1. Canada and Distance Learning:
Educational Opportunities for
the Aboriginal Population
Amanda Lerma
EDCI 6336-60
Summer I 2012

2. 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

3. Map of Canada

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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 from
http://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

16. 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 from
http://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