Media Release from the Society for Quality Education

The Sky Has Limits

A report on virtual learning in Canada’s public schools released today shows that significant barriers exist to e-learning expansion

TORONTO – January 23, 2012

The Society for Quality Education is pleased to announce the publication of The Sky Has Limits: Online Learning in K-12 Public Education in Canada a review of virtual education. The report is authored by respected educator, Dr. Paul Bennett, principal of Schoolhouse Consulting.

As students become more cyber-savvy, and Apple proposes i-books to replace textbooks, online learning has fantastic potential to attract and retain learners, but there are challenges. Dr. Bennett found: “I n spite of the tremendous advantages afforded by introducing online learning programs, significant barriers stand in the way of its natural growth and expansion . With the exception of British Columbia, the spread of online learning and virtual schools has stalled and, for the vast majority of Canada’s 5 million K to 12 public school students, the sky has limits”

The report’s findings dispute those of other Canadian studies in how the teaching profession views virtual education, “ Most provincial teacher unions show tepid support for online learning, holding fast to labour contract agreements which effectively limit online learning to a supplemental role in the K-12 public system.”

Other Key Findings:

• After enjoying an initial advantage, Canada has been overtaken by the United States in the rate of growth of online learning over the past two years.
• There is potential for governments to save money outside of traditional “bricks and mortar” schooling.
• Private provision of e-learning is becoming more innovative and is growing rapidly.

The full report can be found at: http://societyforqualityeducation.org/parents/theskyhaslimits.