E-Learning is about integrating technology into teaching and learning. It's about all students having the same opportunity to succeed, regardless of their aptitudes, location, and circumstances. Ontario teachers and learners, from Kindergarten to Grade 12, now have access to a wide range of online educational resources and courses. That's e-Learning. And that's the road to the future!"

Students and Parents

Through e-Learning Ontario, online courses and resources are available to secondary and elementary students, providing them with more opportunities to succeed. E-learning helps them to customize their learning plan to fit their education goals.

As they work towards graduation, high school students can:

• Select from a wide variety of high-quality online courses through the provincial Learning Management System (LMS).
• Access thousands of resources including videos, activities, maps, and interactive multimedia objects in a variety of formats through the Ontario Educational Resource Bank (OERB).
• Recover course credits they need for graduation.
• Access course material when they are away or sick.
• Reduce timetable conflicts.
• Practise new skills on line and prepare for tests and exams.
• Enhance their knowledge of and comfort with online tools and technology.

And younger students can also increase their comfort level with technology and improve their oral, reading, writing, and Math skills through the OERB.

Parents have peace of mind knowing that:

• Courses offered through the LMS are developed and mediated by qualified Ontario teachers.
• Most resources accessible through the OERB meet Ontario curriculum expectations.
• Dedicated e-learning teachers interact with their children as often as required on line, and consistently monitor their progress.

They can support their younger children's learning at home through the OERB.

Benefits to Boards

The provincial e-learning strategy equips school boards to do the following:

• Gain access to high-quality e-learning credit courses.
• Gain access to high-quality classroom resources for Kindergarten through Grade 12, linked to the provincial curriculum.
• Use, at no cost, the provincial Learning Management System and the Ontario Educational Resource Bank.
• Customize courses to meet their local needs.
• Serve small, rural, and isolated schools where specialized teachers and resources may not be readily available.
• Collaborate with other boards to enrol students in their e-learning courses.
• Receive face-to-face and online professional development for e-learning teachers.
• Gain access to a site where teachers share experiences with other teachers and administrators, in an evolving professional learning community.

More information about the provincial E-Learning strategy is available at the E-Learning Ontario web site:

http://www.elearningontario.com/

Regional E-Learning Contact (ReLC)

The role of the ReLC is to support the implementation and growth of the provincial e-learning strategy while building board capacity for long term sustainability. The provincial strategy includes the delivery of on-line credit courses delivered through the provincial Learning Management System (LMS) and the sharing and use of materials in the Ontario Educational Resource Bank (OERB) for K-12 classroom use.

In their role, the ReLCs are available to:

• Assist with organizing e-learning program delivery among boards, consortia and ministry.
• Promote and increase the use of the provincial Learning Management System (LMS) and the Ontario Resource Educational Resource Bank (OERB) to reach more students, and
• Provide technical and training support.

ReLCs work with Ontario's provincially funded boards, school authorities, and demonstration schools in their respective regions. Cindy Carr, the Thunder Bay Region E-Learning Contact is available to provide professional development for individual and small groups of teachers.

Thunder Bay Regional E-Learning Contact:

Cindy Carr
Phone: 807-625-1542
E-mail: ccarr@tbcdsb.on.ca

Regional educators who would like to access ReLC support may do this by contacting the Designated E-Learning Contact (DeLC) from their Board:

KPDSB: Lynne Pateman; Al Richards
KCDSB: Garry Schwartz
LDSB: Jennifer Seeley
RRDSB: Chris Denby; Dan Mack
SGDSB: Brian Johnson; Val Newton
SNCDSB: Joanne Hoffman
TNCDSB: Mike Belluz
TBCDSB: Bill Otto
Northern School Resource Alliance: Deborah McCarthy