Board Membership Benefits

What can OELC do for my board?

  1. Increase pathways for success
  2. Leverage limited budgets
  3. Provide collaborative support framework
  4. Increase eLearning profile
  5. Enable access to leading online learning technologies
  6. Encourage engaged communication networks

 

1. Increase pathways for success.

  • Increase opportunities and pathways to support student learning.
  • Increase the number of students who access online learning. Increase graduation rates.
  • Increase online student credits.

The consortium will increase pathways for student success through expanded teacher supports, professional development, best practices and guidelines, sharing of courses and curriculum development.
The number of students taking online courses through the Consortium has increased from 500 students in 2002 to 3400 in 2007.
The number of students taking courses from another Board has increased from 76 in 2005 to 304 in 2007.


2. Leverage limited budgets.

  • Negotiate hardware and software purchasing and licensing agreements leveraging volume discounts.
  • Increase access to learning tools and resources for member boards.
  • Develop curriculum and quality assurance review leveraging subject expertise.
  • Provide hosting, training, and technical support services.

A second Learning management System (LMS) is needed for Boards to deliver blended learning, courses outside the Ministry offerings and professional development. The consortium offers potential cost reductions through shared costs and volume discounts (ex. D2L user fees cut potentially save Boards $55,000 per year). The lower program costs could also increase the tools available, reduces costs associated with curriculum development and expands support services.

3. Collaborative support framework

  • Increase teacher capacity to use learning tools and resources.

We host an annual consortium conference where we gather elearning teachers, administrators, guidance and student success leaders together to share ideas, develop best practices and focus on improving student learning.


4. Increase eLearning profile.

  • Increase understanding and awareness of the benefits of online learning (with public, educators, and decision/policy makers).
  • Advocate the Ministry of Education and others to promote online learning opportunities.
  • Foster relationships with Canadian and International partners

As a consortium we have a stronger voice with policy-makers and can coordinate a common message.We produce marketing materials to promote elearning within your Board and expand the partnerships opportunities and knowledge capacity.


5. Access to Leading Online Learning Technologies.

  • Collaboration with other eLearning organizations beyond Ontario borders.

Leverage the most effective online learning technologies allowing elearning program leaders and teachers the ability to connect with other leaders across the province, Canada and internationally. The consortium is an active member in organizations such as the North American Council for Online Learning and takes a leadership role in conferences and provincial initiatives.
Note: Currently the consortium has 220 of the approximately 360 teachers involved in the Ministry writing initiative. Members of the consortium also lead many of the Ministry May symposium sessions, lead the creation of the Ministry e-Community Forum, lead the Institute for Catholic Education position paper on eLearning, were part of the Leading Learning conference organization group and are leading the planning of a symposium on Community in the Online environment.


6. Engaged communication network.

  • Connect eLearning innovators and leverage their expertise and experience.
  • Build collaborative relationships between educators.

The communication across the partner Boards is facilitated by emails through the consortium coordinator, meetings of the Board and Program Managers and through newsletters.


Best Practice Research and Development.
Develop modules, resources and approaches to support Student Success.
Develop best practices based on pooled consortium data.
Contribute to provincial, national and international research on elearning.

"The Ontario eLearning Consortium provides educators with access and support of colleagues committed to serving students through a progressive and continually changing medium."
- Frank O’Connor, Principal, GEDSB

"As principal of the Virtual Academy with the Thames Valley District School Board, I would be lost without our connection to the Ontario elearning Consortium. We routinely share resources, problem solve together and provide excellent professional development in support of teaching and learning in a virtual environment. The Consortium is a leader in North America in program development and online delivery and has been a pioneer in elearning for the Province of Ontario. The greatest strength of the organization has been the collegial relationships and the professional dialogue about teaching and learning in the virtual context. This organization meets the needs of teachers, administrators and information technology support staff. I cannot imagine running a virtual program without participating in an organization like the Consortium."
- Don Macpherson, Principal, TVDSB

"The eLearning consortium was, and continues to be a positive group to work with. It is a great organization for sharing ideas and best practices. The consortium has also provided an avenue for professional development. As a small board, we would not be able to offer our teachers opportunities to work with and learn from other eLearning teachers in their subject areas.
Student and course sharing within the consortium has also allowed us to offer more courses to our students that we cannot offer within our board.
Students therefore have access to many more courses than we can offer within our board. Overall, it has been a tremendous learning opportunity."
- Jamie Majeski, Teacher Consultant, SCCDSB