DISTANCE EDUCATION IN BRITISH COLUMBIA CANADA - A TWENTY-FIVE YEAR PERSPECTIVE

This paper will examine the history of Open Learning / distance education in British Columbia Canada from the perspective of an instructor with twenty-five years experience. During this time there have been substantive changes in delivery technologies, delivery modalities, the student population and the organizational structure and indeed the organization. Each of these changes have had both positive and negative impacts which will be explored.

Technologies / Delivery Methods:
Face to face
Mail
Telephone
E-mail
Web CT
Blackboard
- Standard Web
- Dynamic Web
- Paced
- On-line facilitation
- Differences between tutoring and being an on-line facilitator
- Training of faculty

Continuous enrollments:
Cohort classes
Blended

Institutions:
Stand-alone:
Open Learning Agency
B.C. Open College
B.C. Open University
Merged with Face to Face:
Cariboo College
Thompson Rivers University

Student Population:
British Columbia
Canada
Global
- China
- India

Factors in Student Success:
- Course design
- Online paced cohort classes - design is focused on interaction and collaboration, active learning, relevance and ownership
- Instructor
- Teaching Abilities
- Technical Abilities
- Part-time, Full-time status
- Course management