March 14, 2013 - 9:26am
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, March 14
NANAIMO, BC – A unique online learning and teaching program at Vancouver Island University is helping to fill a province-wide shortage of qualified distance education teachers.
VIU launched the Online Learning and Teaching Diploma (OLTD) graduate program last September. “Our first cohort is in their second semester and we are recruiting students with a passion for online learning for the next intake in September 2013,” says program coordinator Mary O’Neill.
“Applicants must be practicing teachers or instructors who hold an undergraduate degree.”
According to O’Neill, distance-learning is one of BC’s educational growth areas. Teachers with expertise and education in this area are in high demand.
“With the New BC Education Plan, the BC Ministry of Education is encouraging the use of technology and online delivery models, so there is a big focus on teaching integration and blended learning where students can take courses partially online and face-to-face,” explains O’Neill.
There are currently 53 Distance Learning Schools in BC, many of which are looking for qualified distance learning teacher/facilitators, O’Neill adds.
“Certified distance-learning teachers can expect to find employment in a variety of educational settings including K-12, post-secondary, training schools and other online learning organizations locally, nationally and internationally. There are great opportunities for qualified graduates.”
VIU’s two-year part-time, fully online program, trains students to use existing and emergent technologies to optimize online learning and teaching opportunities for a range of diverse learners.
Areas of study include social networking, cloud computing, open educational resources (OER), online communication, mobile learning and educational gaming, emergent technologies along with pedagogical and research-based foundations for best practice in online learning design, teaching and facilitating.
“Technology changes so quickly,” says O’Neill. “One of our goals is to model best-practice teaching and engage today’s new Web 2.0 tools and current technologies to support student success.”
The VIU program is taught by a team of eight faculty members who have achieved provincial, national and international acclaim. “They are known in their fields as industry leaders and active practitioners,” O’Neill says.
Graduates of the program can ladder into VIU’s Master of Education in Educational Leadership program with only an additional 10 credits of project-based thesis work, and those who are practicing teachers in BC’s public system may qualify for increased salary increments (dependant on their current salary placement.) Transfer credits from other graduate programs may be considered.
Dr. Harry Janzen, Dean of VIU’s Faculty of Education, says VIU’s graduate diploma “adds to the continuum of education offerings at VIU and enhances access to graduate education for students on Vancouver Island as well as those practicing at a distance or planning to do so.”
“We are pleased to contribute to the new 21st century learning mandate by engaging students in rich, technology-based learning environments focused on academic success,” Janzen adds.
Interested applicants are encouraged to discuss opportunities with the OLTD program coordinator prior to applying. Applications will be accepted throughout the year with the next intake beginning September 2013. There is room for 25 students.
An OLTD program information session will be held on Monday, March 25 at 5 pm in Building 356 (Education/Social Sciences), Room 236 on the Nanaimo campus.
Email mary.oneill@viu.ca. or call 250.753.3245, local 2550 with any questions or visit the program website at www.viu.ca/education/OLTD
Tags: In the Community
