MONTREAL, QUEBEC–(Marketwired – Feb. 20, 2014) – The recently released sixth annual State of the Nation: K-12 Online Learning in Canada report finds the total number and proportion of K-12 students enrolled in blended and online learning courses and programs continues to increase from year to year, with British Columbia, Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba leading the way. The annual report provides a unique and valuable insight into what is happening across Canada in each jurisdiction. In addition to provincial and territorial profiles, this year’s report provides several brief issue papers that shed light on some of the successes and challenges facing educators and government leaders as they continue to embrace technology-supported education.

“The State of the Nation: K-12 Online Learning in Canada has become a key benchmark for the expanding use of technology-supported blended and online learning in Canada”, said Michael Canuel, President of the Canadian eLearning Network (CANeLearn) and author of this year’s Foreword to the report. “With the expansion of blended learning across the country, particularly in First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) programs, the report begins to shed light on approaches that leverage open education practices and open education resources.”

The report was written and developed by Sacred Heart University Assistant Professor Michael K. Barbour. “With the addition of programs under federal jurisdiction, this is the most complete report on the state of K-12 online and blended learning in Canada that has been published to date,” stated Barbour. “Canada continues to be a world leader due to their thoughtful, managed growth based on partnerships amongst stakeholders.”

The State of the Nation report serves as a starting point for collaboration among educators eager to learn and share. Not surprisingly, two years ago this report provided the impetus for the creation of CANeLearn. Beyond the numbers, the vignettes within the report provide a glimpse into the realities of distance learning as experienced by teachers and students. The report serves as a compass for any and all interested in distance education in Canada and provides guidance and ideas for the improvement of policy and practice to provide access to high quality educational opportunities for all students through online and blended learning.

The State of the Nation: K-12 Online Learning in Canada report is available on Open School BC’s website at http://www.openschool.bc.ca/pdfs/state_of_nation-2013.pdf. Funding for the 2013 report was provided by Open School BC, eDynamic Learning, LEARN, Pearson Canada, Virtual High School (Ontario), British Columbia Teachers Federation, and Heritage Christian Schools.

About CANeLearn

The Canadian e-Learning Network (CANeLearn) is a Canadian registered not-for-profit society who’s mission is to provide leadership that champions student success in online and blended learning by providing members with networking, collaboration, and research opportunities. https://new.canelearn.net.

Contact Information

Media Inquiries:
Randy LaBonte
A/Executive Director
Canadian eLearning Network
rlabonte@new.canelearn.net
250-701-7485