Mission and Priorities
Mission
BCEd Online supports BC educators as they transform learning in a global digital environment. We help leaders in the K-12 system access high-quality online learning tools, resources and opportunities for teaching in the 21st century.
BCEd Online encourages innovation & supports educators who are working with technology to:
- Enhance professional learning
- Implement quality standards for content development and delivery
- Integrate established best practices in online learning pedagogy and program delivery.
Priorities
Currently, BCEd Online has three main priorities that support our Mission.
1) Professional learning for educators interested in online learning and delivery.
As an increasing number of students look for learning solutions online, educators are needing to continuously update and integrate the latest tools and resources to provide quality learning experiences and environments. By providing ongoing and continuous professional learning opportunities, BCEd Online is working to dramatically improve the quality of online and distributed learning experiences through:
- securing ongoing funding for professional development and implementation support for member districts
- synchronous online learning events on up-to-the minute topics relevant to educators
- asynchronous discussion threads in the BCEd Online Virtual Community
- access to courses and other learning experiences in Open School's Educators Resource Centre (ERC)
access to shared Elluminate Live! classrooms - access to archived webcasts
- an annual provincial spring conference
- summer institutes and workshops at provincial professional development days
- opportunities to become involved in a variety of processes and committees.
2) Review and implementation of quality standards for online content and delivery.
BCEd Online is working to dramatically improve the quality of online learning programs and content currently being used or developed by others in the system in BC through:
- the formation of a Provincial Advisory Content Committee of experts to encourage system-wide adoption of the Ministry of Education's quality standards for distributed learning content development, program delivery and service quality.
- identifying, developing and promoting highest quality online learning content and providing system wide access through partnerships and licensing agreements
- undertaking reviews of online courses and learning experiences for the K-12 system
- awarding the BCEd Online 'Seal of Approval' to the highest quality courses and content.
3) Integration of established best practices for online learning pedagogy and delivery.
Based on the underlying philosophy that the ultimate client group in the K-12 system is the student population we all serve, BCEd Online is working to improve the quality of their experience by researching, establishing and promoting best practices for online learning pedagogy and delivery by:
- working to rationalize student services in the K-12 system through support for the BC Virtual School
- collaborating with BCcampus to establish shared services so that where appropriate, the K-12 system can benefit from the existing post-secondary expertise and infrastructure
- supporting the Connected Learners Grant Initiative and research component
- creating or working to improve the existing range of professional services and support to districts who are developing new online learning programs.
