Organizations turn to flexibility, accessibility of e-learning

After years of providing post-secondary schooling the traditional way, two established organizations are now making the leap to e-learning.

“There’s tremendous potential for it.  There’s real potential in northern Alberta and in the north, to provide courses to Aboriginal students who are in remote areas,” said Seaneen O’Rourke, dean of programs with the Yellowhead Tribal College.
Not only is it about tapping otherwise unavailable resources, but it is also about allowing those who are already working an opportunity to further their education or solidify their positions.
YTC, which has offered Athabasca University courses for years in the classroom, decided to take its learning opportunities outside of its walls.

“I’m familiar with distance learning, but it wasn’t a mode we used,” said O’Rourke, who has a background in distance learning having been a tutor for Athabasca University of 30 years.

For the first time, YTC is offering some of its 20-25 courses which comprise the Management Study program, which YTC developed in the 1990s as a classroom program, online. There are less than a dozen students enrolled in the online pilot project.

“We decided to give this a try because it provides access to students who can’t otherwise get to class,” said O’Rourke.

Students can access assignments and instructions online as well as live-chat with a tutor.  While the tutor is not available for live interaction all the time, students can email their questions and get email responses.

“I like the flexibility, the accessibility this offers our students,” said O’Rourke.

But she admits that e-learning isn’t the answer for everyone.  Remote learners need to have access to both a computer and Internet.

YTC students are funded through Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.

Meanwhile, Tribal Chiefs Employment and Training is in the process of developing a survey, focusing primarily on its apprentices in northern Alberta, to look at retention issues.

“In that study we’re asking questions around using technology as a way of learning because apprentices have to go away for eight weeks to go and take training. Is there an alternative mode of delivery that would be effective for those apprentices to maybe continue studying from the worksite?” said operations manager Eva John Gladue.

Tribal Chiefs Employment and Training is looking at whether e-learning or some form of blended learning may be the answer to keep its members who are part of the apprenticeship initiative in northeast Alberta on the job.

“Because if something is not working, we need to figure out how do we fix it,” said Gladue. “We have a skilled trade shortage in Alberta and so how are we going to address that until we know what the problem is?”

Gladue says the results of the survey won’t be known for at least a year.

Tribal Chiefs Employment and Training is funded through Service Canada and has six sub-agreements with First Nations in Alberta:  Cold Lake, Kehewin, Frog Lake, Beaver Lake, Whitefish and Heart Lake.