News Releases
November 17, 2003

Technology is advancing learner-centered education in Alberta

Edmonton… More than 850 educators and technology experts from across North America will explore the latest advances in learning technology at the 2003 Online Learning Symposium from November 18 to 20 in Edmonton. This year's symposium theme, Engaging Multi-modal Learners, reflects how Alberta's learning system values and strives to enhance education through a learner-centered approach.

"We know that students have a variety of learning styles and respond to different modes of instruction and education delivery," said Learning Minister Dr. Lyle Oberg. "Technology has tremendous potential to enhance the individual learning experience and expand education opportunities."

Alberta is recognized nationally and internationally as a leader in learning technology and for continuing to effectively integrate technology at the Kindergarten to Grade 12 (K-12) and post-secondary levels to benefit learners of all ages. Alberta's online education initiatives will be further enhanced by the innovative collaboration at the symposium.

The 2003 symposium features a technology trade show and over 100 sessions that cover recent research in online education, the latest tools supporting virtual classrooms, panel discussions on best practices, students' e-learning success stories, and more.

Learning technology has many applications including in-classroom digital resources and tools, online home education or blended programs, students and teachers connecting via online classrooms, as well as distance learning for both foreign and Alberta students. Technology can support learners by providing flexible learning environments to best fit diverse learning styles and needs.

Three examples of how technology is supporting learners' are LearnAlberta.ca, which provides K-12 curriculum based digital resources via the Internet, the recently announced eCampus Alberta which is offering greater access to courses through online collaboration among a number of Alberta's post-secondary institutions, and the Alberta Online Consortium online teacher professional development course on Information & Communication Technology.

The Online Learning Symposium, one of Canada's largest e-learning conferences, is co-hosted by Alberta Learning and the Alberta Online Consortium. The consortium is a collaborative effort among Alberta school jurisdictions and post-secondary institutions to enhance online education opportunities. The consortium is recognized nationally and internationally for its leadership in e-learning; providing professional development, content development, and research.

The symposium will be held at the Mayfield Inn Trade Centre beginning November 18 with greetings and the keynote address at 7 p.m. More information on the Alberta Online Consortium and the Online Learning Symposium is available at www.ataoc.ca.

Backgrounder

Event Details

Location: Mayfield Inn Trade Centre (16615, 109 Avenue), Edmonton, Alberta
Date and Times: November 18, 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
November 19, 7:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
November 20, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Online Learning Symposium Key Note Speaker

The keynote speaker is Don Tapscott. Mr. Tapscott is an internationally recognized author, speaker and expert on business strategy and organizational transformation. As a consultant, his clients include top executives of many of the world's largest corporations and government leaders from around the world. He is also involved extensively in the transformation of education, working with universities, school boards and Educational Secretaries and Ministers. The Washington Technology Report says he is one of the most influential media authorities since Marshall McLuhan. One of Mr. Tapscott's earlier books includes the best-seller THE DIGITAL ECONOMY: Promise and Peril in the Age of Networked Intelligence. Mr. Tapscott is President of New Paradigm Learning Corporation, which he founded in 1992, and Adjunct Professor of Management, Joseph L. Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto.

Alberta Online Consortium

The Alberta Online Consortium (AOC) is a collaboration of Alberta post-secondary institutions and Alberta school districts. The AOC was formed in 1999 to enhance cooperation among online schools and school districts in online course development, professional development, and research to strengthen online education in Alberta. Their mandate has expanded to include other partners including post-secondary and corporate sectors.

From its original eight founding members, the AOC has grown to 106 members encompassing representation from Alberta's university, college, basic education and private sector communities.

The goals of the AOC are to take leadership roles in building a community of practice in online learning, in developing a strategic support network for professional development opportunities, in advocacy on policy issues, and in research regarding online learning.

The AOC is recognized nationally and internationally as leaders in supporting and sustaining the integration of e-learning in education.

AOC is presently developing in-depth online units specific to gifted and talented learners, as well as continued development in core subject areas. It also serves the Francophone community through the development of three online science courses.

Quick Facts on Online Learning in Alberta

  • Alberta has more online students and schools than any other Canadian province.
  • Alberta leads the country in all aspects of Information and Communication Technology implementation in schools, according to a 2002 Microsoft Canada study.
  • Over 30,000 visitors use the LearnAlberta.ca Web site each month and access interactive, multi-media learning and teaching resources that directly relate to Alberta's curriculum and benefit students, teachers and parents across the province.
  • Alberta's Computers For Schools program has delivered more than 40, 000 refurbished computers to schools across the province since the program's inception in 1993.
  • SuperNet will bring high-speed Internet access to more than 4,700 sites in Alberta including all schools, post-secondary institutions and libraries.
  • Alberta is piloting an 'e-textbook' for Grade 9 Science students which offers an electronic format as an alternate means of accessing the print version of the textbook. This year multi-media components were added to this online format.
  • Alberta Learning supports many partnerships that provide professional development for teachers related to online learning including TELUS Learning Connection and the Galileo Educational Network Association.

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