{"id":199,"date":"2021-05-30T18:22:55","date_gmt":"2021-05-31T01:22:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru0206\/?p=199"},"modified":"2025-01-14T23:01:39","modified_gmt":"2025-01-15T07:01:39","slug":"2021-05-30","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru0206\/2021-05-30\/","title":{"rendered":"521.4.1 &#8211; DLEs in rural areas"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>Authors: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ben Chaddock and Myrna Pokiak<\/span><\/p>\n<p>In today&#8217;s post, Myrna and I explore the challenges surrounding the application of digital learning technology in rural communities. We decided to explore these challenges in the context of Canadian rural communities, including the Far North.<\/p>\n<p>Many challenges are facing Canadians in our rural communities. With regards to education and the advent of digital technologies, there is a mix of positive and negative impacts. We have accumulated a list of these impacts and summarized the notes below. Suppose our goal is to aim towards a future where as many Canadians as possible have access to the tools and resources they need to achieve their personal, professional, and community goals. In that case, our ability to communicate our needs and carefully allocate our resources will contribute to achieving this equality of access in due time. In the meantime, great awareness needs to be taken by our education leaders to maximize the experience of our current student body.<\/p>\n<p><b>Positive Impacts &#8211; things that are going well:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>Attending educational programs from home communities<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>In areas where internet capacity is adequate, students can remain in the comfort of their home or community environment and participate in educational programs.\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>This can be helpful for children who still rely heavily on their parents or need support in balancing their academic studies with the rest of their day-to-day activities.<\/li>\n<li>For example, remote learning students were able to get more sleep, reduce chatter or bullying, lower the stakes, and focus on the development of the whole student, and discover the power of self-pacing and self-determination (<a href=\"https:\/\/edut.to\/3yR4ChG\">Fleming, 2020<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>Teaching in Canada\u2019s Far North is very challenging; yet, the number of schools has increased over the past 4 years, from 7 to 20 institutions (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ece.gov.nt.ca\/en\/services\/education-renewal\/northern-distance-learning\">ECE, n.d.<\/a>).\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>The Northern Distance Learning (NDL) program uses a blend of online and in-person high-school classes to help students access a greater variety of courses (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ece.gov.nt.ca\/en\/services\/education-renewal\/northern-distance-learning\">ECE, n.d.<\/a>).<\/li>\n<li>At From East Three secondary school in Inuvik, NWT, classes of up to 20 students can participate at a time (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ece.gov.nt.ca\/en\/services\/education-renewal\/northern-distance-learning\">ECE, n.d.<\/a>).<\/li>\n<li>Student success rates are promising (about 70% credit acquisition rate), and are made possible by strong relationships between students, teachers, and administrative staff (<a href=\"https:\/\/k12sotn.ca\/nt\/nwt-northern-distance-learning-program\/\">K12 SOTN, n.d.<\/a>). The NDL illustrates how distance learning can help fill a need in the community given the right tools and resources.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>Expand cross-cultural connection\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>Khoo (2019) frames digital learning not as a commodity, but as an aspect of a gift economy, whereby learners can interact and build connections with students and teachers outside their immediate social and cultural groups ().<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Negative Impacts &#8211; things that need more attention:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>Limited Infrastructure:\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>Currently, only 45% of rural Canadians have access to high-speed internet (<a href=\"https:\/\/fcm.ca\/sites\/default\/files\/documents\/resources\/report\/broadband-access-rural-canada.pdf\">Broadband Fund, 2021<\/a>).<\/li>\n<li>Two financial projects have been announced to help bridge this gap, \u201cthe federal government\u2019s $1.75-billion Universal Broad-band Fund and the CRTC\u2019s $750-million Broadband Fund (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.macleans.ca\/society\/technology\/the-pandemic-has-exposed-canadas-internet-problem\/\">Brownell, 2021<\/a>).<\/li>\n<li>However, Byron Holland, chief executive of CIRA suggests that $6-$12 billion is needed (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.macleans.ca\/society\/technology\/the-pandemic-has-exposed-canadas-internet-problem\/\">Brownell, 2021<\/a>).<\/li>\n<li>This situation is attracting interest from large players in the communications sector, who are using this situation as a consolidation powerplay.\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>For example, \u201cRogers, one of the country\u2019s largest service providers, recently promised to create a $1-billion fund to increase connectivity in remote, rural and Indigenous communities if its proposed takeover of Shaw Communications is allowed to go through\u201d (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.macleans.ca\/society\/technology\/the-pandemic-has-exposed-canadas-internet-problem\/\">Brownell, 2021<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Although digital infrastructure and broadband capacities have improved, consumers continue to increase their reliance on digital technologies. If consumer needs and use of the internet remain stable, then hardware infrastructure and broadband capacity may have a chance of catching up; however, until then, there will be a lag since current capacity already lags behind consumer need (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/sudbury\/internet-service-northern-ontario-politics-disonnect-1.5779733\">White, 2020<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>Slow Internet Speeds\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>We have prepared two interactive maps that readers can use to view internet speeds in Canada.\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>MAP 1 (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ic.gc.ca\/app\/sitt\/bbmap\/hm.html?lang=eng\">National Broadband Internet Service Availability Map<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li>MAP 2 (<a href=\"https:\/\/performance.cira.ca\/\">CIRA &#8211; Internet Performance Test<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>In 2019, a BBC Toronto article also illustrated the large number of northern communities that rely on satellites for internet access (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-us-canada-49415867\">Levinson-King, 2019<\/a>).<\/li>\n<li>Educators may not be aware of the internet speeds of their students, and this may cause challenges for the students ().<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>High cost of internet\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>The price and quality standard of internet access is also different in northern Canada ().<\/li>\n<li>For example, the internet provider Northwestel is currently able to provide 150 GB\/month for $129. However, this marks an improvement with Northwestel offering just 100GB\/month for the same price back in 2018. In comparison, that same year, Bell Canada offered Toronto customers unlimited monthly data for $50 a month <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-us-canada-49415867\">(Levinson-King, 2019<\/a>).<\/li>\n<li>The Nunavut territory is the only region of Canada without access to fiber-optic internet. To reach the Canadian household average data usage, a Nunavut household would have to spend $7,000 annually, approximately 5-6 times more than the average ().