn’t involve a pencil – and most of them don’t even leave their homes to do it. 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.
Although an online school may be run from a specific province, the courses and credits are often available to all.
- 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.
- Also in B.C., is the Northern Lights College. If you’re an adult looking to finish high school, be sure to check out the Adult Basic Education Online program.
- 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.
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 opportunities. Canadian and international students can also 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 Distance Education 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.
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.
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.
- Nexient is another professional online training organization for business improvement opportunities. Their Certification Centre outlines course and paths to achieve your goals.
- 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.
- In Canada, learning English or French as a second language can give you a competitive edge in the professional world. LangCanada has an abundance of educational resources and organizations to help you start your second official language training online.
For a more detailed list of online and distance education opportunities, visit education@Canada or SchoolFinder.com.
By Anat Cohn, September 2006, updated July 2007
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