Distance learning provides opportunities for advancement

Distance learning has provided an educational opportunity that decades ago was impossible for people living in isolated communities, with limited resources, or in a restricted family situation.

“The big advantage to distance learning is they’re able to stay in their communities and learn,” said Glenn Mitchell, dean with Northern Lakes College. “People are able to stay home.”

NLC has over 25 campuses in northern Alberta, with its main sites in Grouard and Slave Lake. Working through community educational councils and community learning centre directors, NLC is able to offer programs unique to each community’s needs.
“We’re the most community-focused college in Alberta,” said Mitchell.

But the beauty of distance learning, he adds, is if students throughout the region want the same course, “we can pull them all together in a class of eight or 10 and that’s enough to consider offering the program.  That’s what distance allows us to do.”

NLC offers two types of distance learning: synchronous and asynchronous. With synchronous learning, students all log into a classroom at the same time along with the instructor. This allows virtual classroom interaction. Asynchronous learning allows the student to log into his course at any time and access assignments, submit papers online and turn in the work at his own pace. Exams are written with an approved NLC supervisor.  If a student has an Internet connection at home then all school work can be done from home.

“There’s also a blend of that, too, and many of our courses use that,” said Mitchell.

Even with asynchronous learning, though, students have the opportunity to get together on campus to access Internet and computers and to do their work together.  There is often a learning facilitator on site to guide students through their work. As well, students can gather and access a virtual classroom and instructor together.

“That’s kind of a unique approach that Northern Lakes College takes really for the benefit of the student that not a lot of other institutions do. If you’re on line you’re on line and you’re doing it independently. But the way we do it, we give you support in your community,” said Mitchell.

NLC also offers the traditional face-to-face classroom setting.
NLC hires both traditional teachers to run classes and teachers who instruct through the virtual classrooms.

NLC offers distance learning all the way from basic education to academic upgrading to university courses, and training in health care, the trades and technology.

Distance learning is not an option limited to those seeking post-secondary education or to upgrade after graduating. It is also an option at the secondary school level. The Northland School Division, which operates 24 schools in northern Alberta and has over 2,500 students, accesses Alberta Distance Learning to augment its programming.

Both NLC and NSD have a high number of Aboriginal students.