<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>Cultural\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>To maximize the use of online learning technologies, greater attention needs to be placed in areas of curriculum design to \u201crespect and build on aboriginal ways of learning. In fact, that might also benefit non-indigenous learners as well\u201d ().<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It is in our nation\u2019s best interest to create opportunities that maximize the creative and intellectual capacity of the peoples of this land. As more and more Canadians are required to use the internet for personal, professional, and educational activities, increasing access to the digital landscape will help us maximize the value each Canadian can share with their community (<a href=\"https:\/\/www150.statcan.gc.ca\/n1\/daily-quotidien\/191029\/dq191029a-eng.htm\">Canadian Internet Use Survey, 2019<\/a>). Improved internet infrastructure will aid in this goal. Until then, support for programs that blend online tools with in-person learning will help young Canadians reach their academic goals. With regards to educational design, administrators need to strongly consider the needs and limitations of our rural learners and incorporate alternatives into curriculum structure and assessment resources.\u00a0 For example, eLearning programs should include access to printed materials. Moreover, digital tools should be used as a supplemental resource, not a replacement for professional and caring teachers in each community. Using a combination of communication and consideration, together, we can innovate and build towards an educational experience that helps all Canadians reach their creative potential ().<\/p>\n<p><b>References<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Bates, T. (2019, March 3) Why are there few online programs in Canada\u2019s Far North? <\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Broadband Fund<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (2021, March 19). <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Canadian Radio and Television Communication: Broadband Fund Closing the Digital Divide Canada<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Retrieved May 30, 2021, from <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Brownell, C. (2021, April 8). The pandemic has exposed Canada\u2019s internet problem. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Maclean\u2019s<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Technology<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Canadian Internet Use Survey<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (2019, October 29). Statistics Canada. Retrieved May 30th, 2021, from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www150.statcan.gc.ca\/n1\/daily-quotidien\/191029\/dq191029a-eng.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">https:\/\/www150.statcan.gc.ca\/n1\/daily-quotidien\/191029\/dq191029a-eng.htm<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Education, Culture, and Employment (n.d.) <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Northern Distance Learning<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Government of Northwest Territories. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Flags on federal buildings to be lowered in memory of Kamloops residential school victims. (2021, May 30). <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Canadian Broadcast Corporation: Politics<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fleming, N. (2020, April 24) <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Why Are Some Kids Thriving During Remote Learning? <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Edutopia.\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/edut.to\/3yR4ChG\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">https:\/\/edut.to\/3yR4ChG<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Gray, B (2021) <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Digital Detox 5: The Harm Was Always There. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Gray, B (2021) <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Digital Detox 6: Build Back Better. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Internet Performance Test<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (n.d.) CIRA. Retrieved May 30th, 2021, from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/performance.cira.ca\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">https:\/\/performance.cira.ca\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">ISED National Broadband Internet Service Map<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (2021, March 25). Government of Canada. Retrieved May 30th, 2021, from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ic.gc.ca\/app\/sitt\/bbmap\/hm.html?lang=eng\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">https:\/\/www.ic.gc.ca\/app\/sitt\/bbmap\/hm.html?lang=eng<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Khoo, Su-Ming. (2019, April 11). <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Openings: bounded (in) equities: entangled lives<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> [Video]. YouTube<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">K12 State of the Nation. (n.d.) <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">NWT Northern Distance Learning Program<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. State of the Nation. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Latour, J (2018, August 23). <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Canada\u2019s north deserves a better internet<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. CIRA. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Levinson-King, R. (2019, September 9). Huawei heats up the battle for internet in Canada&#8217;s north. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">BBC News Toronto<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-us-canada-49415867\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-us-canada-49415867<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tranter, E. (2021, January 24). Deeply disturbing: Nunavut internet is still slower, more costly than the rest of the country. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">CTV News<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">White, E. (2020, October 20). After decades of promises for better northern internet, progress has been made \u2014 and the promises keep coming. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Canadian Broadcast Corporation: Sudbury<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Authors: Ben Chaddock and Myrna Pokiak In today&#8217;s post, Myrna and I explore the challenges surrounding the application of digital learning technology in rural communities. We decided to explore these challenges in the context of Canadian rural communities, including the Far North. Many challenges are facing Canadians in our rural communities. With regards to education &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru0206\/2021-05-30\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;521.4.1 &#8211; DLEs in rural areas&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":204,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[22],"class_list":["post-199","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-lrnt521","tag-activity"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru0206\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/199","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru0206\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru0206\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru0206\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/204"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru0206\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=199"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru0206\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/199\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":449,"href":"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru0206\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/199\/revisions\/449"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru0206\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=199"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru0206\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=199"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru0206\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=199"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}