Blended Learning

The Ministry of Ontario e-learning strategy is to have all students K-12 with access to blended learning in Ontario.  This strategy is not simply online access to materials, it includes face-to-face opportunities with the teacher.  The e-learning strategy includes:  D2L, a virtual learning environment where teachers and students can interact online and complete class work in a secure site.  It features email, discussions, content, groups and many other features.  The OERB - Ontario Educational Resource Bank is a searchable database of activities and content that can be added to D2L, or used on their own with classes.  All of the activities are linked to Ontario Curriculum Expectations and many are interactive.  E-Community Ontario is a digital community where teachers can interact and communicate with other teachers in the province.  The Seat Reservation System allows Guidance Councillors to reserve spots in online courses for students that need an alternative to traditional learning.  Finally, Homework Help is a free online math tutoring website that is sponsored by the Ministry.  Students can log in throughout the evening and get math help.  I used this resource for the first time this year with my son who was taking Academic Grade 9 math and he chose an audio tutor so he could hear the tutor talking to him live and they could both do calculations on the screen at the same time.  It was incredible and saved the assignment.  I think this is under-utilized in our school and I will be promoting it more to students (and their parents) after my experience.  This strategy allows students, especially in rural areas like mine, to take courses that aren't always offered in a face-to-face session.  There are some courses that students need to take for college and university that don't always run in my school.  E-Learning provides that opportunity.  Also, we have students that have been ill or injured and can't come to school; D2L allows them to stay caught up in their classes.  We also have students that are not comfortable in a traditional classroom setting, so they will opt to complete a course online either at home or with the support of a student success teachers.  All of these options just provide more choice and options for students.